Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-06-21
Mr.. Henry $. Byarn,
The Proper Persons for Office.

the dearest right of citizen is the elective
franchise And why? Because when he ex-
ercises that right, he performs the part of a
sovereign; he makes laws, and creates officers
to execute them He is only one of many,
it is true: yet in moral sense his voice, or
ballet, is equally as potent as the decree OF a
monarch. The responsibility he assures and
exercises is the same that it would be were
he the ruler of millions; for in this country
every man is a ruler, and every citizen
should so consider himself Do voters think
of this when they go to the polls? 1t is to
be feared-nay it is well established, that
very many exercise the right of elective
franchise without stopping to consider the de-
gree of Importance which attaches to so
sacred privilege.
The present frghtful condition of affairs in
California illustrates in q most forciblc light
the errors of the people at the polls. 1t is
not popular" to tell the people of their faults
or short comings-it is not popular for II
newspaper to say TO it readers and patrons
that they have failed in the performance of
the highest duty assigned to them; but
let the shoe pinch wheresoeyer it may, it is
the province of the conductor of public
journal to speak the truth, though the
heavens fall" We make no charges against
any particular political party; but we would
remind THE PEOPLE that the government is
rotten. and being the soyereigns-being
themselves the government-they are respon-
sble Does any man doubt its rottenness!
Mol Look at things as they exist-look at
the condition Of affairs in San Francisco
study the tone of the press-remember that
mounted cannon and brstling bayonets con
stitute the supreme power in our commercial
metropols-witness the fact that intestine
feuds, revolution, and cirl ioar threaten US
with all their disastrous consequences.
Whence all this trouble? Surely not be-
cause the people are not capable of governing
themselves; for they are capable 1t would
be treason to republicanism to doubt that
they are capable The man who proclaims
for any other government than that of the
people lisa Tory Then the trouble must re
suit from the errors of the sovereigns at the
baIlot-box They have elected men to Office
who were unworthy of the positions to which
they were elevated; they have not voted FOL
principles, nor for men, but for party; they
have given position and political power tc
knaves, fools, gamblers and cut-throats; they
have truckled to the influence Of the vicious
and vile; they have most unrighteously desc
Grated the sacred right of the elective fran
chise. They have (not in all instances bu
too often) made public officers of men tina
should be inmates of prison-housel The,
have made men rulers that should be con
victs. They have, in word, permitted mis-
creants and immoral influences to control tn
destinies of the State. Are not the peopl
responsible? They have done the voting
We do not propose that political partie
be annhlated. 1t would be hopeless III
dertaking. They must and will exist. Br
we do hope that all parties will learn wisdol
from the present difficulties, and select he
as candidates who will honor, rather tina
disgrace their respective positions. If an
party fail to do so, let the defeat OF Its cal
didates attest the sincerity of the people
this great moral reforml We are on the ey
of singularly important National and Stat
election; and, politics aside, men should b
selected for power and position whose mori
integrity will once more establish peace an
good order. The sovereigns are aroused
will the managers of PARTY take a gent
hint? We shall see; and in the meantnl
we shall trust, that there is yet virtue in th
"sober second thought" of free people
REPUBLICAN, BANNER-This excellent p
per, published at Greencastle, Indiana, |
our old friend Brown, we now receive reg
larly in exchange. May its shadow new
grow less"
WELLS, Fargo a. Co., have our than
for files of papers received during the pa
week.
The Tempars give ball at Fiddletov
ON the evening of the 4th of July