The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1861-01-16

justify an appointment, was letter from
the State Attorney 10 Mr.. Southwick,
advising him to hold on to the office, and
giving his opinion that an officer could
not qualify after the commencement Of
his term Of office. In reply it was shown
that Mr.. Ames' bonds were accepted and
1 filed before the commencement of his
term OF oflice-that letter bad been re-
ceivcd from Mr.. Ames' Attorney 1T Mad
son, stating that he had consulted with
tle State Attorney OH the matter, and
that the State Attorney reversed the
opinion given to Mr.. Southwick, saying
that that opinion was based upon Ohio
decisions, which upon further examination
he had found wero not applicable to this
case, and giving his opinion that Mr..
Ames was legally entitled TO the office.
p. d. Pierce, Esq, Dist. Attorney, was
called en- for his opinion, and he showed
that it was very probable that there was
no vacancy, and cited two similar cases.
under similar statute, where the New
York Supreme Court had decided that
there was no vacancy.
The resolution declaring vacancy was
finally submitted to vote, which result
ed as follows:
YEAs.-Sups. SMITH of Prescott
Mexican of Oak Grove, CoMsTock OF
Diamond Bluff, WHITNEY of Hart land.
CHAPMAN of Pleasant Valley, HuRLY
of Ell Paso, AKERs Of Trenton, IyERsoN
of Martell, all Democrats, s.
NAYS. = BARNARD of Prescott, Nc
MURPHY of Clifton, MOORE Of River
Falls, FELT of Trimbelle, MORTON, of
Isabel, Reps, and YouNGMAN of Perry,
Dem., 6.
After the passage of this resolution,
those voting in the negative entered
protest against the action of the Board,
and declined to take any part in the APP
pointment of the Treasurer. Mr.. South
wick was appointed by the eight who
voted in the affirmative.
Now IN such matters success is gener-
ally received rs the test of merit. II
Mr.. Amos should fail to secure tho off
ice, the hasty and i'judicious action OF
these eight Democrats will be forgotten.
If Mr.. Ames succeeds, and it shall ap-
pear that these men usurped power
thar they appointed Treasurer when
there was no VI cancy-that to servo a
party purpose they plunged the County
into litigation involving heavy expense,
then an indignant people will order them
to political execution and burial, and The
party that is responsible for their acts
will share in their disgrace.
| Now the question which naturally pre-
sents itself to any unparalleled mind is
this; If . MAORI of the Board deem
ed the office to be vacant, why did they
not appoint Mr.. Ames? He was Get
ed to the o1ncc ana claimed possession
of it, his bonds were accepted and filed
and his appointment would have ratified
the peoples choice, and obviated all ne
ceesity for litigation, and expense to the
County. But this course would have
defeated the main object of the appoint
ment, which was not, primarily, to pro
tect the interests of the County, Jm to
secure the Treasury printing for the
Prescott Democrat. Last fall, every
possible effort was made to elect Demo
cratic Treasurer, so as to secure the pat
rcnage of that office for the Democrat.-
The attempt failed, but the Democrats in
the Board thought they saw narrow
chance by which that patronage could be
secured, by thwarting the will the peo-
plo and involving the County in expense,
aud they have made the ;ttempt, thus
proving themselves to be first-rate pari-
saus. but very poor Legislators.
A word, and I've are done. With
few honorable ex .eptions, the history of
the officers of this County,-the tenacity
with which they have taken root in their
several Departmental reluctance they
have exhibited in leaving office, shows
that they do 70 properly appreciate the
difference between marrai re certificate
and certificate of office. 1t seems as if
they supposed that the latter, like the
former, joiSs them to the object of their
affection "tiN death do as part"
We trust the present officials viii re-
member that they are not married 10
Office, and be prepared to willingly vacate
their places at the expiration of the term
Cor which they were elected, if the people
shall choose to dcsis mate other men as
their successors.