The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-04-10
Des Moincs, March "A.
Mr.. w letting.

There is, and perhaps for long
time will exist, stubborn contest
between the representatives Of the
Northern and Southern portions Of this
state in the Legislature in regard to the
organization Of townships and counties
A majority of the settlers of the former
are Fl ON New England and New York /;
of the latter from the Middle and South
crn States. One class was raised
under q complete township system,
governing the County through delega-
ties; the other was used to County
government, directed by Commission
crs or County Judge, and under
which the townships amount to nothing
more than election precicnts and the
embellishments Of limited Species Of
civil and criminal authority. That
shrewd and philosophic observer Of the
workings of our republican institutions,
De Tocqneville, insisted, that the only
strength and tendency to durability i'll
hercnt in them, resides in the township
system. The exercise of the local
power and authority possessed BY the
people wherever it obtains, familiarizes
them with the machinery Of free govern
meut and necessarily renders them more
watchful and jealous of any infringe
men,s on their rights. On the other
hand he maintains, that where civil
,nle is centralized or confined to county
seats, the mass manifest greater indif
ference TO public affairs and consequently
are readily deceived BY the specious
statements of dsmagagues. That such
was the nature Of the County Judge
system repndiated by the Legislature
Two years ago on demand by the nor
them counties Of Iowa, no candid man
now doubts. Though DESTROYS for all
the component parts Of the county and
township government they prepared
a substitute, only fraction of it was
adopted. The southern influence then,
and still dominant, would grant only
half loaf. This year the northern
counties have asked for the balance
ayerring that the only drawback to the
Supervisor system, as now inaugurated,
lies in the effectiveness Of the organi-
cation Of the township. Many of the
duties at present imposed on tie Super
visors should be discharged by town
ship officers. The location and yaca-
ton Of roads properly belong to town
ship auth, rites, and could be eifccred
by them with one fourth Of the trouble
and expense now attached. In the dis
cussion, in the early part this session,
upon a change to some other sort Of
County policy, the chief argument, tina,
the enemies Of the Supervisor law sum-
monel to their aid, was the utter i'm
possibility for the County Board of
Supervisors to manage intelligcn,ly the
road business. When, however, ali
act was .ma;nred, putting it all in the
hands Of the Township Trustees, these
same men vigorously and detcrmincdly
opposed, and by combining with lawyers
representing cities on the Mississippi,
whose practice much depends upon dis
putes in establishing or yacating them,
defeated the measure. Another move
in that direction was frustrated by the
same parties. 4 bill passed the House
Incorporating civil townships, but was
sllin in the Senate 1t was slaughtered
simply because it was asluint toward a
perfect township organization. Why
may not a township acquire and possess
property? Why should not the people
Of township if they see fit, be permit
ted, to purchase q site for a town house
at which elections could be held and
the citizen thereof assemble for any
lawful purpose? In consequence Of this
dogin the manger policy, persued by
sectional majority Of the members Of
both houses, no salutary changes can
be made at this session IN the laws
which fix the status of townships and
counties When the scepter Of power
passes to the north side Of line run
ming east and west through the middle
Of the State, as it must at no distant
day, such long cherished ends may be
attained.
In the winter Of $50 the will Of the
Legislature was TO abolish the Board
of Education and the Gov. was forced
to save it by vetoing bill postponing
its then next meeting till 1865. Last
week bill passed both branches &C.
ferring its assembling to June 1864,
date after the time specified in the Con-
stitution for its death unless kept in ex-
;afence NV the Teuisiatnre II will maef