The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-01-29
County Division.

SOoasJ 0AvASAOos
We made no reply last week to the strict
ures of the Republican upon our article Of the
previous week on Mr.. Eldridge's county divi-
sion proposition in the Constitutional Conven-
ton, for the reason that We had had an init
nation from Springfield that Mr.. Eldridge was
{ about to present his proposition in a materially
modified form, and we preferred first to see the
snimal in its new shape Since then we have
seen in the Tribune that Nr. Eldridge's modi.
fcatien consists simply in charging the min
imum territory of his new county from 200 to
400 square miles. This amounts to very little,
and we can handle the matter as substantially
retaining its original FORM
The object of Mr.. Eldridge, of course, and
his only object, is to get such a provision into
the constitution as will render practicable the
division of this county, or at least the forma-
ton of new county out of parts of La Sale,
Bureau and perhaps Putnam, with Peru for
the county seat. Now as this can hardly be
accomplished by fair, open handed means, or
such means as Mr.. Eldridge proposes, if his
proposition is correctly stated by the RepuJli-
can, which says Mr.. Eldridges proposition
provides ''proper mode of arriving at the
will Of the people" in the matter, let us see by
what crooked means Mr.. Z. proposes 10 reach
his object
SEc. l, Mr.. Eldridge's restriction that no
county shall have less than 400 square miles
applies only SO long as the new county has less
;. than $4,000 inhabitants. He could carve
county out of six or eight towns around Peru
that would give him the $4,000 inhabitants
and yet leave him less that 400 square miles.
SEC. 2, requiring submission to vote of
the people, is blind to cover the lniquity of
sec. 4, by which the legislature can doyetail
together eight or ten contiguous towns around
Peru, taken from the adjoining counties, and
make them into new county, by receiving
only the favorable vote of the territory &C
tually composing the new county.
And here is exactly where the gasells. in Mr..
Eldridges proposition, comes in. The re-
maing three sections have no reference to his
own peculiar case. They also are mere blinds |
or shells to conceal the kernel in section 4, |
which is couched in these words:
SEC. 4. No territory shall be stricken from |
any county fortbe purpose of annexing the same |
to any other county, unless majority OF the |
legal voters living i'll such territory, voting at an
election to be called for the purpose of deter. |
mining whether such territory shall DO SO strick
en- OFT from such county, shall vote for the same
nor when the population of any such county
shall be reduced to less number than $4,000.
We said Mr.. Eldridge is no FOOL but the |
man is a fool past recovery who cannot see his |
dodge when thus pointed out, and who can |
still have the hardihood to pronounce his
scheme proper" one to reach the end in
view.
The editor of the Republican. whatever may |
be his pretenses, cannot plead ignorance as to |
what are Mr.. Eldridge's OBJECTS. His apollo
gies for Mr.. E., or attempting to smooth over
his proposition. therefore naturally excite sus
picion. The editor Of the Republican NAV,
doubtlss has, particular reasons for wishing to
conciliate the favor Of the west end But for
that reason is he in favor of county division
lfso, why not boldly say so! The course of
the Republican on this question, from BEGIN
ming to end, has been such as to cause no lit
tie uneasness among those of our people who
earnestly dread these insidious movements OF
MIR. Elaridge and his hackers to bring about
division of this county