The weekly Placer herald., 1855-08-25
J. Neely Johnson and his Acts.

inquire lnlO HIS past pOllllCal course. III Oruer
that they might act advsedly, and not assist
in the elevation of man to the gubernato-
rial chair, whose antecedents are not such as
would be likely to promote the welfare of the
State. We have taken some pains to examine
the Journals of the Assembly for the year
1853, of which body he was member, as
we'll as the acknowledged leader of the whig
representatives thereof. and we cannot find a
single act to entitle him to the proud position
claimed for him by his political friends. In
deed we must confess our astOnishment at the
want of judgment displayed by the know
nothings. in selecting him as their standard
bearer. OF all the whig representatives in
the Assembly of that year, there is not one
who. by his acts in that body. does not possess
stronger claims to the suffrages Of the people.
The many acts for the relief of individuals.
and special legislation of that session, with
few exceptions, six in number, found in Mr..
johnson ready and willing supporter; while
his uniform opposition to every measure for
the relief of the settler met with his stern
and vigorous opposition.
Mr. johnson may have the most honest in
tentions, but we fear if elected Governor of
! the State, that his ceverness of disposition
and want of firmness would make him a very
unsafe guardian of the rights and interests Of
the people of the State. But let the record
speak
He voted for q convention to revise the
Constitution of the State. (See page 3l7.)
A measure that if passed. it was urged. would
have cost the State half million of dollars
During the progress of the bill through the
Assembly (see pages 3l5 and 3l6,) ''Mr Cren-
shaw moved to recOmmit the bill, with lnstruc-
tions to the Committee to propose amend
ments to the Constitution in accordance with
Art. X Sec. l, of the Constitution, requiring
biennial instead of annual sessions of the
Legislature, and with amendments abOlishing
the Office of Superintendent OF Public lnstruc-
ton; together with such other amendments as
to the committee may seem proper"
Mr. johnson and every member OF the AS
sembly who signed the Secret Circular, except
Mr.. Cabiness, voted nay on the above motion.
The action of the wings in that body was in
accordance with the plan recommended in the
Secret Circular.
He voted against the Act to abolish the old
Hospital system of the State. See page 6O6.
The abOlishment of the old system as recon-
mended by Gov. Bigler in his annual message
of 1853. has already saved the State over two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. This re-
form Mr.. Johnson opposed.
He voted against Mr.. Hally's Bill for the
protection of the Settler on Public Lands.
See page 643.
He voted against the Act to improve the
Tule Lands. and to secure pre-emption rights
thereon. See page 638.
He voted against Hubb's Anti Monopoly
Bill. See page 225. This bill made it a
criminal offence for speculators to enter into
combinations to advance the prices OF tOur
and other necessares of life. and was intend
ed to prevent the prices of -four from advan-
cling to fifty dollars per barrel, as was the case
in 1852. The bill was lost by one vote.
He voted in every instance to allow public
officers leave of absence to visit the east.
without dedncting their salaries while absent.
He voted for the bill for the measurement
of Lumber. See page 491.
He voted in favor of increasing the salary
of the Attorney General of the State, from
Fifteen Hundred to Four Thousand Dollars.
See page 642.
The Legislature was in session ninety-three
davs. Mr.. johnson was absent thirty-One
days-one-third of the sessiOn-for which he
received his per diem-a greater number of
days we believe than any other member The
ayes and hayes were called four hundred and
thirty three times. We find Mr.. Johnson s
name recorded three hundred and one times.
We look in vain for his votes upon numer-
Gus other important questions before the Leg
islature of that year Among them the pas
sage of the State Prison bill giving to Gen.
Estell Sl50.000 as well as for the Introduction
of single measure to promote the advance
ment of the resources of the State. Not even
a report of any Importance is published in
the Journal bearing his signature as author.
But we trust we have shown enough by the
record to induce every voter of the state to
reflect before he casts his vote against faith
fnl public servant. and in favor of one who
seeks through fOrtuitous circumstances. pO-
sitiOn which he has given no evidences Of ca
pacity to occupy. Times & Transcript.
BENNETT ON KNOW -NOTHINGs.- .-Bennett's
Herald started out drash in support of Know
Nothings. and was for a time their National
Trumpeter. but seeing the Order so rapidly
crumbling to pieces it has changed its tune
and now talks about them thus
There was not so much difference after all
between the violation of private dOmicile
and the removal of United States Commits
sioner on account Of his performance of his
duty. The men who vctimiZed Judge LOring
because he preferred keeping his oath to
breaking it, were just the men to take advan-
tage of popular cry against converts to
burst into female school, insult detenseess
ladies and frighten poor sick girl out of her
life.
There must be some great change here if
the American party is to do anything in this
world Prescriptions of faithful officers of
government, assaults on defenseless women.
invasion of private houses abuse of the RO-
man Catholic religion, are not the thing for
the last half of the nineteenth century. They
would have done very we'll couple of hun
dred wars aoo when there were no daily