Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-12-20
THE COUNTY SEAT.


We expressed our purpose in our last num-
Der of noticing some of the objections which
in certain quarters. have been urged to the
proposed removal of the county seat back to
Charlestown. These, we feel sure, when ex>
amined will be found worthy of but little con-
sideratiou by the side of the great benefits to
be derived to a vast majority of the people of
the county by the change contemplated.
One of the most plausible grounds of op-
position to the change and, therefore, the first
to be considered is, the taxation to which the
people will be necessarily subjected to meet
the needed expenditure for the accommoda-
tions of the county seat returned to its old
location.
1t is urged that whilst it may have been,
and doubtless was, wrong TO transfer the seat
of the county government from Charlestown
to Shepherdstown, or any where else, still as
it has been done, and a large outlay of money
has been made in consequence of it, it is the
duty of the people of the county, and their
interests suggest that they should submit, and
for all coming time bear the inconvenience
and heavy costs of the present arrangement
rather than seek to remedy it. That this
argument would influence the minds of the
people of the county VIC have no doubt was
the expectation of those who contrived the
removal of the county scat in the first instance,
and who have sought and still seek to con-
tinue it in its present location. Large ex-
penditures of money were made and all put at
hazard upon this idea Instead, therefore, of
the purchase of property in which the county,
should it determine at some future time-as
all thought would be the casc-to re establish
the county seat at Charestown, would still re-
tain its interest and for which it would be able
to realize its value; thousands Of dollars were
invested in improvements which their pro-
jectors we'll knew would be utterly lost the
very moment the inevitable change should
take place. But we greatly mistake the temper
and disposition Of the people of Jefferson
even admitting that the burdens of taxation
will be somewhat increased by the restoration
if they accept the conclusion of the logic
used, viz: that the greater the wrong that has
been committed against them by wasting and
sacrificing needlessly their substance, the
greater the reason why they should 11ely
submit to it. We think that such process of
augmentation as this is not likely TO make a
very deep impression.
But the real question now presented to the
people is, are you contented that your county
, eat, as at present located, shall SO remain p
Or do you prefer for the sake of the con-
venience, accommodation aud economy in ac
cess to it to tax yourselves to the extent Of
the sum required for the proposed restoration
to Charlcstown That restoration, when once
made, will settle, as we suppose, the subject
beyond any further agitation of it; and the
necessary expenditure for the public buildings
when once made will never be required to be
separated.
1t is evident that false and exaggerated
estimates of the cost of reconstructing the
public buildings at Charcstown have been
made with view of defeating the transfer CT
the county seat to that place. 1t is known,
however, to the people generally that the con-
dition of the old court house is such that by
an outlay of from $4,000 to 81, O00-certainly
respect superior to that at present in use, could
be provided whilst the proceeds of the sale
of the old Jail lot and material thereon, and of
the prison buildings at Shepherdstown which,
by the Encouragement of those who changed
our county seat are the only parts of the pub
lie property there of which sale can be made,
would furnish fund nearly, if NOS quite, ad-
equate to the construction of county Jail
and part of the public grounds much more
eligible in every respect than was the locn>
tion especially selected for that purpose.
The objection of taxation, then, when ex-
amincd in view of the facts of the case in
stead of the creation of fertile imaginatons
becomes a matter of small Importance, we
might say of insignfcance compared with the
objects to be effected by the removal now ad-
voeated,
B9~ 4 resolution, impcaching Governor