The Placer herald., 1856-05-10
Our Cotemporary of the Press.


position through his proposition for law to
require naturalized citizens to exhibit their
papers or be deprived of that privilege of
citizenship, dcvotes quite a lengthy article in
his last issue, with the endeavor to throw
dust into the eyes of the public. With re-
gard to the point of difference between the
Press and the Supreme Court, it is this:-
The Press argued at great length, that the
oath of the party, as to his citizenship, ,cas
insufficient, because a prosecution for per-
jury would effect nothing in any given
case, for the reason that one would not
be able to prove that the accused was not
citizen.
"What possible show is there" asks the
editor, "under Heaven to convict such
man." and he further refers to it as ''involv-
ing the hopeless task of proving negative"
Now, the Supreme Court in addition to
deciding as to what is law, plainly indicate as
their opinion that prosecution ecould be
efectire, and that punishment for perjury IN
such a case is as practicable as IN any other.
They say that: "the liability of a criminal
prosecution, if the juror swears falsely, miH
be tound Sufficient sotcguo,d upon the p,tri-
ty of hejury bor.'
The Press holds that the liability of
criminal prosecution amounts to nothing,
and this Court, in "whose ability the editor
has great confidence" and with whose opin-
ions he ''pertectly agrees" says that 1t is a
sufficient safeguard upon the purity of the
jury box.
We know the editor urged the alteration
of the law and that was the gist of his art-
Gle, but he based his reason for it on the
ground that there was no security against
imposition.
The Supreme Court not only SAYS it is law,
to receive this oath as test in given cases,
but is so, for the reason that a prosecution is
feasible and sufficient to prevent imposition
in that way. Politically the discussion of
the question amounts to but little at this
time, as no such law as the Press desired has
been enacted, and we have only referred to
it, in order to exhibit the artful dodge of
our cotemporary. We are reminded in this
same article, that it is the know-nothings
only who hare wiMdromn from the order,
who are now acting with the Democracy,
that are guilty of perjury.
If this be true, we presume the know
nothngs of the Eastern States are acting
quite consistently with their oaths, in joining
with the Black Republicans. They have
succeeded most admirably in foistinr that
party into power in Rhode Island, in oppo-
sition to the Democrats, and in Ohio they
~ tol Il,
nations of Philadelphia A most sngu-
lar obligation this must be- that permits the
initiate to do ererything but join the ranks
of the Democracy
1t is not until the editor draws near the
conclusion of his harangoe that he becomes
excruciating. Then, indeed his sarcasm
breaks forth in all the blaze of italics, black
letter, and capitals. Gloryng in his own
shame he endeavors by quotations from the
Herald of 1854, to contound us in the same
mesh with himself This 5tE section, which |
he quotes was part of his thunder last year,
and we advise the gentleman to keep it as
standing matter, and parade it before the
public whenever lie is short of powder.
In January last we came into the Herald .
office, and for all matters appearing under
the editorial head, we are properly RESPONSE
ble-previous 10 that as we were not in con-
trol-we submit if by any rule we are an
swerable, We have not the happy faculty .
of drawing on new political coat every .
year or two, and being falible have probably .
faults in our time-for those faults .
we are answerable.
Now we challenge the gentleman to show
by word or writing that we ever advised or
sanctioned this 5th section. 1t was one of the |
errors of the times, condemned by the party |
at large, never intended by any one for any
thing but temporary and local purposes
Moreover the proposition was to apply to |
primary elections, where no one has the
power to administer an oath, or punish for
frauds, and if it had been acted upon, was not
to apply as the Press wishes t:-on the day
of the legal election. BY the operations of the
proposition, a person might be deprived of
his voice in party councils, but the reader
will at once observe that no citizen would
be effected thereby at the actual voting.
We were not on either of the committees
referred to in the Press, and onl y make these
explanations that the facts may appear, with
out being understood as sanctioning the
measure.
The editor and his friends profited by our
unfortunate division in 1854, to get into
power, where they have the satisfaction of
knowing that they represent minority of
the people, and no doubt, it would be pleas
ing to them to have us continue the same
quarrel, but we can assure the gentleman
that Democrats have too much patriotism to
permit at a time like this, "reminiscences of
old quarrels to palsy their efforts. The editor
fairly gnashes his teeth when he finds we
cannot be drawn from the consideration of
national questions, to fight the battles of
1854 over again lie need, however, restrain
his anger, for it is useless the people have
had ouite too much cxperience with the great