San Andreas independent., 1857-12-26
Tbs legislature Important Heads for
Deliheration.

The Legislature of California conyenes
on the first Monday in January, Ca week
from Monday next.) On the same day
anew Executive will be inaugurated, and
thus the State government will be rem.
dered thoroughly democratic; for in the
Legislative department all other elements
antagonistic to the policy of that party
do not amount to the shadow of an oppo
sition. This will render the democracy
responsible to the people for the measures
of the approaching session. We trust
that members will exhibit a degree OF
patriotism and practical good sense com
mensurate with the duties they have as.
sumed, and crown the great power which
the dominant party wields with becoming
grace and wisdom. just at this time, a
happy coincidence of favorable circum-
stances exists to facilitate the legitimate
labor of legislation. The business of the
session is in no way clogged by that fruit-
fHl source of evil to the State-the cleo
tion Of U. S. Senator; peace and quiet
reign supreme within our borders parti-
zan warfare has worked off the greater
portion of its own bitterness the people
of all creeds and parties have forgotten
old asperities, and are anxious to make
common cause for the advancement of the
State; whilst our bretheren on the Allan
tic are writhing under the shock of the
late financial crisis -busfly torturing their
ingenuity on the subject of banks, and
credits, and the balance of trade, Cali
fornia has the proud consciousness Of
knowing herself sound-outside the vor-
tex of the storm. We are eminently
prosperous. Prosperous in our mines, in
our agriculture, in our trade, in the means
accumulating for the education of youth,
in the opening facilities for wholesome
immigration, and in the dawn of purer
morality. The late heavy shipments of
treasure eastward, exhibit the fact that
our mineral resources are not waning; it
is the rapid growth of other interests,
enlarging the field for capital and labor,
which has seemingly divested the mines
of their sometime Importance. The re-
ports of county surveyors and assessors
show a wonderful increase of wealth in
all the agricultural districts-the farmer
is contesting the palm Of power with the
miner Upon the health and vigor of
these two our system of manufactures and
commerce depends. Whatever is done
by legislation to ,nourish and develop the
agricultural and mineral resources of the
State, inevitably widens the scope for safe
investment in trade and manufactures
These are the groundwork of whatever
of power, wealth and glory California
may acquire; as such, they merit the ten
der, fostering care of the peoples repre-
sentatives.
OF the so representatives, 81 are from
counties in which the mining interest is
paramount; they may therefore be regard
ed as the especial guardians of the mines
IN the House. Of the 80 senators, 21
are from mining districts. So, in point
of numbers the miners are in the major
ity in the legislature, and have only to
urge their wants with earnestness to Sc
cure them. The agricultural counties, in
both branches, though not SO potent in
numbers, are represented by considerable
talent and stamina.
Amongst the many subjects presented
Sor legislation, not least in Importance is
the right of the State to tax the mines.
As it is now almost certain that, notwith-
standing the "Stamp act, which was
passed so cautiously last winter, and with
OO ulSblu uSl, luO OuilSuV "a
penditures of the government will exceed
Its revenue, by good round sum, it is
quite probable that efforts will be made
this winter to draw revenue from the
mines. The merchant complains that he
Is now taxed to the full extent of endu-
rance; the holders of city property are
paying from two to four and a-half per
cent IN state, county and municipal taxes;
and the farmer complains that whilst ev-
erything he possesses is taxed enormously
to support the government, there is a
hundred millions of property, located in
the State, and owned by a class of her
citizens, protected by her laws and Off
GERS, and yet yielding nothing towards its
uevenue. He also complains that the
owners of this class of property, being in
the majority, control the revenue laws en-
acted from time to time by the legisla-
ture, with too jealous regard to self-in-