The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-03-23
Court Houae Election

Court House Election.
Tho Board Of County Police, for this
county, met ON Monday last, and It's pro-
ceedings elected more interest, perhaps,
than has ever attached to any other meet
ing Of tho same body since the county
was organized. 4 large concoursc Of citi-
zens from all part. Of the county was
present, TO hear the argument which il
was known would be made on the legali-
~ Of the late election for the removal Of
the county site.
Apctition was presented 10 the Board,
asking them 10 set the election aside, up
on tho ground that twas not conducted
according to law. The following points
were presented by the petitioner:
!. That the Record Of the Police Court
did not show that the special meeting Of
the Board no which the Managers Of said
election were appointed was called by the
President or any two members Of the
Board. a. required Nv law.
?. That the Record did not show there
was five days notice Of said special meet
ing hv posting or advertisement.
=. That the Returning officer, who
held said election, were not sworn. mel
Their were the Managers nor Clerks sworn
at the Turner and Blue Ridge election
precincts.
Testimony was adduccd To- prove the
facts alleged. from which il appeared that
none Of the returning officers were sworn
az any Of the precincts and that at the
Turner precinct none Of the managers
were sworn-thst they hail no clerks. and
that the managers thcm-elvc- acted ~
clerks. without being sworn.
The ease wa, argued before the Board
ON behalf ut petitioners, by Hon. SrLyA-
MS Evans. and for the opposite side by !.
e.. HripEruEEg, E-q. The argument Of
Judge Evan. was one If the ahlc,t and
most conclusive it h1s ever been our good
fortune 10 hear. ltwould have done cred
10 70 any lawyer in this or any other state
of the Union. Hut hi, argument was
thrown away The Board by q vote "
three to two decided against every obiec-
ton raised Mr.. Ilr.lip, President Of the
Boar,l and Mai. Harry were understood
20 be in favor of sustaining the objection
Mcssrs rugh, Gray and Copeland. consti-
tuting the majority. were of a different
opinion.
We have no disposition to say any thing
dcromtory to the intelligence Of the ma
iority Of the Board but after hearing
Judge Evans argument, how they could
decide the points raised before them as
they did, surpas-cs our comprehension.
five understood the ground upon which
they acted, It was that the law gave them
mo- jurisdiction to inquire into the legality
Of the election. The act said. il is true.
that they should ascertain the state of the
vote. but we suppose they must have con-
sideredthis to mean nothing. They held
themselves bound IT, receive the vote
~ given to them Nv the returning
officer, without inIuiring into its legality
According then. TO this decision. when
ever n special election j. to be held in this
county, fdf any purpose whatever, any
body may hold il, any number Of votes
from one TO one hundred thousand may
be- returned TO them, and they are COM
PEELED 70 consider the manner Of conduct
ing the election and the votes given, as
all legal, right and proper. This Of course
would be ridiculous, but it is the position
which the present Board have taken. and
which will stand a. precedent for future
action
After overruliug the objections, the
Board went on to appoint commissioners
to select the new county site Messrs. y.
=. Killcn, Richard simmons Joseph Buck
ley. Simeon Collins and y. y. Terral were
appointed said commissioners. These
commissioners are required 10 locate the
new county site within one mile Of the
| geographical centre Of the county. The
attention Of the people Of the county is
called 10 this particular fact. and if any Of
them will take the trouble 10 90 20 the
ccutrc Of the county, in the middle Of
Tallahala swamp. and then see what
chance there j. 10 find a location for a
town within one mile of that place. We
think they will be- apt 10 vote next fall for
a candidate for the Legislature who will
use his influence 20 have the act repealed
under which these proceedings have &C
cured.