The Trinity journal., 1856-03-01
LEGISLATURE.

1IllS DOuy nave HldIJclo pClOlC thNlh VI -
tai Importance to the people of this State,
which if carried into effect will accomplish
more towards giving stability and confidence
in our laws than any other measures that
could be adopted at this time. Judge Ill
ford has introduced bill in the Senate
amending the criminal act and laws in rea-
tion to crimes and punishmcnts, and creating
a remedy for offences made criminal by the
act heretofore unknown to our statutes
The most important of the amendments is
in relation to manslaughtcr This crime IS
punished by imprisonment in the State prs-
on for term not exceeding three years and
fine not exceeding five thousand dollars
The amendment lengthenS the time to a
term not exceeding fourteen years. Tbs is
a most wise and salutary change, and es-
pecally as the death penalty IS aidxed to the
crime Of murder How many persons have
been acquitted uf the crime Of murder for
the want Of a proper punishment being fixed
by Jaw for the crime Of manslaughter. Ju-
rieS viii not convict of murder unless the
proof is positive and admitting Of not a
doubt, and to convict of fmanslaughtor, which
they have a right to do under our statute,
is making a farce Of Judicial proceedings
Sending an individual to the State Prison
for three years for Tie highest crime known
to our laws is SO supremacy ridiculous that it
is seldom done This one provision in our
laws has gone very far in making up the
black page Of our States history in relation
to mob-law 1t is to be hoped that Judge
Tilford will be successful in obtaining the
passage Of the bill into law. Another i'm
portant amendment is abolishing the death
penalty, Or in other words, leaving it to
the discretion Of the jury to imprson in the
State Prison for life, which amounts tonear-
Iy the same thing as abolishing the death
penalty entirely. If these amendments be
come law, as we sincerely hope they may
the guilty will not go unwhipped Of justice
rs heretofore, confidence viii be restored to
the Courts and the laws of our State, and
the disgraccful acts of Judge Lynch will
cease TO exist among us.
a bill has been introduced into the House
by Mr.. Rhodes, dividing the State into Con
grcssional Districts This should have been
done years ago. An effort was made at the
session Of '55 but it failed We hope it will
not receive the same fate at the hands of the
present Legislature The act of Congress
requires it, justice TO the people Of the State
requires it; why then delay the matter any
longcr?-argument is unnecessary to prove
the justice Of the measure, or the public sen
timent in relation to the subject The Leg
isiature should go one step further and say
that the election Of members Of Congress
shall take place at the general election I'M
mediately preceding the term for which they
are chosen The House of Representatives
was intended by the Constitution to repre-
sent the people. In order to carry out this
provision Of tae Constitution the representa-
tiycs must come direct from the people, 1t
would not be straining point to say that
in more than one instance in this State we
would have had a different delegation in
Congress from those representing us, had
the election taken place one year later We
say let the election take place at the proper
time, certain politicians to the contrtry not
withstanding.
If the Legislature passes a few acts of Il
general interest to the State and effect an
early adjournment, they will receive the APP
probation Of the people of California
---------s % 90 SuH-
L.