San Andreas independent., 1857-06-27
written for the San Andreas independently
Repudiate or Endorse /?


Mr. EDITOR An article under the above
caption, and over the non de plume of g A DEM
at,"-taken from the San Francisco Bulle-
tm-which appeared in the last issue of your
paper, suggests to my mind the propriety of
presenting consideration or two upon the same
subject-if any view | may entertain on the
NATTER may be worthy the name of considera-
ton at all.
election, to pronounce either for or against the
payment ofour State Debt, the subject is brought
directly home to every citizen of the State,
urging him to serious refection-whether in
the end, it were better to pay an illegal debt
taking upon ourselves all the responsibility of
the action of our rascally officials or to repu-
diate, and divide the honor of their conduct with
the rest of mankind
am inclined, Mr.. Editor, to favor the pay
ment of the so-called debt, Notwithstanding its
illegallity; for, by so doing we would confirm
a lasting confidence abroad in our integrity as
a people and a judicious and economical man.
~
duction made from official salaries and prison
contracts, would enable us so to do with but a
slight increase of taxation. The fact that our
officials have exceeded constitutional limits
ought not to be reason why we should trifie
with our own reputation for, by shirking the
responsibility of their villany, we will stand as
co-partners in fraud and deception with them.
in the esteem of strangers. We have placed
proved themselves unworthy yet we cannot
escape the odium of their conduct when we
have surely contributed to its results either by
careless culpable indifference or misguided ac-
ton. Official fraudulenceis the legitimate fruit
of blind adherence to factious obliquity and
the clamorous, hypocritical disguise of interes-
ted partizans will never afford us relief If we
repudiate, we virtually acknowledge our inca
pacity to govern ourselves, and effectually ad-
NIT that our best sense of government is nothing
but chain of licentious trickery. If repu-
diate, we beget the same distrust in the minds
of the inhabitants of other States and countries
toward ourselves that we entertain toward
those have seen fit to elevate to posts of Off
cial trust
If we repudiate, let the reputation be that
of men-endorse the debt but repudiate for the
future the services of those who contracted it
send them to make preparation for the service
of him who, to amuse himself, sings
Tf.is LEAGUE will know who are the rest
That of my lodging possessed.
On earth they can no more me,
But still I'll lave their company"
If we do not repudiate, we will enlist the sym
pathy and engage the help of all who arc dis
posed to view the subject temperately and are
determined to burst the fetters that secret and
insidious villainy have thrown around u.s. Let
us pay our debts-even what is SAID to be
debt-and pay OFF designing firnctonaries-
Let none but those who arc above suspicion oc-
cupy place upon our watch-towers. Let us
join hands like a band of brothers engaged in
a common cause.-The maintainance of our pub
lie credit-the honor of our name and be glo-
rfed for it.
But it is said that if we endorse the debt it
is paying bonus upon knavery !" and, in all
probability we will, ere long, have to do so
again. Granted but we must take steps to
prevent a repetition of the dose, for it is, GER
tainly, no homeopathic prescription but how
is this to be done? Will preaching REFORM ac-
complish the end? We see column upon COL
umn published advocating reform, but not sim
gle hint as to the most practicable mode of op-
Grafton. What are the proper steps, and how
are they be taken? Let us have the word
go" and cease whining Is there not suff-
cient stamina and intelligence among the hon.
est, producing population to vindicate their
own cause? What better method could the
people of this section adopt to consult each
other, than with your permission) through the
columns of the Independent? But, let the peo-
pile speak. Let those who bear the burthen
choose the road and select guides from their
own ranks. Let them choose what they choose,
and stop Sir Spoony from choosing for them.