The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-02-05
The Investigating Committee.

ing1S BUgle q Few edlIoriai 0pseIVationS up
pear, touching the proposed Investigation Of
the official acts Of the present County Judge,
to which, from my association with the
meeting where an investigation was first
proposed, am necessarily drawn to make q
reply; and, in order to avail myself Of tho
earliest issue of our press, would ask, and
receive as personal favor, place in your
columns for that purpose. JII i ~
Many of our citizens are already aware
that, at meeting lately held for the pur-
pose of concerning measures whereby certain
s'rishts of the people" could be legally ex-
acted from their local executive, relative to
the execution Of their obligations to the
NJ. & NJ. Railroad Company, resolutions
were adopted, among which was tho follow
ing: That the Official acts Of the present
County Judge of this county require public
investigation, and that Il committee be APP
pointed by the chair to so investigate them,
convincing on the following morning.
At this meeting Col. COCHRAN presided as
President, and Of the committee appointed
under the resolution, was a party. This
committee, DESTROYS to pursue such course
as would best insure The public interest, and
facilitate the means Of attaining the prinaa-
~ object for which The meeting was con-
uened, declined waiting on Judge SHERMAN
at the appointed lime, that he might unin-
terruptcdly continue signing the bonds until
completed; which the committee was in
formed he that morning agreed to do
Before that daty could be performed, the
President conceived the necessity Of having
another committee appointed; in order to
accomplish which, he caused to be drawn
up, and personally presented for signature,
the petition to Messrs. MUTT, OFFICER and
CAsADr, as appearing in the Bug'e of this
date, praying their condcsccntion to act as
therein specified, representing that the orig
inal committee wholly and Internationally
declined acting. This representation
considered it necessary to correct, soon as
made known to me. But now, that Col.
COCHRAN continues, notwithstanding the
contamination of his objcct-and the refu-
tatIon Of his reprcscntation-to aver that
the original appointment was dsresardcd,
consider it further necessary to thus public
ly give to his assertions the most positive
and unqualified contradiction. On this state
Of conflicting reports the opposition Of some,
as represented ''to he Bngle," to a public
examination Of the county affairs, exclusive
ly hangs. An opposition founded, not on
the principle Of investigation, but on the
cxpcdicnt propricty Of tactIy ifnpusning
the integrity of a committee already dcputcd
to the trust.
Now, rs to the committee sought to be
appointed, it would be surpcrfuous to state
that from any community three gentlemen
of more exalted integrity could not be Sc
lcctcl-nor any more lttingly qualified for
the examination and adjustment of the
roluminous, intricatc and complicated duties
of the county office; but, let me here add,
that Mr.. CASADY, one Of the proposed COM
mlttcc, in the wholesome exercise of that
integrity, refused, at the late meeting to
act in that capacity stating, as his reason.
that he is not the friend Of judge SHERMAN.
and did not consider himself qualified. Col.
COCHRAN, the then President Of that meet
lnr, still presents Mr.. CA>ApY's name. and
asks his cooperation in the investigation.
Whether this be an indclicacy Of Judgment,
and furnishes material for those who nav
be drnomlnatcd the "orpositon' to dilatc
upon, may not be for me to statc-and will
only add that, if the committee acquiesce
to the prayer Of the petition, and find access
to the records of the Office, their report will
be anxious y waited for-as either restoring
confidence to Judge SnERMAN's constituents
and Intimdating the ca'umnator, or detect
lng and thereby preventing the current Of
fatality contingent to his Office, and, in
which all have common interest. But.
should the County Judge avail himself of
the law and demand Of the committee their
legal right to act as such in bis department,
then must the investigation eff Investigation
there br) be sought through other sources
where the good intent Of committees cannot
be misrcpresentcd by any man--aad the
action, duty, motive and interest Of all called
upon to participate, be open to public OBJ
servation and adjudgcd only by public |
opinion.
+. II. WILLIAMS.