Mountain Democrat., 1857-12-26
R~por. Of 1h. Late Gra"a Jury.

some Of the members Of the last Grand Jury ques-
tcn the correctness Of the comment iH our last num-
ber, upon the power Of the Court Of Sessions to per-
form the duties performed By the Board Of sn.
peFvisOrs. We have, consequently, looked into the
matter more closely. and the opinion We then ex-
pressed hnd fully sustained by the Supreme Court
Of this State.
In the case Of Durgoyne r- the SuPervi-ors Of san
Francisco county. decided Ia January, 1Sb, the Su-
preme Court expressly decide that the Legislature
cannot impose other :han jniicfdi IOrerS upon the
Court Of Sessions. In that case suit brought
warrants issued by order Of the Court Of Sessions, H.
paymentOf lot purchased by that Court for Public
buildings. The warrants we're held To be void; that
the Court Of Sessions could not, under the constu
tiOn perform such duties, aud that Boards of Super
visOrs were expressly provided for by the Consttu
tion and such boards could alone legally make puF
chases for the counties and transact the cfrH bus
ness OF the county.
The mistake made by the Grand Jury was a very
excusable ono, aud one wbirh the Legislature com
mitted Ia the early existence Of the State. and which
was not discovered for years. We certainly intend.
cd no disrespect by the short notice We made ." the
matter In our last. But having the 9Th volume of
California Reports In our pos,csson (tlank4 the
IT, we felt very certain that the Report " the Grand
Jury Was incorrect, and We find 1t so.
go
LEcTrRE ToR THE BESETT OV THE PrniIc SsHonIs--
WV. FEASk STEWART has generously consented to de.
iver lectures IN the principal towns In county,
the " Past Present and Future of Nicaragua" IN aid
u the finances Of the Public Schools. Ills first lrc.
turc was given at Diamond Springs on "wednesday
evening to a large aud intelligent audience. cor.
respondent who heard II. says: Z" The subject ~
itself full Of interest. 1t which the eyes
Of the civilized world have been concentrated r the
last two years, nxcuslV awaiting the result II the
contest. Mr.. Stewart delivered his lecture on the
evening Of the 2l inst, to large audience consl.
erinR that the notice was short. Tie lecturer da
ted the past Of Nicaragua from the time that civili
1ation first stepped upon her shores. The span;ards
IN their searches for reported to exist in tie
tropical parts Of Central America. had planted them.
selves In that State. The decline Of Spain had
cessarily destroyed the lrmuess Of tr government
in that colony. and by continual internal -.rnions
she reduced herself TO the position Of bcing unable Ia
resist The ihVa'i0n Of a handful OF advcnrurcrs.-
The presrnt of Nicaragua was described in style
that convinced all that heard him that hc poS,c--rI
Iet's imagination to retain the impressions ~ the
picturesque scenery Of Nicaragua. His description
Of the habits Of life Of the people. contained much
information that and interesting. and evinccd
coseness ~ observation in the lecturer that marks
lin for higher station. Every word that icll from
his lips was listened to with profound attention.
by the audience. His passages of mirth were clam.
orOusly responded to by bursts of laughter In his
descriptions 81 the sufTrrings at the siege Of Rvas hr
rvitrd the attention Of those present Ills audience
Transported 10 the scene Of action, and there
bchcld the horrible condition Of those Who Ind been
delulcd into cause of supposed humanity.
MIR Stewart lccured for upwards of two hours and
the brcaihcss silence, during his d!sc"usrc nifty
spoke appreciation ~ his descriptive faculties
Wherever h. lectures he cannot fali TO convince the
advcnturer that Nicaragua Is no field In which to
gather laurels"