Sharp County record., 1883-09-13
THE COUNTY SEAT QUESTION.
LEBANON TOWNSHIP, }
Sept. |, 1883. I


Ed. RECORD In your issue Of the
3Oth ult., l see You take the position
that a majority Of the voters of the
county have said, time and again, that
they did not want the county seat moved.
Now, | am satisfied that you were honest
N your conclusions, but | ask permission
to consider little and see if you are cor
Eect in coming TO such conclusion
in the first election between Center
and Evening Shade the people believed
that ma ajoriry of the votes cast would be
suthcient to locate the county seat Cen
ter received one vote majority over Even
ing Shade; but of course, under the law,
failed to move it; hence another petition
and an election ordered. Without any
ground, either in law or justice, an appeal
was taken and the matter tied up in the
courts about two years. The long
delay caused the people to lose sight OF
the matter; and when the election did
come, not over one half knew when it
was; and in two townships, the judges
being opposed to removal, refused to hold
the eIection--henoe another failure and
another petition, putting in nomination
four places. The petition was filed at the
January term of the county court, in oder
TO bring on the election at a time when
people would not oe so busy in their
crops. But what was the result? At
that time, the legislature was in the act
OF converting, and the object was to try
and smuggle through that body, against
the wish Of the people, an act to establish
two county seats in the county. Not.
withstanding the lew positively saws that
whenever one-third of the qualified elect
ors of a county join in petition for the re.
moVal Of county seat, the county court
shall order an election (no may about it.
but shall) and notwithstanding the law
is SO plain, the Honorable Court allowed
che petition, containing six hundred and
sixty-nine names, filed, but refused to
hear it read or have unything further TO
do with it, at that term of the court, and
continued it till the April term, to give
tne parties about evening Shade, and one
man at Williford, chance at the add.
tlonal county seat.
Wen, some of the petitioners, seeing
chat the election would come on in the
most busy season of the year, asked me
TO have 1t postponed till the July term. in
order that the voters might get through
with their worE, So you see, that through
the unjust and illegal acts of the couFb |
another delay of SIX months, and the pej-
pie again lost sight Of the matter, anda |
great many knew not when the election
was, and again no election was hel5i in
two townships. Besides, this has been
one OF the most sickly seasons wshave
had ior years. AT least double tho mum.
Der necessary to be majority, yero pre-
Ventac from voting on accountof being
sick themselves or their families. And
On ACCOUNT of the delay in January, it
was held, bat uDiustly, that he election
should be governed by theilaSt assess
ment, which 10 larger thai the one next
preceding The Cling of tEe petition, and
: : z e ies YY97-uPi55gd. I0 may ask, WhV /
Il was unjust? 9. Simply from the fact
mat the increase of taz payers on the as
'eSsment are new. coysrs who are az.
sesSed, but not in the yft,.e long enough
now we have lacked setenty.one votes
j haVing majority fer r.moval. I will
'ayI AZ least Seventyon in favor of re.
lo noaal were prevented, By sickness from
''ing; TWO hundred hew not when