The Van Buren press., 1877-07-03
ALMA'S LAST CARD PLAYED.
N. F. Locke's Circular.

We have seen, within the past two
days, n printed publication, now being
circulated in the county of Crawford, in
the interest Of Alma" which we will
notice briefly, not because it is ,corthy
Of notice, but because it is calculated to
deceive and mislead the people, such
being the object and purpose Of its au-
thor. This circular, aside from the pre-
tended bonds of Locke and Langston,
consists of tissue Of misrepresentation
and falsehood. Like all shameless dema-
gogues, the writer seeks, by INSCRIPTIONS
means, to array tho honestand unsuspec-
ting people OF the country against the
people of Van Buren,, for no other rea-
son but because our people desire to re
tain the seat Of justice at this place.
This writer presumptuously arraigns the
county court, for an allodged disregard
and violation Of law, in making the nee
essary and proper orders for rebuilding
the court house which had been destroy
ed by vile incendiary, when, in fact, if
the county court had failed to make these
orders it would have been guilty of q
gross derilection Of duty, indeed, com
plete abdication of its legitimate pow
ers, by the exercise of which, alone, it
could preserve and protect the public
property. We have heard much, before,
in wordy speeches, about this want OF
power, in the county court, to make
these orders, but the court rightly took
another view Of the subject, and, in the
orders made, doubtless reflected the
wishes of large majority Of the poo-
pie Of Crawford. But let this pass.
And now for the Locke and Langston
bonds, so-called. BY what authority, and
under what law, were these papers filed
in the clerk office We are advised
that no law or authority, whatever, war
ranted the execution and filing of such
papers in the clerks office. 1t is not pre-.
tended that the county is y party to these
instruments, or is bound to recognize
them in any way, or under any state OF
circumstances. When county wishes
q court house or Jail built, plans and
| specifications are agreed upon. tstom-
missioners advertise for the letting out
of the contract to the lowest bidder, and
when the contract is awarded to bidder
he is required t. enter into a boad with
coed and sufficient security, to the coun.
ty for the faithful performance of the
contract, and this is the only kind OF
bond which the law recognizes in such
cases. The county, we apprehend, when
it wants public buildings erected, will be
very apt, by its constituted authorities, tc
determine upon the character and cost OF
these bulldogs. 1t will have its own
p ans and spec iications, and will not be
likely to apply to Mr.. NJ. +. Locke, OF
Mr.. j. NJ. Langston, for such plans and
specifications; nor, indeed, if those pa
pers We're ofany binding force whatever
would the eonuty, under a. V elrcumstan.
ces, accept as free gilt, such . trumped-uy
rooker'es, as Locke and Langston would
offer to the county, because wholly unsui-
ted for court house and Jail purposes.
But why discuss this matter further
The Locke and Langston bonds are not
worth tho paper they are written upon,
and have no more business in the clerk s
office than in the office of any private in
| dividual.
But IT seems these nondescript papers
are filed in the Clerk S office for effect.
Proclamation has been made for weeks
by Alma's chosen champion, the Rey'd
Stewart, that bonds We're TO be filed with
ample security, in which Peter Kuykon.
dali and others were to honor themselves
by becoming bondsmen, conditioned
that if the good people of Crawford
would only locate the Seat of Justice on
Little Frog, Locke and Langston would
furnish Court House and Jail, free gratis.
But, behold, when these papers are pub
liShed, no 2 part of Locke's circular
neither Pete kuykendan, nor any other
name appears as security upon these pa
rcr>.