Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-10-24
THE pEFEAT OF JOHN NORRIS.

we can not regret the defeat of Mr.. NOR
MS, in 80 far as he is Individually con-
cemed, we do deeply regret that he furn-
fshed the reasons for, and cause Of 1t.
The Republicans of Perrysburg, in 1871,
were fully aware that Mr.. NoRRIs was in
favor of Bowling Green as the seat of 's-
tice and that he had advocated and voted
for It's. removal to that town; yet they
aided materially In his nomination, and
supported him cheerfully at the polls, be-
cause they believed him to be an honora.
BILE man and that he would represent the
views and wishes of his constituents
fairly and impair tally. Indeed, If we
are correctly informed, cltizans tf Per-
rysb rg, ourseh being one of the num-
her, were the first on May IL, 1871, to
request him to suffer himself.to be placed
In nomination for r. preventative.
When the gentlemen having In charge
the petitions and bill fDr an enabling act,
visited Columbus In 1872 for the purpose
representing them to the legislature, they
immod ately upon their arrival at Colum-
bus called upon Mr.. NORRIS, made known
their business, and slid to him, frankly,
that inasmucl "a he was our Represen-
tative, they pr, f rred to place the m ttter
In his hands IL he thought he could take
charge Of it without preju lice to himself
or our interests.
They went farther, and said to him that
they were well aware that he was In IA
vor of retaining the county-seat at Bow
ling Green, End that they had no otjsotion
70 his stating that fact to the House when
he pres onted the papers, but that they
could not entrust the business to his
hands, unless he felt that he could attend
to 1t with impartlality. If he SO felt.
they desired TO place the papers in his
care, but il otherwise, they would seek
some other member to present the peti
tions, introduce the bill, and take charge
of it.
He expressed hims IF as highly pleased
with their frankness and assured them
that IL they would place the matter in his
care he would attend to it fairly and hon
orably that he would state to the House
when he presented the papers, that as a
citizen of the county he desired the coun-
ty-seat to remain where at present loca-
ted, but as both the petitioners and re-
m )nstrants were alike his friends and
had alike cheerfully supported him, he
would submit the question to the deter
mination of his fellow MEMBERS, reserv-
ing the right to vote as he thought best
when the bill should be put upon Its
final passage. With this the committee
was satisfied and placed the papers in his
charge. Upon several occasions after
wards, he expressed to his fellow men,
bers his great qualification at the conf
dence reposed in him by the gentlemen
from Perrysburg, aud he was assured he
had reason to be proud of it, as few mem
bers circum stanced as he was, could have
commanded it.
Thus matters Stood until the commit
tee from B )wling Green arrived upon the
scene of action. Soon thereafter, a change
was observed to be creeping over him ant
In short ii ne he became the open and
avowed champion of Bowling Green, and
the bitter rampant and unrelenting enemy
ofPerrysburg. He.assumed the task, and
from thenceforth was animated by thu
one single object of defeating the bill HI
had himself introduced and at the head o
which stood his own name. There wer'
no means, considerations or instrumental
tiles suggested to his mind by his owl
reflections, or by others, which in his owl
judgement would tend to, or aid in defeat
ing the measure which he did not use t,
accomplish the one great object in view
Among other things he obtained a maj
of Wood county and with that und hi
arm, he prominaded the hall OF the House
day after day and week after week, halt
ing every member he could, and pointin,
to Perrysburg as located upon an exteri
or line of the county.
The Senate committee having the bill
in charge de.ignated day upon whicl
they.would hear the arguments of the re
spective contestants. At that hearing
Bowling Green was represented b,
Messrs. CANARY and BoUGHToN and Pei
rysburg by Messrs. HoLLENBEcK an
Ross. The committee was very kind an
obliging and had two sittings so as t
give opportunity for full discussion an
presentation of the subject. We are in
formed that the remarks of CANARY, Ros
AMI HoLLESBECK, were in spirit, faiI
candid, dispassionate and strictly argu
mentative, neither of them indulging /
an unkind fiction even by innuendo
Our friends upon their return, reporte
the argument of MIR. CANARY as beini
clear and strong as his cause admitted
yet marked throughout by csndor an
a gentl.manly department. MIR. BoUGH
TON, on the other hand, as he was warme
by the sound of his voice and the play @
his faculties, became somewhat bite
and vituperative, but they attributed hi
forgetiulness to his over zealousness an,
laid up nothing against him.
Delicacy and the flintest sense of pro
priety should have restrained Mr.. Non
RIs from attending that discussion, bu
instead of this, he vacated his seat AM
neglected his duties in the House, an,
throughout clung to CANARY and BoUGH
TON "closer than brother" When tn
gentlemen above named concluded thei
rcm rks, Mr.. NORRIS arose with the MAJ
under his arm, and with unbIushing et
frontery requested the committee to hea
h'm upon the subject. Being a membe
dfa coordinate branch of the Legislature
decent respect to that body precluded
refusal. Thereupon he launched forth il
one Of his most Incorporate and abusiv,
harangues.
He declared that at leasttw thirds anc
probably three fourtiS Of the people {
the county, were opposed to removal, not
wIthstanding there were more names OF
the petitions than on the circumstances
that the Petitions were largely fraudulen
by reason of the names Cf many person