Baker County GaArchives News.....Grand Jury Presentments  June 11 1845
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Albany Patriot [newspaper] microfilm 16 Apr 1845-Nov 1847

11 June 1845
GEORGIA, Baker County.
     We the Grand Jury of Baker County, for June term of 1845, in making its 
General Presentments, beg leave to place first in order, the great question of 
taxation.  The present system of returns is utterly unjust, and the only excuse 
that the Jury can reasonable make for its first establishment and continuance 
thus far, grows out of the late unsettled condition of the State, when large 
portions of it were in the hands of its original Indian possessors.  It is 
thought unnecessary to set forth the details upon which the injustice of the 
system is established; but simply to recommend the method of effecting a change 
in it.  This is to have all returns of property real or personal, improved or 
unimproved, made in the county in which it is located, and the tax thereon paid 
in said county, that the per centage belonging to county purposes may be 
applied in the districts in which they accrue.  The Grand Jury of Baker county 
takes the liberty of recommending this subject to the grand juries throughout 
the State, that it may receive [sic] the earliest attention of the people, and 
they request the citizens of Baker County particularly, to instruct their 
Representative in the General Assembly to propose an amendment of the present 
law at the next meeting of that body.
     The second subject of importance, is that Roads and Bridges.  It is 
recommended that the Justices of the Inferior Court enforce more rigidly the 
performance of the duties of Commissioners.
     The third question after the public support and intercommunication, is the 
education and maintenance of the indigent and orphaned of the county.—It 
appears by the report of the committee on this branch of their duties, that 
there has been no receipt from the State funds, applied for this purpose since 
the year 1841, and this appears to proceed from the neglect of the Justices of 
the Inferior Court, in not returning to the Executive the subjects of the 
charity, within their respective jurisdictions.  This is regarded as a grave 
charge, and should be promptly and carefully attended to by said court.  The 
Jury would advise the Justices of the Inferior Court to pay more attention to 
this important question of public interest; and while they cannot recommend a 
tax for tuition for the present, as there is a small balance in the treasury 
for this purpose, yet they believe if the Justices of the Inferior Court would 
perform their duty, advertising for teachers at proper seasons, and supervising 
said teacher, that such tax would be proper, and would be cheerfully met by the 
people.  Correct the system of tuition and its support will be promptly 
provided for.
     The jury are happy to state that the accounts of the Clerk and Treasurer 
have been examined and found correct.  They further refer with pride to the 
whole economy of this important office, and beg that the credit be duly awarded 
to the present officer.—They are sorry to find, however, that a balnace of debt 
of some $1,223  57 is still against the county, and it is only by referring to 
the important change recommended in the first article of this presentation, 
that we can see the possiblility of relief.  Sixty-two per cent on the State 
tax pays over but $526  00 into the county Treasury annually, and it is 
impossible to increase the burthen [sic] upon the people even in view of this 
liablility, as long as there is a hope of justice from the proper quarter.  The 
assets to meet this debt appears to be confined to a claim now in process of 
collection, but which is so doubtful as to prevent reliance upon it.
     But this debt is not the only source of regret.  The necessity of a County 
jail has been made so apparent during the past year, from the expense of 
transporting and sustaining our prisioners in the jail of a neighboring county, 
that the grand jury find themselves compelled to urge upon the Inferior court 
the necessity of measures for the immediate erection of one.
     In closing their presentment, the jury takes especial pleasure in 
returning their thanks to his Honor for his kindly deportment towards their 
body, and their entire approval of the zeal which he as exhibited in his charge 
in the suppression of crime and misdemeanors.
     The marked attention of the Solicitor General, and his prompt action on 
the part of the State, upon all cases brought before him during the session of 
the jury, cannot be allowed to pass unnoticed, and they take this public method 
of expressing their respect for this officer.
     To the citizens of Baker county, they offer their congratulations on the 
diminution of criminal offences presented to them, especially for gambling and 
illegal traffic, as appears from comparison with cases presented at previous 
sessions of the grand jury.
     Resolved, That the foregoing presentments be published in the Albany 
Courier and Albany Patriot.
                       JAMES A NEWMAN, Foreman, 
Robert S Hooks, 		John L Bailey, 
Sparkman Bowen, 		Jared Hudnall, 
George K Roberts, 		Martin Hutto, 
Thomas Griffin, 		Littleberry Mulky, 
Samuel Clayton, 		William Gaulden, 
Louis G Sutton, 		Abbott H Brisbane, 
John G Sapp, 			John T Sims, 
Asa Sinquefield, 		Stephen Boutwell.
     The above is a true transcript from the minutes of said Court, June 6th, 
1845.
			SETH C STEVENS, 	Clerk.



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