New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-04-14
AFFAIRS IN CALIFORNIA.

From Our Own Correspondent
SACRAMENTO, March 10, 1857.
Since my last no very startling event has trans
pired in this eventfu State.
The late State Treasurer, Henry Bates i'm
peached for misdemeanOrs in siice has been found
guilty, and the constitutional sentence, Disqualified
zion from ever after holding Office in the State, pro-
poupced against him. Messrs. Baker, Bolts aud
winans his attorneys, endeavOred for three days
before the Senate to convince that body that had
10 jurisdiction in the case, Bates had resigned,
and was not therefore State officer; but their ell
forts were unavailing and when this preliminary
question settled, the defendant refused to plead,
which In effect the same as II be had plead
guilty He will not be tried in the criminal cases
pending against him for defraudng the treasury for
. month yet.
The articles of impeachment presented by tine
Assembly against q. W. Whitman, State Controller
for neglect of duty and another alleged nisdemeanor
IN Office, will be examined into on the 23d inst So
far the Assembly has found articles of impeachment
against two State officers only, but II is generally
conceded that if the Controller shall be declared
guilty of Impeachment under the Oienses charged
that then articles of impeachment will be found
against ID. f. Douglas, Secretary of State; w. ID.
Wallace Attorney General, and would be against j.
Medley Johnson, Governor, but that he, although
elected as a Know-NOthng, keeps in with the party
10 power, the Democratic and does or undoes that
which il shall dictate. All these officers have in
Sact, neglected their duty, and dsobeyed the plain
letter of the law much us has the Controller,
and if this latter be found guilty should they
Up TO this date the revelations made in relation TO
State Treasury matters, show Henry Bates TO be a
defaulter to the amount of $246 600 and yet suit
has not been commenced against his bondsmen-
from whom $l5, 900 TO 500, 900 might be collected
bis bond being for 100000.
Palmer, Cook Il Co, the political bankers, who
were furnished by the late Treasurer with some
$50, 900 TO pay the last July interest in New-YOrk
and who failed to do so, have been sued on their
bond for the amount They have made u curious
answer 10 the peadings:
First That their bond given to the State Treas
nrer for the faithful disbursement of this 1888 600 was
not approved by the Governor the law requires,
and therefore is null and void
Secoad That the civil fund bonds and coupons
mentioned TO be redeemed thereby, not the civil
fund bonds and coupons OF the State Of California in
asmuch az no such bonds and coupons in exist
ence by authority Of law; therefore they have not
broken their covenant
TkITd gives facts substantially OF the premises set
Sorth in the second
Fourth; That the aforesaid coupons falling due at
Eew-York in July, 1856 were not presented for
payment at the banking house Of John Cook jr., No.
81 Broadway, Newlork, is averTed in the declara
Gon. And further, that at the commencement OF the
suit they held coupons of the civil bonds mentioned
amounting to $542 20, and offering TO deliver the same
they pray judgment.
Fiftk: That the State Of California before and at
the time Of the commencement of the suit was and
still is, indebted 10 the defendants in much larger
sum than that due and owing from the defendants
and cite the fact that they hold SS0.0O0 in State
Prison warrants (which have been declared illegal by
the Supreme Court and also claim B. 0e0 for rent Of
certain building in San Francisco, used State
ATmory, all ot which they prepared 70 verify and
br which they pray judgment.
For cool unbushing impudencc this answer has
seldom ever been exceucd. That any money will
ever be got out OF them person cognizant Of the
Aacts and the parties for a moment believes. In
deed 1t would seem 10 have been understood when
the money was given and the bond taken, that the
State was TO be pluudcrcd of the amount
The State debt question is Yet in abeyance. Since
flc Supreme Court delivered It's second very full and
decided opinion, pron0uncng it unconstitutional the
Legislature has been in quandary and knows not
what TO do. At first some of the concetcd self
opniOnated members contented themselves with
abusing the Court and while not denying the cor
yectness, deprecatng the effects Of this opinion, and
now they content themselves with doing nothing on
the subject. Those who want the debt paid are
sorey afraid to submit the question to the people,
And therefore are trying to work out some plan TO
avoid il, but there is hope but in the people and
unreliable as il is it is the only one Indeed, the
sentiment in opposition 10 paying seems to be vastly
on the increase. doubt very much whether the
State debt will ever be paid.
In this condition VI affairs, aud for the purpose Of