The Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1852-1872, 1853-04-09
tn Cs,.seu,fou Question Again.


A writer IN the State Journal of the LIST inst,
subscribing himself Rufus" and hailing from
Cottonwood, has taken us very severely to task
for sustaing Senator Sprague's opposition to the
proposed call of a State Convention to remodel
the Constitution. The gentleman says:
"The grounds taken by Mr.. Sprague and the
Editors, are that the people don't wish Con-
vention, and assign as a reason that there is a
more speedy. safe and adequate remedy, for all
defects in our present constitution"
We assigned no such reason why the people
were opposed to a Convention. But we did as
sign our reason for opposing it. Here are our
words:
1--WE are persuaded that the course thus pur-
sued 10y Senator s. is a true exposition of the
wishes of great majority of his constituency.
We ourselves are opposed to the movement for
the reason that the agitation upon this subject
has not sprung from the people. They never
have in any portion of the State, by primary
meetings, petitions or otherwise, so far as we
have observed through the press. asked for any
thing of the kind. The agitation exists in the
Legislative halls of Bencia alone"
But, says Rufus,"-
''They say that the matter has not been agi-
! tated by the people i'll the next BREATH which
shows that they cannot tell whether the ..peo-
pie in favor of against convention
Does not this simple statement bear upon its
| face an inconsistency"
By no means We said that we were "persua-
ded'' that Senator Sprague was but sustaining
the wishes of 'great majority of his constitu-
ency." We were persuaded such was the
case, and we believe soyet. Aagain:
The Editor of the Courier, in my humble
opinion, knows about as much of the sentiments
of the people of Shasta, any citizen of San
Francsco-he having been in that city since
before the Legislature commenced its session.
| mp TO within a very few days of the appearance
of his article-and the only means by which he
could have arrived at the conclusion given, is by
= guessing" Whether a neutral paper can
| manufacture public sentiment end issue it as
" genuine" without amy knowledge of the facts,
remains to be seen. Our Senator is a high
| minded, honorable man. whom onr people have
deli GIFTED to honor, and no can more highly
appreciate our Editor than do but | do know.
that neither of them have had any opportunity
of knowing the wishes of the people of Shasta
ON this subject, and the article referred TO ought
| not to be taken as rejecting our wishes.
| We reciprocate most cordially the kindly feel
ing expressed by Rufus for we are (mind ,
| .'persuaded' that recognize him. However.
with all due Difference, we think % Rntiis" has
made several assertions in the above paragraph
of very doubtful modesty for one who was ac-
cusing another of speaking upon subject about
which lie knew nothing. We did not ''manuiac-
ture public opinion" Neither did we form our
opinion by guessing" We sought occasion to
converse or this subject with gentlemen fiom
various portions OF this district before we ex-
pressed an opinion. But pray, Mr.. Rufus, >
how have you game the information so conf
IDENTITY uttered, that 1.-THE views of Mr.. Sprague
and the editors are not the sentiments of the
people of Shasta County % What facilities have
you that we have not, for learning the SEMI
ments of the people! Nay, have you as many !!
Do we not see in our office more men from va
rous portions of the district in one day than you
do in six! And yet you talk to us of consis en-
cy! And we say now that we have never seen
the slightest evidence that Senator Sprague's
course on this question has not given general
satisfaction
We will not argue this question on its merits
now. 1t is too late i'll the day The bill has al
ready passed the Assembly, and we fear will
pass the Senate Our member, DR.. Cabaniss,
was abseut when the vote was taken in the AS
senlblv.