Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-04-30
ToWn.Sir aIee1InE..

Editors LHtsliigaesf: ~.
The general neglect Of this Institution Of
our new State govtrnmeut on Thursday
last, In at least some portions OF our city,
would seem to SHOW a want of apprecia-
ton Of an importantfeature IN the new re.
gime, were 1t not for,the fact that the PEG.
pie have really had no opportunity 10 be-
come acquainted win iIs Dature aud de-
sligo. The establishhent of these meetings
of voters and investing them with certain,
Legislative powers, q rather the recoguiI
log Of their right directly to exercise these
powers, together With certain others such
as The leVying Of township taxes, &C.,
which under the oldiysten were perform
ed for them by sHudfy officials Of which
they sometimes knew very little until the
tar collector came round, this, say con-
stitutes par eXcelleuce the democratic ele
meut of the new Safe govsrnmeut. Sup
pose We look little more closely at the
functions 70 be Performed in these meetings,
even within the city limits where they are
far more limited ttan in the country town :
ships. 1t is generally acknowledged that
. free government fanuot he permanently
maintained unless there be general ex-
preston Of the minds OF the citizens Ut the
ballot box. The meagre vote OF Thursday
may be readily accounted for when We note
that considerable portion Of those who did
vote, stated that i vas by the merest acct.
dent they had leaned that an election was
going on. NoW.s6ppose q township meet
ing TO have previously provided for the
conspicuous posting Of printed notices and
the publication thereof by newspaper (see
Acts, chap. As. sec. ~ and the evil would
have bsen at ea6tPartially remedied. Such
publication aud even that by written post
erS. which is not 81 all opIiOnHl with the
townships, involves some expense which
must be betrayed from the. township
treasury, and can only be levied in town !.
ship meetings. The law. too, requires that
the Clerks office shall be furnished with
books for township journal aud accounts,
With stationery, &c, the expenses of which
can oply be betrayed and levied iu such
meeting (ChaP. 50, secs. 10 and III. For
the raising aud rIPenjIng of funds re
quired as above, aud otherwise the law
requires that iu open meeting of not less
than thirty voters. Township Committee
shall be appointed who shall ascertain the
amount necessary to be levied to meet the
current and contingent expenses Of the
coming year. Sc. TOE meeting may, II
good cause appear, correct their report
and after making allowances for deliu.
queucieS, collectors fees, 80, shall cause
the amount TO be levied, So. (chap. SO
sec. IL The game committee must auiiI
the expenses OF the Clerks office, (sec. 10, ]
also must examine all accounts and claims
against the township, and allow or disaI.
low. the same, without which action money
cannot be dis6ursed from the township
treasury (seo. Ia.
Then there is other business not abso.
lutely required, but which might be desi
rable TO transact. For Instance, the Law
(Chap. SO, secs. 10 aud 12) provides tbs
the voters may FL the amount Of bond!
required to be given by the CLERK anC
Treasurer. Ills the opinion Of many tbs
the amounts now required are tor the CltJ
townships about i've times higher thar
they should be, aud that ii would be fo
the public interest that they be reduced
accordingly.
only add thst if these words meet tb,
eye Of any voter who loves our new Stat
and would see its free Institutions flourish
be il earnestly sntreaIsd 10 attend th
township msetipgs, and urge others To d,
the came. S. G. s..