The Nevada journal., 1857-04-17
Questions of Privilege.

bodies. Whenever a man is mis-repre.
sented, or placed in a false position, he
ought to have fair show to explain,
and set himself right again. Even our
learned and wise legislators, will make
ugly blunders sometimes, and if they
couldn't "rise to question of privi-
lege," and wriggle themselves out of
them, there would be no such thing as
reflections - and hence no adequate
motive for legislative honesty - which
would produce deleterious and baneful
results.
But are not our Legislators, this win
ter, rather running the "question of
privilege into the ground ? Early in
the session, Gen. Estell rose to "ques-
ton of privilege" and informed the As
sembly and the country in two or
three hours speech, what was the pri-
vate character of Tom King, and how
Tom King had offended Gen. Estell.
This effort must have taken well among
the assembled wisdom, for since that
time, the member from Marin has seized
every possible occasion to ring in a
"qu 5tion of privilege" If a newspa-
per says anything against him, political
ly or personally, he rises Immediately
to a "question of privilege" and de-
nounces the editor. Lately he has de-
nounced the whole editorial corps in a
body, which was a praiseworthy inven-
ton to save time He never would
have finished his slanderers in detail.
The worst of it is, the Big Jaizer has
too many imitators in that particular
line. Rising to a question of privi-
lege " has become a mania. Nearly
every day, portion of the time of the
Legislature is occupied in discussing the
private grievances of members. Pri-
vate character must be very rare and
precious article amongst them, they are
so very careful and and anxious to pro-
tect and defend it. Only a few days
since, the sensitive General took the re-
porter of the Union to task, because he
reported that the general said '' OH, yes,
pleasantly" in answer to remarks made
by some one, upon some subject, which
no one knows or cares anything about,
and which doesn't matter The Gener-
al asserted, that he said something be-
sides d" OF yes, pleasantly" He don't
tell what it vast was probably
"Sir'ee hoss - but whatever it was,
the General was certainly highly indig-
nant that it wasn't reported. Now, as a
matter of fact, it is quite as we'll for our
respected Legislators generally, that
their speeches are not reported. In the
first place their speeches are seldom
read, when they are reported. They
are skipped, like the quack advertise
ments, unless they contain something
peculiarly absurd and worthy of notice.
In that case, they are only read to be
laughed at. In the next place, paper
which employs its own reporter, has a
right to publish as much of that report
as it pleases, and when members COM
plain about it in the Legislature, they
only make themselves ridiculous.
The truth is, that the Legislators gen.
orally and the member from Marin par
ticularly, have run the "question of
privilege " altogether too hard this win
ter. 1t would be much better if they
would settle their private grievances
elsewhere, and attend to the business
they were sent upon, when in session.
They are the servants Of the people
All the people want of them is to do
their work as soon as possible, and 60
home.
CARPENTERS BUILDING.-The Sac
ramento papers amt to be believed