San Andreas independent., 1857-05-09
Closing Scenes of the Legislature.


On Thursday. April 3oth, 1857, the
memorable Legislature of q thousand
privileges = closed its session BY the re-
quest of large number of Intelligent read
crs, who are tax-paying, working men, we
copy the proceedings, knowing, that as the
principal speakers are representatives of
this county the speeches cannot help but
prove interesting to this community These
skirmishing reyersions but forshadow the
spirit in which the next political campaign
will be conducted. We neither approve
nor condemn the views of either speaker
having nothing to gain or lose in the con-
test. We copy the "closing scenes merely
as the best :" news item at hand
The following resolution was offered by Mr.
Pierce:
Resolced, That the thanks of this Assembly
are due TO the Honorable f. I. Beatty for the
able and impartial manner in which he has dis
charged his duties as presiding officer of this
House.
Mr.. WATKINs-I had something to say upon
that subject, and upon other matters, if | am
permitted do not know as shall be. Go
on, go on | will PREMISE Mr.. Speaker, by
saying that am opposed to the passage of this
resolution. If ever there did exist a time when
for forms sake | could say or do anything, that
time is not now. If | am permitted to speak
now, will speak those things which are the
dictates of truth. l shall speak for the cause
nf truth / do nofca n,-i,,-
BILE self, Mr.. Speaker, Mr.. ONeill in the chair
was not embraced in the resolution and then,
perhaps, might have said something a little
stronger than | shall now say If am permit
tied, | shall make this declaration-that neither
you, nor your Honorable Speaker nor this Hon
orable body, nor |, have performed our duties
with ability, with impartiality and with fidelity
and we ought not to say that of any one of U.S.
| have no more against the Speaker than have
against all, for it is notorious that we have done
things that we ought not to have DONE and left
undone things which we ought to have done
and there ought to be salvation for any Of
us, no not one, before the great body Of the
people
Now, Mr. Speaker, Office holders, office-seek-
erS, office spectators, lobby members-those
great curses of this and any other State
have had their ready and jealous advocates
have been so poor as to do California rever-
erence. This is sad truth, but it must be told
and you shall not engage me to so far forget my
duty to whitewaSh you, or your honorable
Speaker, or our honorable selves. Mr. Speak
er, this is the first Legislature in which have
been, in all my life, when | seemed to be against
every man and every man against me. look
around he in vain to find single human be-
ing to whom am united by any feelings OF in
tercst or sympathy MI seem to be dissimi-
lar to me in reflections, in manners and in hab-
ts-and sometimes ] imagine myselflikea lone
tree in 4 vast desert. with no companions stand
ing near to shelter aid in resisting the iercc
shocks of the bowling blasts or the desclation
Of the raging storm. came here by no desire
of mine by no request of my own, but by the
kind indulgence of the people of Calaveras,
though not soliciting ] was sent here But
when I came here. [ came with determina-
ton to right the financial department of gov
ernment. This was full occupation for any
man. More than | could do. even when fol-
lowing in the wake Of stronger men. Are YOU
looking for the five minutes. Mr. Speaker?-are
you looking for that five minutes? [ do not
wish to ask anything of the courtesy of this
House, Go on )! go on!]
Mr.. O'NEML The Chair will inform The gen.
tlenlan when his time is up.
Mr.. WATKNs-Well Mr. Speaker. when
am interrupted my mind is diverted-and see
you anxious to divert it-so that am hard
" aware where left off. | must needs COM
mence anew. When [ came here thought we
came professcdly as retrenching. reforming
Democratic Legislative body, and hoped that
should look to righting of the financial affairs
of our government, and look to nothing else but
the best interests ofthe government. But in this
was deceived. Measures have been introduced
and advocated here which felt it my duty to
oppose, and | have made that opposition on the
impulse of the moment. You do not bring in
bills regularly, as in the
Mr.. O'NEILL-Tbe gentleman's time has ex-
pired.
Go on go on. so on!
Mr.. WATKINs-Well, Mr. Speaker, this is the
second interruption l have met with. have
spoken impulsively, perhaps hastily at times,
but spoke the sentiments of my heart, and
whatever they might be. | was bound to give
them utterance. If they were obnoxious to
yourself you should hear them, for | ask no fa-
vor of mortal man. Thank God feel pecuni-
arily and politically independent of everybody
owe no allegiance to any one but the Lord
God Almighty and the people of Calaveras.--
Now have undoubtedly said many things un-
pleasing, without that reflection aud preparation
/ by which we can make things set easy. True
it is, that with more preparation those rough
points might have been rounded off, but what
has been said, has been said-it is passcd-it
was true, and having, as | said no fear or favor
for any man, leave the record as it stands
have sought to gain no mans favor upon this
floor. Those who have shown disposition to
| associate with me, have met half way, and be-
tween those who appeared distant, | myself
have sought to increase the distance. | have
! hoo hot, hoe do,,
here and elsewhere ms not Democratic. My De-
mocracy is founded upon the imprcscriptable
rights of man. My Democracy is founded upon
the declaration to all men of offreedom of thought
freedom of opinion and freedom of action Nv
Democracy is that which was originally taught
and practiced by Jefferson and Madison-by
Monroe and Jackson. Ny Democracy demands
that strict construction of the laws and con
stitution which gives harmony and perpetuitv