Calaveras chronicle., 1852-02-14
The County Petition.


investigation into the corrupt and fraud
ulent proceedings connected with the
county seat elections-which has been
in course of signature throughout the
county-has been transmitted this week
TO the Legislature. Its great bulk be-
speaks how urtxersallyit il has -hAen sub
scribed. Indeed, every camp south Of
MokeIumne River has signified its
wishes on the subject, all anxious that
the courts and county Offices should be
located in more central position, and
one easy of access from all parts of the
county.
Accompanying the petition is mass
ofdocumentary evidence drawn up with
the greatest care, and duly verified on
oath, which must necessarily carry con-
viction to the most skeptical, that illegal
and corrupt practices prevailed to a
fearful extent at the elections referred to.
In our last number we stated a few
of the facts connected with this base
proceeding. Since then we have been
favored with copies of the sworn testi-
mony, fully sustaining the statements
advanced, and laying bare a preconcert-
ed scheme to thwart the wishes of the
people, in which the plotters seem to
have freely availed themselves of fraud
ulent returns, gross bribery, and we
regret to say, even perjury.
The parties interested in maintaining
this reign of fraud, dreading an expo
sure, have been moving heaven and
earth since the meeting of the Legisla-
ture to bolster up their cause, and,
mindful of THEN old tactics, have been
dispensing their favors with no niggard
hand. There are those in our Legislature
who are directly Interested in the sue
cess of the Jackson speculation, and we
have heard it reported that three mem
bers of the delegation from this county
are already pledged to maintain the
present arrangement. But such is the
force of testimony which will be pro-
duced, that no man, with any preten-
sions to candor or impartiality, can re-
sist the prayer of the petition, for an
investigation. This is all we want
Let US have an opportunity to prove
our case, and the Legislature may then
take such action on the matter, as in
their wisdom shall seem fit.
We are not particularly anxious to
have congregated around US the immac-
ulate official clique who were concerned
in this fraud-and in this we are
strengthened by the opinion of our plain
spoken, honest cotemporary, the West
ern American, who says =" If the
county seat of Calaveras county brings
into its neighborhood such a pack of
impudent and ignorant legal rascals as
congregate around some county seats in
our State, the people of Mokelumne
Hill are well rid of it.''
We have received the jackson Sen
tinel, and perceive that the editor has
devoted large portion Of his space to
this subject. But as he deals so largely
in sophistry, and does not even attempt
to disprove our statements, we do not
think it necessary to recur to them, nor
to bring up additional testimony. We
cannot, however, refrain from noticing
his statement that, with one exception,
all the large towns are on the north
side of the river, and that they are sat
isfed with the present location of the
county seat. Everybody knows that
the only place deserving the name of
town, besides Jackson, on the north, is
Volcano, and the returns prove that
this precinct cast large vote for Mo-
kelumne Hill. In enumerating the
large towns Of his section, we are sur
prised he overlooked Greaserville and
Pekin.
We fling back with contempt the
impudent sneer at the citizens of the
southern portion Of our county. In
liberality and enterprise they are not
surpassed by those of any part of the
State. Their towns are built with regu-
larity and neatness, and Of substantial