The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-02-01
The Gazette Of Tie 2sth inst, issued just .


ruesaay ...ee February A. 1850. |
The Gazette Of the 2Sth inst. Issued just -
W were leaving town for Oskalooaa, vas e.
ossdingly exercised over our article Of the pre-
esding date on the general subject Of city ana
sosnsy debts. One Who did not understand the
character Of that paper. would judge fron s'e
tenor Of the article that Ne we're really attempt
ing 70 PROSTATE the interests Of the Country
and thas bat for the powerful efforts OF the
learned and astute gentlemen connected we
chat press. 70 would be sure 70 succeed. We
ehall devote very litsle time to correction Of
our psighboss misrepresentation and misap-
prshensions, for We believe that our space can
b more prsatably employed.
Briefly, then. II II not true that We attempt
Cd 70 vindcate. palliats, or excuse the actior Of
the City Of Keokuk in its. virtual rspudiation.
We merely said that the action Of that city IN
proposing to pay part Of its debt was praise
worthy in comparison with the conduct Of many
counties in the State, which, in quiet, sneak
ing sort Of way, seem to repudiase their entire
debts BY ignoring their existence. We repeat
the declaration.
We instanced the counties Of Jefferson,
Henry and Washington as being among the rich
and populous counties that have made NO pro-
vision Tor the payment Of the interest due on
shsir bonds
The Gazette says It never heard that jefferson
county owed debt that it had not provided
for. Doubtless there are many things that the
Gazette never heard or dreamed Of, which are
nevertheless true, and this is certainly one OF
them. Not only has the county OF Jefferson
failed TO pay the interest en'tbe bonds already
issued, some Of which are held BY our own
citizens, and wholly neglected to take any steps
indicating an intention to pay, but the County
Judge absolutely refuses to issue other bonds
which the county for consideration has legally
and morally bound itself to issue to the Bur-
lineton 4 Missouri River R. r. Company. If this
mot reputation, what is IL
The Ga zette says it supposes We misrepresens
tAs state Of affairs 10 Washington county just
. We do shsss Of Jefferson county. Precisely :
aad NO more. II 10 about year since We saw
the distinguished President Of the Airline
Railroad Company, Hon. Robt. G. Scbenck, In
town, in search Of . Lawyer 70 bring suit in
the United States Court upon the unpaid cou-
pons Of that county, of which he had pocket
full, more or less.
The Gazette says that Henry county is delin-
Quent simply for the reason that the County
Treasurer deposited the money which was to
pay the interest, with "black republican !"
banker who became insolveDt. Promising that
this whole subject is one Of policy and finance
and not OF poli,ics,-that it matters not whether
the Treasurcr's banker was q black republican
or black democrat, and admitting the state.
ment Of his politics and Insolvency to be true Of
which we know nothing, We desire to ask 1t this
is to be considered a sufficient excuse for the
delinquency? What had the foreign boad-
holders to do with the County. Treasurer? Their
transaction was with the county, and not with
q subordinate agent Of the county. Should
the bondholders suffer loss because an agent
elected by the county, wholly unknown to them,
has made an unfortunate selection OF depos-
itary of the public funds? We trow not. In
this connection, it is enough for us TO know that
the county is in arrear upon four semi-annual
instruments of interest, and we have never
heard of any very vigorous attempts on the
part of the county authorities to make speedy
payment of them.
- = It tue that we included Burlington
80 Des Mo'hes cV"-.. thu cateoorv with
Aeokuk, and other non-paying ciu.s and co.n-
ties. But We will noU say that we fear
yea, that we believe that unless new counsels
are TO prevail, it will be ranked there in the end
The greater the amount of CITY and county
ponds issued, tue greater will be their denre.
citation in value. If the various towns and
counties of the State are encouraged and in
weighed into issuing thousands and tens of
thousands Of dollars Of corporate bonds apiee
'heir average value will be reduced 8 al MY
. 'iA'y cents On the dollar T. III more tn'-
twenty-five cents N.- this county arH c''y
aws, in round numbers, $500, 900. we propose
% pay the sums that constitute this aggregate,
when the debts fall due, by borrowing again;
or, neither the city or the county has sinking
und from which the principal is to be paid.
1t what rate is ii supposed it can be borrowed
gsin if the money market, in the mean time,
) to be flooded with worthless, irredeemable
ounty boudss II, for example, our debts
hould fall due in the midst Of Q commercial
like the present, how many new
onds will be required 70 be issued in their dis
barge? Not less than million dollars, and
ron that upward.
Indeed, We must be permitted to express our
upon this subject, even if thereby
10 do alarm the watchful vigilance of those
uardians Of the public faith and reputation, the
Triters for the Burlington Gazette.
The Gazette says that the clamor in Lee,
Washington, Muscatns and Louisa, &C., 10
Aussd - much by the heavy State and school
u a. by the burden Of railroad tau. Why
annos question Of this peculiar importance,
ntirely separated as it is, from partisan poll
c., be treated fairly Everybody knows that
school tax has been levied in only few
,wnships in the State, and that very few per-
pms are paying Il, as it 10 believed to be lille
ally assessed. II therefore troubles no one.
very tax payer in the State knows that the
tate tax Of 1858 is just one quarter less than
was in 1857, when there was no clamsr of
lis kind, and is just one quarter less than it is
ow in Illinois. How happens it that there is
liiiculty On this subject now, while there was
one then. Besides, If the Gazette be correct
its statement. how does it happen that all the
ubhc meetings are held, and all the threats Of
,sistance 70 the tsx-coIlsctors uttered, ia just
lose counties in this State, Illinois and Wiscon-
n, that are attempting to collect q railroad
* and no othery
Bus enough Of this subject. We suppose
verybody who knows anything At all Of us,
lily understands our opinions. We oppose all
.pudiation and all semblanee of it, We insist
lAt the uttermost fsrthing OF every debt al
lady contracted by any town, city or county
the State shall be paid. We insist that eve
contract made either by private or munich.
i corporations shall be scrupulously fulfilled.