Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-12-10
The County Seat.

Elsewhere will be found a petition prepared
for circulation among the citizens Of the Couu-
~ for their signatures.
This paper sets forth some Of the many
grounds On which rest the proposition for the
removal Of the County Seat back to the place
fits original establishment. This act Of SIM
ple Justice to the people Of the County, altho
long deferred, is, we trust, about to be cousum-
mated. That it could by any means have
been delayed for FIVE years almost passes our
comprehension. Nothing but the disiointed
and abnormal condition Of tie times can &C
count for it.
We DO not propose to recite the history Of
The transfer Of the county seat from the centre
Of tie coxnty to a remote and inaccessible cor
Ter Of it. This is all known TO our readers
They know how, in the first instance, 1t was
ACCOMPLISHED. and what means have since been
employed to give permanency to the wrong.
They know that whilst the war was raging and
the people Of the county were helpless, with
out any consultation with their wishes, the Le-
cislature of the State was invoked TO do the
deed and Il rdS done They know how reluc-
tant and hesitating Boards Of Supervisors were
coerced, against their judgment, by writs OF
raandan,us, into needless and costly OUTLAWS for
uasightly structures; how, by wasteful ex-
penditure Of the public money, for improve
ments Of private property it was deliberately
determined to present the alternative Of a total
sacrifice Of tie sum expended or an endurance
for all time Of the glazing wrong inflicted
These. however are features Of the case over
which we are willing TO drop the veil Of forget
fuluess. We are Tor general amnesty and are
willing to let by-Sones be by-gOnes-on all
sides. Should this spirit be shared by those
who have a sense, a consciousness Of response
bility 10 this matter, they viii signalize their
entrance on the era Of good feeling by aiding
promptly in the reparation Of the wrong now
under consideration. No personal inconveni-
ence, however great 10 them, should stand for
a moment in the way Of 4 cordial support OF
the measure which the petition referred to asks
a, the hands Of the Legislature. We shall
hope to see, then, that many Of those who
were known to have been Instrumental in the
change Of the county seat to its present location
will gladly and readily append their names to
the petition whenever the opportunity shall
be afforded them.
To that large majority Of the people Of the
county who are known 10 favor the restoration
proposed We earnestly appeal to take this sub
iect in hand Let US especially urge upon them
the Importance Of memorialziug the Legis-
lature in the manner suggested so that that
body may learn, in an unm!slaka6le manner,
their wishes on the subject.
We may in a future number or two discuss
the subject Of removal and present beyond the
simple statement contained in the petition,
land what ought to be sufficient the many
considerations what we believe ought to be
conclusive to every mind Of the proPriety of
the object proposed, and its accomplishment
without delay. Not only does the convenience
Of eight teuths Of the people demandit, but an
economical administration Of the government
Of the county rcquiresjt.