The Nevada journal., 1856-03-28
Editorial Correspondence.
SACRAMENTO, Tuesday Eve,

SACRAMENTO, tuesday Eve,
March 25, 1866. !
The usual routine Of business has been gont
through with IN the Legislature since my last
None can deny that the Sessions are long
enough daily, if not efficient for the good ofthe
State. With one or two exceptions the i'm.
portant measures are yet all to be passed upon
The State Prison Bill has passed and become
law by the signature Of the Governor. He
ade wry faces over it, but finally concluding
that anything was superior to the present
wasteful expenditure for Prison purposes, ap-
pended his name to the precious document
To-day the contract to keep the prisoners was
let to Gen. Estell for $4,000 per month, for
FIVE years.
am informed the defects in the late Prison
Act have been covered by the contract\ en-
tered into to day between the Commissioning
and the Lessee. If so, it is well. The con.
tract ought to be well drawn, as six hundred
thousand dollars are involved in it, which the
State has at least to pay. The Lessee, Gen.
Estell, binds himself to relieve the State of all
contracts which may exist for and on account
of the Prison, in which the State may be en-
gagged, furnish guards, &C., &c, during the con.
tinuance of the lease.
The Squatter Act has at length after years
of Intellectual squabbling In the Lesislasura
obtained birth. 1t has given joy to the Set.
tiers as a general thing everywhere, but ulti-
mately their joy must be turned into MOURN,
ing, for some of the provisions Of the Act are of
so outrageous and monstrous a nature, that the
Supreme Court Of the U. S. fnot some lesser
tribunal, will declare the law unconstitutional
Gen. Corvarubias proposed the following as
proper title to the Bill: can Act to annul
the Treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo and amend
the Constitution of the United States" which
showed a clear conception of its provisions
On the whole, it is better that the Act should
become law. The great object for which
Settlers have Sc long contended in the Legis-
lature has at last been accomplished, and the
final settlement of the vexed question, is
thrown out of the Legislature and upon the
Judiciary where it properly belongs. The
sympathies of all must be enlisted for those
who have gone upon lands in good faith and
made valuable improvements thereon, but found
in an evil hour that their homes were owned
by another. But it may well be doubted wheth-
er the Legislature Of California is competent
to afford any relief, when the Treaty with Mex
leo solemnly guarantees TO every citizen OF the
territority acquired by that Treaty, all bis
rights ofproperty whatever they may be. Men
will differ, ard conscientiously too, on this i'm.
portant question. though their sympathies may
be all alike. One thing is quite evident. By
the passage Of the Act the State is robbed of
large share of her revenue. All lands are
declared to be public lands, by the Act, and
all lands ofsuch character are not liable to
taxation. The land tax which is now collect
ed in the agricultural districts of the State,
and which is considerable, will be lost to the
State Treasury for some time to come.
The season for Relief Bills is rapidly ap'
preaching A few only have been acted upon,
but quite satisfactory to the claimants. Gov.
Johnson seems to bear them no love, and many
of them may be refined up short on the last
heat.
The Gov. is getting to be as fruitful in ve-
toes as his predecessor No less than eight
have been sent in, and there is strong proba-
bility that there is fright smart spriuklinn
yet to come.
If the two Houses conclude to adjourn on
the 7th proximo, there is vast amount of
business to be done in the intermediate time,
The Revenue Bill, Funding Bill, Consolida.
tion Bill, and host of other important meas
ures requiring time and careful consideration,
are still behind. The Deficiencies in the ap-
preparations of last year, are still unprovided
for. Two weeks are not sufficient to properly
dispose of the important Bills now before the
Legislature, and from present appearances, the
middle Of April will see the Houses still in ses-
sion.
An attempt will be made tomorrow to in.
troduce Bill granting to individuals the right
to construct a magnificent Bulk Head around
the city ofSan Francisco. 1t is represented
that the dirt used for filing in water lots, is
washed into the Bay, and is destroying the
navigation. To remedy the evil, 1t is propos.
ed to build wall of stone cemented with as.
phaltum, from Clark's to Rincon Point This
Bulk Head is to be 100 feet thick on the bot
tom, and extending upwards to above high
tide. The Bill provides for the cession, to
those who contract to do the work, of small
portion of the water front, and the privilege
of collecting wharfage, on the work after COM
pletion, for the period of Fifty years-the rates
to be regulated by the municipal authorities of
the city of San Francisco. According to rep
resentations, some structure of the nature con.
templated is imperativey demanded. Neither
the State, or city Of San Francisco, is able to
complete such an expensive piece of work, and