The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-09-07

uments to show how much Jackson
county received Of the Surplus Rev.
enue, during Van Buren's administra-
ton. I had nothing to show the
amount. I referred him to the books
in the Auditors office. He said he
had been there, but he could not find
it. I told him that when | was Pros
ecuting Attorney, in 1866, |
brought suit for the county in num-
ber of cases to foreclose mortgages
and collect the last Of the Surplus
Revenue which the county had loan
ed to individuals years before.
Mr.. johnson gave me quite an in
teresting account Of the Internal Rev
enue distribution. Any school teach
er will remember that the history of
the country shows that during the ad-
ministration of Martin Van Buren the
United States was out of debt, and
surplus had accumulated in the treas
ury. The Democratic party was In
power, and at thai time it was. opposed
to internal improvements, and no river
and harbor bill could have been passed;
so Congress passed a law to distribute
the surplus Revenue among the States,
according to population.
Mr.. johnson says that the Whig par
ty had a majority in the Ohio Legis-
lature at that time, and they came to
the conclusion that with this surplus
Revenue they would establish State
Bank, with as many branches in the
counties as the fund would justify.
Jackson county had no bank, and
the people had very little money, and
the people desired to have the money
loaned to such of them as desired to
borrow, and had lands to mortgage as
security. The Democrats in the Leg
islature generally favored this plan.
Mr.. johnson was engaged to go to
Columbus to lobby for the distribu-
tion. He went to Columbus on
horseback, and by engaging such men
as David Tod, Mr.. Vanmetre, and the
Representative from this county
Col James Hughes, the law for the
distribution Of the money among the
counties was passed.
Mr. johnson spoke with pride of
I, III e., l,1 oxr,, ~, i
town, not only as to the Surplus Rev
enue, but when he was a member Of
the Legislature. He said that at that
time a large portion Of the town OF
Jackson was public commons, and
could not be sold or improved Large
numbers Of sheep pastured on the
commons, and they went into the old
Court House at night. and when it
rained. The people were not able to
finish the Court House, and it had nc
bench or bar, and no shutters to the
doors.
The public lands known as the COM
mons, in town were under control OF
an officer called a Director Daniel
Hoffman was Director at that time
Mr.. johnson at that time could write
beautiful hand, and it was the uni
versal opinion that on paper he was
one Of the ablest lawyers in the State
He said he got up petition in the
finest style he could, and all, or nearly
all, the citizens of Jackson signed it.
asking the Legislature to pass an act
authorizing the Director to sell the
commons, and with the proceeds to
have the Court House finished. He
said some Of the lawyers in the Legis-
lature raised constitutional objections
They admired the petition, and noted
the unanimity with which the citizens
had signed it, but the committee to
which it was referred had decided to
report against it; yet by great effort
he finally succeeded. The commons
was laid out into lots and many of
them sold, and the Court House was
finished. The commons was no longer
used as sheep pasture, and the Court
House as sheepfold.