The Nevada journal., 1857-10-30
For the .IourIal


rights under our constitution You may
suspect. that lam an innocent,or anigno.
ramus, to seriously ask such question
of you; and, may anathematize my stu
pidity for occupying your time in the
perusal of this communication, more par
ticularly as l have read the constitution
somewhat attentively. and am well
aware of the fact, that in its enumers-
ton of the rights supposed to be inherent
in man, those of enjoying and defending
life and liberty, acquiring and defending
property. and pursuing and obtaining
safety and happiness, are distinctly rec
ognized. Now as you may not at once
perceive the necessity of this inquiry,
my being cognizant of these dogmas, let
me ask you Mr.. Editor if in the course
of the multifarious readings to which
your profession subjects you, you have
never met with phrase, or word rather,
which albeit not contained in Webster's
oracle, has yet such fitness as to be wor-
thy of it, and which is | think peculiarly
applicable to the graEdiloquent phrase
ology that adorns 4th of July orations,
stump speeches, &c. Certainly you
have. "Hifalutin," is thee uphonious ex-
preston. Now after many years resi-
dence in the State and of attentive OBJ
servation of its legislation and its conse-
quences, have begun to entertain a
suspicion, that that sacred schedule of
our rights, the constitution and the less
sacred statutes, contain many passages,
that if not "hifalutin," are at least so
analogous to it, as to defy my powers of
critical analysis to define the distinction
There was time, in the haleyon days
of youth, when my heart, blissfully ig-
norant of the existence of duplicity, as
an ingredient of that enigmatical COM
pound called human nature, would have
revolted at the bare suggestion that the
instrument upon which rests the super
structure of our government, could con-
tain single sentence that the most
ruthless finger might point to, as having
been inserted there for any other pur-
pose than as declaratory of the hottest
and most immaculate truths; an invio-
late observance of which, was the abso-
lutte design of its trainers.
But we have grown older; (for 1 pre-
sumo | am not singular in the common
lot and its ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and
disapT ointment;) and as winter with its
icy touch. shrivels and strews upon the
ground, the delicate foliage that so ex-
quisitely embellishes the landscape, ex-
posing to cur view through the skeleton
tracing of the forest trees, the cold and
rugged scenery around us; so has time,
dissipated those pleasing fancies, that
formerly enveloped us. giving such an
intensely patriotic tone to thoughts of
our country, the genius of its institu-
tons, and its laws. And as the onward
march of events, produces circumstances,
that bear and strain upon the great dog,
mas promulgated in our constitutions, we
discover an elasticity in those terse and
vigorous sentences, that weakens our
faith in the existence of political truth.
These wretched Asiatics, are made
the victims under the color of law, of ty-
ranny and oppression so fragrant, and
outrageous, as TO excite the indignation
of the veriest serf in chrIstendom. They
are beaten, abused, and,- l had al
most said robbed, by the myrmidons of
the law, and every avenue to redress is
from the antipaties of the whites, re-
morselessly closed against them. From
their timidIty and dread of the unscru-
pulous cupidity of the superior race,
they seek the most obscure canons, gull
ches, and bars, and humbly labor in dig
gings that our countrymen would disdain
to stick pick into. TLither they are
sought by our valient revenue officers,
and as in such localities few or none of
the predominant race are found with
courage enough to demonstrate, the
taxes are collected under the most abom-
Unable extortions and threats. The poor
devils are often knocked down, their
pockets and clothes rihed of their hard
earnings, and if in their piteous jargon,
they seek to appease the wrath of their
oppressors, they are silenced with blows
and with curses. The law authorizing
the collection of this tax, empowers the
collector to enforce its payment by lev
ying upon the property of him who re-
fuses, but these shrewd gentlemen have
a happier I'd more expeditions method