The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-09-21


by the apparent apathy of the people. De-
falcations and public peculations on the
part of officials seem to be fast becoming
the general rule, and honesty and a faith
full discharge of duty, the exception. 1t is
time the people were becoming aroused,
and scrutinizing the action of their servants
with jealous eyes.
IF dishonest officials, who have fastened
themselves upon the body polite like leeches,
are permitted to remain, it takes no extra
ordinary foresight to predict an i'm 9over-
ished treasury and an overtaxed ,discontented
people, ms the result The public treasury
is the great source of temptation, and needs
argus-eyed watching to prevent its being
pilfered. As what we have just stated is
patent to every observer of passing events,
especially is it our duty, when public Of
fcer presents himself for the suffrages of the
people again, and challenges his record and
his acts for yindication of the worthy dis
charge of his duties, to carefully examine
that record and see if it is unstained by
any unlawful or unworthy acts. Ifit proves
to be strictly correct and just, then the
people can safely repose confidence in him
for second term. But if on the contrary,
the record shows that the official has been
derelict n his duty, and has been unfaith-
full to the trusts reposed in him, they should
repudiate with scorn his every attempt to
secure their suffrages for new lease of
power When this course is pursued by
the people, we may expect integrity and
faithfulness on the part of officials; but as
long as the acts of public peculators are
winked at, the community may expect to
be burdened with outrageously oppressive
taxation.
Sheriff Gavitt, in one of his Goodselville
speeches, challenged the people and his OPP
ponents to an examination of his record,
and was willing to abide by the verdict of
facts deduced from it. He had served the
people we'll and faithfully, and asked of
them the reward of faithful servant-a
reelection. If be had violated their trusts,
if he had neglected their duties, if he had ta-
ken aught that belonged to Cesar-to the
people-he would resign his place and
abandon the race. We ask him to remem-
Der his promise to the people. We trust it
was made in good faith, and that he is will
ing to act upon it, il his record renders a
verdict against him. We ask the candid,
calm, and unbiased attention of the Sheriff
and the voters of Vanderburg County to
the facts and the records we shall present
Then we will ask the verdict of the people
on the facts and the records, and will expect
the Sheriff to bow with Difference to the
verdict of his legal jurors.
We desire to enter upon this investigation
and exposition with as little Of feeling as
the facts presented will permit, to submit
them to our readers with calmness and i'm
partiality and while we may indulge in
some speculations and expressions of epin-
ion, we ask that the facts presented may be
carefully separated from our sentiments,
and that the opinions OF all may be formed
upon the Law, the Records, and the Facts
alone.
The charges which we prefer against Mr..
Gavitt are most serious in their nature, and,
if established, should not only drive him
from this race, but should drive him, with
the execrations of an outraged and defraud-
ed public, from the presence of the commu-
nifty which he has so deliberately and know
ingly deceived and injured. We charge
him, during the gear just past with having
taken from the public treasury, and from
the pockets of the people, without law and
without just return of services, not hun
dreds, but THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. We
charge him, further, with having neglected
to discharge the plain duties imposed upon
him by law, which law was made for the
protection of the people.
For the proof of these charges we submit
the following facts:
ALLOWANCES FROM THE CIRCUIT
COURT.
By sec. 2 Of chap. of I'd Revised
Statutes of 1851: page IL, it is made the
duty of the Sheriff " either in person or
by deputy, to attend upon and preserve or
der in all Courts of Record of his county,
except Justices Courts"
By sec. 4, the Sheriff may also appoint
a sufficient number of bailiffs to attend up
on the Circuit and Common Pleas Courts of
his county, who shall be allowed a reason
able amount for their services by such
| Court"
The " act to authorize and limit allowances
by Courts and Boards will be found On