Butte record., 1854-02-18
WILLIAM CARR

/ Hssembly Of the State of California,
| I'm Legislature assembled
J Your Petitioners, believing you to be fully
conscious of the great fundamental principles
upon which our government is founded, ono
}of which, no freeman would dare dispute, that
Governments are instituted among men, by
the consent, and for the good of the governed"
Believing also, that you fully acknowledge
the right of the governed, to present to
you by respectful petition, their wants and
wishes, and in this manner to ask for such
legislative action, as the people may deem for
the general good.
We, your petitioners, electors Of the county
of Butte, would respectfully represent to your
Hon. body that they have witnessed. with feel
ings of deepest regret the effort made to force
upon your Hon. body the election of an U. s.
Senator at your present session.
Your petitioners would represent, that in the
election of an U. S. Senator, for the next en-
suing term, the people of this State have an
interest greater than the mere policy of party,
and an interest inconceivably greater than the
qualification of feelings of personal ambition
in candi lates for that important office.
Your petitioners claim in accordance with
democratic principles, that they have the right
to know the feelings and views, both of our
Representatives in the State Legislature, and
in Congress; and show to your Hon. body
that by an election of U. s. Senator at your
present session, both these rights of the peo-
pie will be violated-1st, Because in the elec-
ton of cur Representatives to the State Leg
islature, your petitioners relying ON the uni
versal custom of State Legislatures to elect an
U. S. Senator at the Session first preceding
the expiration Of a term in that office, and not
anticipating that this custom would be depart
ed from, by your Hon body, did not demand,
and do not know, as we claim the right, the
opinions and preferences of our Representa-
tiyes, in the election Of an U. s. Senator
\2nd, Because, from the Importance of the Of
flee of U. S. Senator, and the length Of time for
(which that officer is elected, it is of vital in
terest to the people, that candidates for that
office should be presented to the people, that
their opinions and conduct may be fully and
fairly discussed, so that an enlightened judg-
ment may be formed upon the merits Of the
several candidates and the direct Represent
atives of the people, whose duty it is made by
the constitution to elect Senator, may be in
structed, or selected to execute the wishes Of
their constituents
Your petitioners fully believe that in elect
ing an u S. Senator at this session of ycur
Hon. body, both of these rights of the people
will be violated-the powers granted to the
legislature, by the constitution, will be mis-
used-the precedents and usages, so long es-
tablished, that they have acquired the sancti-
ty of law, will be broken through and prec-
edent established in our legislative annals,
fraught with danger to the peoples rights
Your petitioners profess to believe in, to
admire, and endeavor to lend helping hand to
Progress in all her varied forms. vhen she
advances the realsinterest and hap ,iness of
the people; but we most positively declare,
that we cannot approve of such political en-
terprise and experiment, as jeopardize the
principles of democracy, and more especially,
when they come in direct contact with laws
and usages conceived in profound wisdom, and
hallowed by the most happy effects in their
operation.
\ Your petitioners would therefore pray your
Hon body, that law may be passed fixing
tte time Of the election of an U S. Senator,
IT the session of the legislature next prece-
fling the expiration of a term in that Office
Snd would pray you that no action be taken
" your Hon. body, in the election Of an u
y Senator, until after the passage and the
aoing into effect of such a law.
\And your petitioners will ever pray, sc. -
WoMAN's RIGHTs.-We find the following
case, heard before one Of the civil courts in
Canada: