The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-05-14
H BOND QUESTION.
Gov. Hardin and the Justices OF
Lafayette County.
From the ST. LeUis Times, May lst.

There is no question Us to the depths
and genuincne>s Of the sympathy which
is universally felt for ~c0untles, munich
p~al;tiGS or other communities, that
through any cause have become involv-
ed IN i ~bUrdens0mo and oppressive debt,
with little or nothing to show for il. At
the same time there is Il principle OF
honor, paramount to the mere impul-
ses Of sympathy, by winch all right
minded citizens are, or should he gov
erncd, in matters affecting the public
credit and without Il gross violation of
this principle, nothing in the atur of
an evasion OF Reputation Of any legal
obligation, especially when iudicially
pronounced upon as binding can for Il
moment be tolerated, nor will it be to
any great extent by the press or people
OF Missouri, in the case of her own citi-
ZenS.
Hence we are quite sure that the pres
elt action of Gov. Hardin in refusing to
accept the resignation Of the justices of
Lafayette county, viii be universally
approved IS the act OF IN executive who
is determined, not only 10 see that the
processes OF the courts are properly en-
forced, so far as lies within his magis-
serial power, but that the g~Ubernatorial
Office shall not suffer, even III appear
ance. the imputation Of c0nniving ut at
tempted dciianceS OF law.
II j. were I'D absolute inpGs6ibility
for the county Of Lafayette to provide
for the interest on her bonded indebted
ness. or we're the danger incurred of in
discriminate and overwhelming bank
ruptcy, this might be alleged as 4 Just
cause for rising IN rebellion against SO
fatal Il catastrophe. but even then the
sworn officials OF the county would best
serve the cause Of justice and protect
their W regulations as ~cOnservators OF
the public interests. by maintaining
their positions to the bitter end, upon
the strict letter OF the law under which
they hold. AS it is, however. il cannot
be urged that any such dire calamity
irpends: anG there is not an intelligent
citizen of Lafayette county but knows
that the resources of the county are am
pie to meet The matured interest upon
its bonds, without necessitating any eX-
traordinary levy. Neither is there an
intelligent citizen of the county, but
knows that this levy is inevitable-that
it must be made-that the debt must
sooner or later be liquidated, and that
an irreverSible decree to this effect has
been already promulgated
The resignation of the justices, there
fore. whether prompted by q fear to act
or Il determination not to act, was i'll
timed, uncalled for, and re%prehensihle
in the extreme, and the Governor did
wisely and well in refusing his acCep-
lance, and in boldly basing his refusal
upon the presumption that any other
would be construed as implying
an endorsement of a plainly r%eyolutiona-
~ proceeding.
He does not assume to rest the pro-
priety of his action on the ground of any
statutory technicality, but upon the high
er moral ground that not without dis
honor and manifest danger to the inter-
of its people. could the State for a
moment become auxiliary to the perpe-
tration of a wrong upon the acknowl-
edged creditors of Lafayette county. BY
thus sedulously adhering to the line of
his duty, keeping uppermost in his mind