The weekly Placer herald., 1854-05-27
From the Times & Transcript.
The Peoples Duty.

have left the Seat of Government, some
TO their constituents and some to go else
where. What disposition they may choose
TO make of themselves hereafter, so far as
most of them are concerned, will excite
bnt little inquiry. We wish none of them
any harm, so long as their occupations
are in the walks of private life, but should
a mistaken ambition direct some of them
we wot, to again aspire to places for which
they are unfit, we shall feel it to be our
duty to enter our protest.
We say having fulfilled their mission,
they have left the theatre of their recent
acts. Ho,e they have fulfilled it is now
the inquiry, and one which it eminently
becomes people, jealous of their rights,
to institute Is it an easy matter for men
clothed in a little brief authority to betray
those who have conferred it, but it is not
often when that interest is taken in public
affairs which becomes an intelligent con-
stituency, that such defaults are repeated
The conduct of our past Legislature Is
one eminently demanding strict popular
scrutiny. An indifference now will sub
ject us again to a similar InfllctlOn, as the
appetite for plunder and personal emolu-
nent seems only to have been whetted
for renewed exertion by the check which
it received in the quarrel over the division.
Let the same influences again predomi-
nate and more cordial understanding
will be had among the spoilsmen. The
grand engrossng topic, the Senatorial
election, seems to swallow up everything
else, or in other words they were made
dependent upon it for their success. Thus
rose all the sordid feelings of IA hungry
band of jobbers and spectators subsidized
in support of a measure to cheat the peo-
pie of their highest privilege. They fail
ed this time to he used at another session
for similar purpose.
We say then to the people that the
times are pregnant with events worthy of
their attention. \ legislature of their
choosing has just adjourned, having
scarcely anything for commentator to
mark their action. Public interests have
been sacrificed to private ambition-De-
mocracy has been forgotten in the chase
for place and favor-the voice of few
people has been conference.-the public
funds have been squandered-schemes of
private speculation have been entertained
to the exclusion of legitimate business,
WuIlt d tlidJOllty vi tIc SClN ants
have shown themselves the slaves either
to their own sordidness or the dictation
of a single unscrupulous asprant. Like
a firebrand, the Senatorial Election was
thrown into the business of the session,
to disturb its progress and mar its con
summation. Not only this, hut with the
perfect knowledge on the part of its
originator, that its effect would be, wheth
er successful or not, to disturb the harmo-
ny Of his party and bring confusion into
the Democratic camp. To show the
crime of this illicit move, it is only neces-
sary to refer to the fact that if at any time
during the session Mr.. Broderick had de-
clared he was no candidate for election,
peace ana quiet would have been restor-
ed, and the business of the session pro-
ceeded with. Truly did the consprators
say, in their address, that on their side
there was no principle involved. 1t was
with them all want of principle and graft
ticatlOn of the one man power. 1t was
elnphatically the ''five loaves and two
fishes" maxim that they were going upon,
and devil take the people and their ex-
pressed wishes. 1t is not therefore aston
ishing that all who opposed them should
an unholy league, offensive and defensive
entered into for mutual protection. Al
ready have they opened the campaign for
the next winter, and in secret laid their
plans to obtain the ascendancy.
We wish to know therefore, will the
people longer countenance those who have
SO fagrantly betrayed them? Will they
suffer themselves again to be deceived
by the same reckless band who have al
ready brought reproach upon our State?
Will they tamely sit by and see the cleo
tive franchise farcified, and the sovereign
ty itself delivered over into the hands Of
ballot box suffers and election bulIes?
If these things are to be arrested, it re-
mains for the people of the interior to do
the work.
The time has arrived for action, and
circumstances demand that they should
be on the alert Already the hired en-
missares of the conspirators are abroad
through the country concocting plans for
future operations. Oly-tongued and cun-
ning-thoroughy indoctrinated in all the
mysteries of the profession-unscrupulous
as to means and fertile in subterfuges to
deceive and humbug, they will leave no
stone unturned to pack conventions and
carry their points. Politicians by trade
have little difficulty under the name of
party to Illustrate the wishes ofthe masses.
The people are unsuspecting and little