LOCATION OF COURTHOUSE
THE ILLINOIS STATE DEMOCRAT
10-MARCH-1849
Mr. Editor: Your columns being open for the
discussion of the removal of the County Seat of Clark County, I
propose to offer a few remarks upon that subject. The
removal of the seat of justice from Darwin about twenty years since,
was premature and unnaturally and unjustly forced upon the people
for the purpose of forever preventing the location of the county
seat, at or near the geographical center of the county, where right
and justice required it, and where a portion of the people who are
determined to maintain their rights, will yet have it.
The question was agitated at a time when the western
part of this county was but sparsely populated, and as a matter of
course the eastern vote prevailed and Marshall was made the county
seat. Since that time the subject of removal of the
county seat to the center, has been more or less more or less warmly
agitated and now the people of the western and other distant
portions of the county, believing that they have the numerical
strength, are determined to make one more effort to place the seat
of justice where nature intended and where the majority of the
people now ant it.
Every argument that is possible for the friends of
Marshall to put forth, we are fully aware will be zealously
enforced. Public buildings, damages and increased
taxation, will stand forthwith most prominent in the
category. But the western people are fully prepared,
ready and willing to dispose of the fallacy of such arguments.
The court house in Marshall is now is in such
dilapidated condition as will require rebuilding in two or three
years. While the donations to the new site for the
county seat will put new and substantial public buildings at
Hillebert Point free of expense to the tax payers of the county.
There is one very important fact connected with this
subject, for the people of the whole county to inquire
into. Why is it that Clark County with revenue, for the
last several years of some $4000 is in debt about $2000 and that
debt steadily increasing? This inquiry may suggest that
a change of rulers and freedom from Marshall domination, as well as
the removal of the county seat, is necesary for the welfare of the
county.
There is a good time coming and let western people be
prepared for the grand rally, which is to take place on the 3rd
Monday in May. Remember it, and organize into bodies of
minute men and let him that is on the house top come down and go to
the election and Hillibert Point will carry by a handsome majority.
Yours Respectfully,
NORTH FORK