THE LINCOLN TELEGRAPH.

3 AT h M E:

THURSDAY MORNING, FEB. II

Election of County Officers.
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Our readers, have seen noticed, in the Legisla.
tive record, the different stages of the bill "to
give the election Of certain County Officers to
the people" 1t lis now pretty certain that the bill
must either pass and become law, or be referred
TO the people for their decision at the next Sep.
tenlber election. 1t lis a matter, involving in its
operations, considerations of no small impor-
tance, and should therefore, be carefully weighed
in its various bearings, by those who bear rule,
before final action is taken thereon.


That some Of the county officers should be
elected by the people, is clear in our mind that
all should be so elected, we have our doubts.
We think the same arguments, which conclusive
ly show that our Judges should not be elective
officers, prove also, that County Commissioners
should not be elective officers; and perhaps the
Clerks of Judicial Courts might with much pro-
priety be included.


In Massachusetts,, if we recollect rightly,
commissioners have been chosen for some years
cd of selecting them. In several instances, such
has been the operation of the plan, that several
trials have been found necessary before a choice
could be made. Local prejudices have operated
in every section Of countless in bringing INTO the
field great many sets of candidates, and thus
divisions, strife, jealousy and heartburnings have
been created, which could not have grown out of
the old system, and which it has been found ex-
cecdingly difficult to heal.


In the very nature Of Things, we apprehend that
such must be the tendency of similar change
in this State especially so far as relates to Coun-
ty Commissioners In respect to Clerks of Courts,
Registers of Probate, and Sheriiis the same OBJ
jections would not apply. In perhaps every
County in the State, there are already naturally
existing, local divisions and difficulties enough,
without creating new ones, which might better
be avoided.


The three last named functionaries-or at least
the last two might very properly and ought without
unnecessary delay, to be made elective by the
people. But even here, we think it would be
quite as democratic, to refer the question to the
people, for final decision. However, this last
proposition is not al-important, the people
will not be obliged to keep the power if it should
be returned to their hands. They can, at any
time, give it back again to the Governor and
Council.