The weekly Columbian., 1857-04-18

,ral of the State, ia his reply to that Commit
tee, took the ground that bills of similar ma
ure to these we're in direct contrayension to
the Constitution of the State; and be brought
forward an array of authorities that cannot be
gainsayed by any member upon tho hoor Of
the Senate. ~
Mr.. Coffroth here gave long array os .u-
thority, attesting his position, after which he
examined the practical working of the bills, if
passed, and showed their ilnpractability.
In an eloquent speech on the following day
in speaking of tue expenses Of thsS. II. Coinpa-
ny, he says:-
The Senator says have placed the price o.
labor performed for the Company at too high
rate ; that if they have paid so much. it is
proof of bad management; and that plenty
hands can be obtained in the agricultural r.
gion for thirty dollars per month. ! grant tn
fact that you can get man to plow and SOW
and perform all kinds Of agricultural labor fo
that sum. but there is a wide difference between
the prices paid for working upon q farm and
those asked and readily obtained for experienc-
ed hands for the steamers plying on the rivers
of the State. l have the authority Of one man
humble although he may be. yet is he truth
ful-who tells me that he has been employed
in both capacities. He SAYS that the rate OF
wages. as between those employed on a St Smer
aud those employed in agricultural labor. has
always been from twenty to thirty dollars per
month in favor of the former employment.
The Senator declares that brought my "bat-
tleaxe' to bear upon his friend Dr. GwTs-
Sir, simply stated that I once only accepted
the hospitality of this Company. and then ii
Was when we all paid our respects to this dis
tinguished gentleman, and watched TIE valiant
BRoDERIck lead his captive from Inc Ehorcs of
the Pacific
But She Senator grows facetous in this part
of his r.marks, and intimates that | am aveng
ing my defeat for the position no held by Or.
Gwin. II is trae, sir, l was nominated, bat
with no earthly hope Of an election. There
was no button-h0.ding n chicanery used to
obtain this favor none of those desricEble
means resorted to which SO UNANIMOUSLY distin-
gu shes past struggles for similar honoTs by
members Of his own party l. the free,
unbiased voice Of eighteen of my peers, rep
resenting Sc 900 American freenien OF the State
of California. Sir, | refer to that vote with
oaScious pride. The record Of it il aea- TO
m. 1t exhibits the votes OF eighieei, honest
m.n.-men not prompted to vote thus by the
love of ofhce-nen against whom there cannot
be whispered suspicion OF wrong. / would
sooner point to their votes thus obtained. than
bask in poit cal sunshine forever. OF eTep hold
q seat in the Senate Of the United Slater. if to
y, ocure such favor, were compelled d to tissue
=, ID Ike the one We see printed in the newspa
D = of til day, and addressed = to the people
Of Cali .fornia y
But Si,. leave my friend from San Joa-
ouin and reach TIE speech of the Senator from
81 Dorado. H,c characterized my remarks OF
Yesterday as inss,nded tor Bunccnlbs. The
charge by his showing tDus far, is grat1l'tons.
for admitted that a large number OF my coz
stituents were opposed to the position an Ia
king And therefore, cannot De accused OF
taking popular side, merely IT, cStch breath
of popular applause. Buncombe coos's's. IN
my opinion. III trying to cut great figure upon
all little matters; talking great deal eoout
re orm and eco lomy on all snal quss ssi0ns
making show of reform, which in rraiity
amounts to nothing. 1t belongs peculiarly to
members of this class to expend vast deal
Of eloquence against the appointment of come
little page. or some colored porter, or some at
tache in the Sergeant-at-Arms' room, or some
poor clerk. This is Buncombe. But il s not
Buncombe to stand up for the protection Of
rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the
laws not Buncombe to maintain u position
simply because you believe it is right, when
many of your constituents hold different riew
OF the question.
The Senator says that my Interpretation Of
the Constitution is wrong. believe, however.
l am right, and that he is wrong. l believe
10th section of the 1st article, must be taken
together and connected one with the other
The provision in the Constitution which says
that Corporations may be formed under gen
eral laws" and that the Legislature shall have
the right to repeal general laws" shall BE-
taken in connection with the article, which says
that the obligation Of contracts shall not be
impaired. l adMit that the Legislature has
the right to change the Law but if parties have
r,r rr,t TO hat
depri .e them Of such vested rights. Suppose a
law was passed giving me franchise. would a
subsequent repeal destroy the right had thus
acquired: Certainly not Now. place the
California Steam Navigation Company in the
| same position. They have acquired rights un
der our lags-rights sanctioned by the Consti-
tuition itself. Can we take from them those
:. ghtss believe not. l know but little about
j, law, but do know that thus to take away tn, il
| ghts would not be acting with that common
honesty which should regulate the dealings o
man with his brother man certainly would not
be in accordance with that strict line of justice
which the State should always observe towards
| her citizens
shall not follow the Senator from 81 Dora
do, as dislike to trespass upon the time of the
Senate, but will only refer to the concluding
portion. He says that have attempted 4
prove that corporations are blessing, not {
curse and az ] do not wish TO be placed in
false position. will briefly state my views.
i Ibelieve that corporations should not exis
! TO such an extent, should not be vested will
such extraordinary power, as we find have beel
granted to them in the tate of California
But the fact stares US in the face that they hav
been granted these privileges, aud being thu
granted, they have acquired rights that We can
not, either in justice or honesty. disposess them
After they have been thus created, it is not 70
: us to break down the landmarks, and declal
that because, former Legislatures have acte'
imprudently, we will act dishonestly--tha "
viii rob parties of their rights, acquired unde
the sanction of our laws."7 5's
Il In relation to the canital used IN corporat