The weekly Placer herald., 1854-08-12
California Federalism.

nat the dOlngS or the bogus leaders
whose headquarters are in San Fran
cisco-their professions and principles of
action-have justly entitled them to the
appellation Of California federalists there
can be but little doubt A brief glance at
some of their sayings and doings will
readily satisfy the most uncredulous of
this fact. By federalism, we mean lack
of confidence in the intelligence and capa-
city of the people for self government,
and by federalst, one who seeks either by
organic laws, legislative trickery or other
wise to rob them Of their power. In
monarchical governments there are two
prominent and separate elements-t
governor and the governed. In demo-
cratic governments, there should and can
properly be but one. The people in the
latter are their own rulers, while in the
former they have little to say in public
affairs. The true democrat, therefore,
while acknowledging the necessity of the
representative principle, should always be
governed in his action with an eye to this
great feature of his faith. The moment
the representative departs from the strict
line of powers conferred, he enters the
wide field of assumption, and thus instead
Of being governed by law, our interests
are subjected to tyrannous caprice or
corrupt and selfish ambition. A line of
demarcation is made between the people
and their officers, and the latter, instead
of being servants, become masters. Thus,
under the direction of bad and corrupt
men, a government, democratic in theory,
may become the worst of despotisnIs. 1t
has truly, therefore been said, that "eter-
nal vigilance is the price of liberty" not
only in its purchase but in its preserva-
ton.
Let us look now at the position of this
San Francisco league of offce-seeking
schemers, who, for the purpose of frus-
tratng the will of the majority, have bolt
ed the regular democracy and set up on
their own account Both in their teach
ings and acts they are true types of tede-
ralism. They not only speak of them
selves as separate from the people-pre-
sumo to act for them, without consulta-
ton, in matters involving their highest in
terests, but at the same time deny, in
direct terms, that they (the people) have
any powers except such as are givem hena
an aoratten charts. In their address, last
winter, they say, ''whatsoever they (con
stituents) do not prohibit (to their repre-
sentatives) they permit; nay, in omission
such as this (not fixing the time to elect
Senator,) they ordain" If this is not
federalism IN its most odious form, then
we do not know what federalism is. Our
constitution does not ''prohibit," in terms,
electing Senator twenty years in adj
vance, and therefore ssordains" that the
people shall be robbed, if their rulers see
proper, OF the important franchise nvolv-
oI al for that nt
Having thus clothed themselves with
full poacer TO do as they please, they de-
clare they are more competent than the
people to determine What should be done.
Addressing their constituents, they say:
"Sent here as your representatives, we
occupy positions which enable us to dis
cover dangers that sometimes escape your
eyes," Here is direct avowal of the
incapacity Of the people to govern them
selves. 1t is the very doctrine and teach
ting of federalism, npsetting at once the
proud theory o! American Democracy.
They tear the people, if the matter be
lett to them, cannot appreciate "the pres
sure ot a great necessity" and hence
Under the direction Of the San Francisco
league, they assemb ed in midnight eau
Gus to tesisiate a rule Deer them They
meet in secret and the dark, like John
Adams and his federal advisers, to APP
point their midnight Judges. Having, as
they thought, accomplished this, they tell
the people that Senators are not their
representatives, hut that of the State, and
of course that they do not constitute the
State, but that their governors and repre-
sentatives and the San Francisco junto do.
"The people cannot have darect voice
in their selection, and therefore properly
reiinquiSh the achole subject TO their repre-
sentatives They do not tell US how
they can be representatives when those
who hove chosen them have relnquiahed
all power into their hands, and therefore
they are the best judges what should be
done. We must infer, however, that
there is some latent meaning in the term
only observable to federal vision.
In the face of these undemOrratic as
sumptions, they were at last compelled to
go before the people. They who had no
voice to elect Senator, nor eyes to see
danger, were at last appealed to in "good
faith aud honor" The issue of last win
ter was submitted to them, with pledge
that they would abide the resmlt. After
full, fair, and ample discussion, the deci
sion was rendered against them. As
county after county "took sides forever"
CONSERVATION seized upcr. their ranks.
The junto straightway c',nvoked it's mem
bers; orders were iSSr od to IFS seryile in