Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-04-16
THE COUNTY SEAT AGAIN.

appeared in the Shepherdstown Register of
the week previous, had some slight sus-
pfcion that we we're replying to an effueion of
the inimitable Chaplne, but the disguise
which he had attempted by his disrespectful
reference to the "shoulder.strap gentry par
:. TALLY threw off the scent of the very game
We were after. We have since ascertaiLed
to almost undeniabe certainty, that SIX"
and Joe, our bully joe" are one and the
same, aud that they are as closely allied as
IcKevH and AcKeeUat. We are heartily
glad that old friend has thrown off the
mantle of his senatorial dignity, and laid
aside his towering political aspirations for tho
time, and with kindly condescension under
taken to discuss the important question as to
the proper locality of the county seat of JEFF
terson. 1t gives us hope that the question
may be aSitated to extent that will cause
the people to reflect upon the enormity of
the oUtrages that have been inflicted upon
them, and in which *" or "Joe," as you
like best, has borne conspicuous part-out-
RACES in comparison with which any injuries
done the people of Jefferson by the "shoul>
der-strap gentry" are but as "dust in the ball
ance."
As to the authority of the Board of Super
visors to order the sense of the people to be
taken upon the question of removal of the
county seat, we not willing to admit, as
claimed by ''A, that the action of the Leg
ls!ature OF the State, which in the exercise of
a usurped authority assumed to control that
which legitimately belonged to another body
divests the Board of the power to act in the
premises. We know that at the instance of
Chaplne-whose blind lead the Legisla-
re has ever seemed too eager to folow-a
was passed in 1866, permanently locating
county seat at Shepherdstown. But the
Sage of this very bill was gross usurpa-
of authority; or else was the result of
xcusabe ignorance the part of those
Eho held seats in that Legislature
by the constitution of the State, the Su-
rvisors of each county, under such general
uiations as are prescribed by law, are vest
with the superintendent and administra.
OF the ''internat Gfil'rs and fiscal con.
ee3S,as IF their county," and in the general
lSSS Regulating and defining their duties, we
the following provision :-(See chap. rs,
1t it tecomes neces airy or desirable to the
county sea- OF any county 10 any other place with.
in the same and such removal is deemed advisable by
majority OF The board of Supervisors OF such countI
J al leaSt I three fFJh
OF the vo'ers Their OF voting .'tor removal" and
asnInst removal. at the annual township
ell ciious for the said county or at intermediate
speca elections appointed by said board to be held
III rach uship thereof, less than thirty DAYS
alter such appointment, the land with the buildings
thereon heretofore used for county purposes NAV
be sold aud the proceed applied so far as NAV be
nectss1ry, 10 The acquisition OF the necessary land
nj the place 10 which has been determined TO re-
move and The erection of other buildings thereon
Such removal aud the sa= may be had nolwith-
standing the land f"rmerly occupied may have been
donated or.s"d TO the county for the purposes for
which it has been used, unless the grant he eof con-
tain an express clause TO The effect that The remov-
al OF the buildings OF the county seat such land
shall revert to the former their heirs in
winch case II Shall SO revert.
so that it is evident that the passage of
Joe's bill permanently locating the county
seat at Shepherdstown, was n exercise of au-
thority not vested in the Legislature but
which clearly belonged to the people them
selves
Again, an attempt is made by ''N'' in his
communication to brighten the people and the
Board Of Supervisors from their propriety, by
holding up to their view the Impoverished
condition of Old Virginia, which he has help
ed to rob of some of the brightest jewels in
her crown, stating In effect that return to the
bosom of the old Commonwealth, would crush
the people beneath the weight of intolcrable
taxation. Properly, this is a separate and dis
tnct issue, and has no connection with the To-
cation OF our county seat; but as he has in
troduccd 1t, we not reluctant to enter into
It's merits, and if in its discussion we should
say some uncharitable things, Joe may credit
them to his own imprudeace in venturing SO
FAR from shore without the proper equipments
for voyage.
We wish to ask few questions Does
West Virginia mean to repudiate her portion
Of the State debt which, was contracted when
her territory formed part of the Old Domin
ion! If she does not, will not the people of
Jefferson be taxed to pay whatever of that
debt is adjudged to belong to West Virginia?
by what system of Iegerdemain or open ras-
ca!ity are they to escape it? And if West
Virginia assumes her portion, as she will have
to do,wlll not Jefferson and Berkeley counties,
which now furnish so large portion of the
revenue of this bastard State, be assessed still
more heavily to meet the demands of an emptv
treasury? Every sensible man has the an
s"er to these questions in his own mind Joe
ChaPhne might be willing to repudiate, but
we hope there is still honor enough left, even in
West Va, to shoulder as much of the debit 10
belongs to her y word in regard to taxes in
the two States. Last year the ad;oip;r,, oo,,,,