The Nevada journal., 1857-03-13
Sacramento Correspondence
SACRAMENTO, Tuesday, March 10.

OF our legislative bodies are at last o.
some interest. The trials of DR.. Bates
and Col. Whitman attract crowd OF
spectators, filling the gallery and lobby
Several days have already been con
sumed in debating the question whether
the Senate has jurisdiction over an of
ficer resigned. Plausible and able, il
not convincing arguments have been
made by the counsel for the defense
Messrs. Baker, Bolts and Winans. The
idea is entertained, am told, by some
Senators, that the act of resignation Of
DIR. Bates put him without the pale OF
legislative jurisdiction. Others, it is
said, incline to the opinion that the Sen
ate is competent under the constitution
and laws to try the defendant, but
doubt the policy of expending so much
time and money for what the courts can
do equally as well. The question Of
jurisdiction will probably be settled TO-
morrow. If the Senate decides to con-
tinue the trial, long and tedious one
may be expected at any rate, it is
probable that all the time will be con.
sumed till Col. Whitman is arraigned
one week from Monday next.
Col. Whitman appeared yesterday
and submitted his answer to the allcga-
tions of the Assembly. 1t was an ex.
tremely well written document, straight
forward and apparently free from quib-
bling or attempts to seize upon technic-
alities. 1t is said to have been dictated
by the Colonel himself.
The most important item is the veto
of the Appropriation bill by the Cover
nor. The veto was announced while
the senate was in session as a court, and
an attempt was made to keep it out be-
yond the ten days allowed the Cover
nor in which to return an act with his
objections. The design of some men,
hungry for few shad scales, was de-
feated. They have only now to toe
the mark and vote to pass the bill over
the head of the Governor, which they
will have nice time to do.
You have seen that the bill granting
the right to build bridge over the Sac
ramento river at this place, passed the
Senate few days since. Never mind,
the Governor will take care of that.
A project is on foot to give away halt
the Tulare country to a company Of
spectators who propose to dig canal
few miles in length, drain an immense
tract of country, and take the land as a
remuneration for their labors. The bill
came near passing the Senate to-day.
You will have seen that an attempt
was made on Saturday last, on mo-
ton to print the report of evidence con-
cerning the Asylum for the Insane, to
suppress the evidence, which failed
The whole thing will be made public in
a day or two.
The Legislature will go into joint
convention to elect officers to the Asy-
lum, on Friday. Whoever are elected
will have good time getting their COM
missions and places, if the decisions of
the Supreme Court amount to any thing.
a bill has passed the Senate to-day,
turning all the interest funds to be col
lected into the general fund. This is
the first sign manifested by the Legis-
lature to obey the Supreme Court.
An object of curiosity is being exhib-
tied at the Armory Hall. 1t is nothing
shorter than a steam wagon of very in
genious construction, which looks and
acts as if it would run anywhere. 1t
was invented and built by miner in
Mariposa county, who is now on his way
to Washington with the model. 1t
weighs fifty pounds, and can draw two
hundred through the streets.
The skies are bright, and the weather
generally so delightful that hundreds of
ladies, like so many butterflies, are Aut-
tering through the street, in silks and
satins, Notwithstanding the example set
them in calico a few nights since.
By the way, it may be we'll to men,
ton that the calico party realized about
$4,000 by the operation. The calico
fever is catching. Wouldn't wonder if
the ladies of Nevada caught the conta-
gion.
TRIAL OF BATES. This great state
trial has at length commenced, with all