Columbia gazette., 1854-01-28
Correspondence ofhe Columbia Gazeltt
FROM THE CAPITOL.
BENIcIA, Jan. 90, 1884.

Three weeks of the ses-
sion have passed--three long and BUSY
weeks, and yet, to the outsider--one
who is away from the scene of action, ii
would seem that but little, very little,
had been done to forward the business
Of the session. But such is not the fact
Work has been performed preparatory
to the active Legislation which cannot be
seen or appreciated by those who only
see the skeletons of the reports, publish
ed in the papers. As well might one
say, that the only business of your Office
was the mere setting Of the types, and
working Of the press, as to imagine that
the great majority of the business of Leg
islature, il what is to be transacted while
the house is in session, each day. With
legislators, as with editors, copy has to
be prepared, the letter cased, the paper
wet, the form locked up, the press and
roller put in order, and register got,
and if the frisket needs new coat of
paste and paper, it must be put on be-
fore you attempt to fly it. So you see,
professionally speaking, there is many a
quoin to drive up before the form is JUS
tilted or a proof got.
Taking all these things into consider
alton, thus far the Legislature has got
along we'll, much better than could have
been expected from so great body Of
men, who were almost all entire stran-
gers to each other thrown together with
but little experience in legislative tao
ties, and surrounded by so powerful and
diverse influences as are always brought
to bear at places where is located the
Capital Of a State, and where clusters
sharpers and spectators, whose great
aim is to annoy and worry the Legisla-
ture to pass laws to meet the views and
aims of interested parties.
The removal of the Capitol is at pres
ent in allegiance. That it will be up
again. is certain. but chat ;t will mass Is
questionable; yet the friends of the meas
ure, are sanguine that they will win.
Many members will vote for staying at
Benicia, who wish, for personal conven-
ience and comfort, to 60 to Sacramento
The habit this State has had of rolling
the Capitol about from place to place, is
the great incentive many members have
in voting for staying here. All feel and
know that Sacramento is far more suit
able for the Capitol than Benicia, but
then, the archieves Of the State have
been removed some six or eight times
already, and members are apprchensive
their constituents would prefer 10 know
at least one year ahead, where the Cap
itol of the State of California is to be
found, and therefore are willing to pu,
up with some considerable Inconvenience
rather than run contrary to what they
belive to be the wishes of their constit-
uents in the matter. This is the posi-.
ton your members occupy at present
Whether any Of them will vote for re-
moval depends entirely what combina.
tions are brought to bear on the ques
ton. One thing you may rest assured
of, they will do what they consider to be
for the best interests Of the State.
The "bribery' case is the only thing
that excites much interest here, at pres.
ent. The prevailing impression is, tha
Mr.. Peck, the Senator making the
charges, is placed in rather delicate
position, and will come out of the fray il
anything but glowing colors. On Tues
day next the subject will be up before
the Senate, and will be thoroughly in
vestigated. If the matter is as Peel
states, it shows ignorance of human
nature and of political tactics almost un
pardonable in acountry, which, like this
is known to possess greater amount o
political shrewdness than any other il
existence. If it is not as he asserts,
proves the man to be demented Ell
ther position is bad enough.
As regards the Senatorial question,
am in the dark. Not being membe
the Legislature, cannot speak from
authority, and I regard outside rumo
as SSidle as the Winds" It is too com
mon hing for writer's to retail rumo
and assert it as s'fixed fact" thereb,
oftentimes misleading the public ant
leausing them to expect things that neve