Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-01-24
STATE DEBT OF CALIFORNIA DECLARED
UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

! The late decision of the Supreme Court ON the
validity OF the State debt has excited the deepest
sensation. Tne decision came before the Court by
u bill i'll equity, filed in the Court below, to pre-
vent the further extension of the State debt by the
expenditure Of appropriation Of $l00, 900 made
by the last Legislature for the survey of wagon
road to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The Court in citing the Sth article of the Consti-
tuition, whch expressly prohibits the Legislature
from creating any debt beyond the of $500, 900
unless sanctioned by express vote Of the people
at general election, declares that the whole exist
ing State debt, over and above the said sum of
$500. .OU0 is unconstitutional part of the same
having been submitted to vote of the people,"
as provided for in said article, and that, conse-
quently the Commissioners for the survey of the
road in question had no power to create cry furth-
er debt for the charges Of prosecuting the said
vey
Whatever stigma land we hope but temporary
may rest upon the State under this aeeision its Je
gality and abstract justice cannot be impugned--
The letter of the Constitution was borne out in its
spirit by cop0us extracts from the records of the
debates On its adoption cited by the Judges, and
he blame rests with the antecedent Legislatures,
and more especially with the executives and their
constitutional advisers, of sujeeting the State to
the reproach OF having for fve years pursued n,
which may lay it open TO the impntation Of
Obtaining funds which they nigh. aiierssrd legal
ly repudate. .3it't p 5sasl1ys.
TIE present amount Of the debt s.as stated ~
debts and Controllers warrants outstanding which
may swell the SUN to nearly three and half mil
lions.
What now will the people do? With them alone
rests the task of relieving the State from the stig
Of Reputation; with them alone remains the
power to avert all the manifold evils which must
flow from their present position.
They have expended large sums of money OBJ
tanned. not, it is true, false pretenses, but on
grounds as kindred in their nature, that unless
they come at once to the rescue, the fair fame Of
the Golden State. aud that of every individual
claiming citizenship therein. will be held up in
kissing scorn and reproach, in every quarter Of the
world.
But such q calamity are sure the people win
promptly aud nobly endeayor to avert, They have
the power to legaii2e the debt, by direct vote,
under that clause of the Constitution through
which il has been declared illegal The people
knew that this debt created by the legal rep
resentatives for the benefit of the State
The people know that it is justly due as
the separate debts Of individuals. The people will
shaw to the world that the same sense of honor
and good faith which guides them in the discharge
Of their personal liabilities will inspire their rep
resentatives apply prompt remedy for the
omission of necessary formality of law.
In this opinion are borue out by the entire
intelligence and experience Of the city, and Te
shall indeed be greatly deceived If the whole State
does not respond to the same feelings.
! In stocks there has been absolutely nothing
done at private sale At auction, 17S shares Cali
fornia State Telegraph Company stock were sold
ut $50, 25 to $20,50 per share In State Seven Per
Gems nothing has been done since the decision Of
the Supreme Court rendered, and it is impos.
sible 10 make any quotations.