The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-03-17
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Courier.

paper IiiSItpTcscnettlOnS eilldDatlllS pTlllcl-
pally from irresponsible scribblers, it is cvi,
dent that there is an attempt being made to
ere ,te the impression at home and abroad,
that a considerable number of the citizens OF
Wapello county, "hea<led by the County
Judge, are in favor of repulMtiy a legal
and honest debt" created by a fair contract
entered into between the county of Wapello
AMI the Burlington & Missouri r. r. Com
pany. Now, 50 far"''as the citizens of the
County are concerned, believe the imputa-
ton to be false, at least have never heard
such sentiment uttered fiom any one of
them. However, of that matter they can
speak for themselves. But so far as the
County Judge is implicated in said charge,
unheSitatingly pronounce the whole fabrica-
ton from root to branch bssse and infamous
.taLsehood, whether willfully or ignorantly
gotten up | care not. That man lives not
that ever heard me utter such a sentimrnt
either in public or private; but to the con-
trary have uniformly asserted, when speak
ing upon that subject, that if the county was
legally bound by any former contract, sub
scription, or cote of the county, to the B. &
NJ. r. r. Company, or il all these together
placed the county under legal obligations to
said Company, that would be the last man
that would object to issuing the bonds. If
we have foolishiy bound ourselves and male
bad bargain, let us stand up to it and
shoulder the responsibility. and carry it out
to the letter. But if the county is not thus
bound, l am not willing to issue the bonds
upon my own responsibility; and having
strong doubts upon that point, after exalnin-
ing the factsssand records in the premises, l
did not feel justified un'ier the lao, as coun-
ty agent, to issue any bonds to said Compa-
ny until the legality of the demands should
be decided upon by tina Supreme Court OF
the State; and in..order to obta n tn It decis-
ion in the shortest and least expensive way.
| proposed to the said Company to make a
friendly case, and submit all the facts to said
Court, pledging myself to abide said decis-
ion: should the Court decide that the coun-
ty is Legally bound to issue the bonds claim
ell by the Company, | would issue them
without delay. This proposition have held
out to the Company from the time; the first
demand was made for county bonds, up to
the present think it both ungentlemanly
and unkind, with the above facts before
them, for persons from whom I had reason
to expect better thin IS, to denoul,ce me as a
repuiiator, and charge me of laboring to get
up and give currency to the doctrine of re-
pudiating an honest debt, such conduct to
me is wholly unaccountable unless those per-
sons think that [ am bound to obey their
ipse DIRT, and take their opinions for law
and bow obeisancc to their dictation, or are
determined to drive me into measures by
hard names and ..opprobrious epithets. II
such be their motives, to- save them further
labor, | certify them now that they are mis-
taken in the man, if they suppose that they
can accomplish their end by such course Of
policy. l am at all times willing and glad to
receive advice and instruction, and those that
labor to convince me Of my errors I regard
as my best friends, and am glad at all times
to exchange error for truth, and shall never
complain of others for differing with me in
opinion or ju lsment; but, nevertheless, !
claim the right to think for myself, and while
acting under the responsibility of an oath, it
shall be my constant aim to discharge INV
duty, Independent of any percussion, dicta,
tation, or thretts.
Inasmuch as there has been 50 much sail
on the subject Of the legal obligations of Wa
pello County to the b. & NJ. 4. r. Co. in ref
orcnce TO the county bonds, | deem it but
justice to myself and the citizens of the coun-
ty 10 lay the facts in the case $50 far as |
have been able to collect them before the
people, that they may the better judge for
themselves in tiie.'premises. find by refer
ence to the records in my Office that Judge
Osborn lhaving been petitioned by five hun
dred and thirty citizens so to do) submitted
the following proclamation to the voters of
Wapello county, at special election held in
sail county on the , It'll day Of September,
4. d. 1853.
The county to subscribe Que hundred thousand
dollars to the stock of the Burlington and Nilsson.
ri River Railroad Company to aid in constructing
Road from Darlington TO the Missouri, via. OF.
tumwa.
Said stock to be paid for by the issue Of Bonds OF
the county redeema able in twenty years, bearing
an interest not exceeding Ell ght per cent per annum
and payable annually to be issued upon the call
OF She company, after the work in said county
shall have been put under contract in instalments
not exceeding tive per cent per month, aud to be
taken at par.
An anuua. tax to be levied for the payment Of the
interest until the dividends shall be sufficient,
The principal sum to be paid by Il direct tax, I'M
less previously satisfied by sale of stock or by
dividends
Form of the ballots-For the County subscription
or Against the County subscription.
tsigneD siLAs OSBORN, County Judge.
Ottumwa, Aug 9th, 1853.
1t is fact well known to, and can be at,
tested by a large majority of the voters of the
county, that during the canvass upon the
above named propo 'ition, goodly number
of the citizens Of Ottumwa, together with 9th.
er citizens Of the county, voluntarily can
, vasscd the county very zealo,lSy to secure
its Sllccessful adoptiOn and i'm ,loinr so they