San Andreas independent., 1857-08-08
[ For the independent
The Stat e d e b t.

to pay the whole of the so-called State debt,
and says: I" We occupy peculiar and inter-
esting position before the world, and intimates
that self government" has not yet been es-
tabrished "beyond the possibility of doubt"
but that it is I" a mere novel experiment. con-
ceived in fiery zeal, reared in passion, and at
the mercy of treacherous knaves, whose motto
is rule or ruin;'n and 'the dark clouds of adver-
sity (the so-called State debt, suppose which
linger upon our political sky, and are of our
own creating must be dispelled, and can only be
dispelled by high tone of public sentiment"
To throw out insinuations derogatory to the
origin and perpetuity of self government y
and instil the principle of servile submission
into the minds of the people, is only in COM
mon keeping with that class who say that we
ought to pay what they call the State debt
That the origin and perpetuty of " self gov
ernment" depend on the payment or non-pay-
ment, by the people, of all the bonds issued by
individuals, in the name of the State of Cali
forna, is too absurd to require contradiction.
He intimates that the Constitution is an in
strument which we should not take into con-
sideration in connection with the so-caled State
debt. No wonder, then, that he regards "sef-
government as an unestablished principle, and
" at the mercy of treacherous knaves." Those
who advocate the payment, by the people, OF
the unconstitutional State debt, all tell US that
other than constitutional motives must influence
us to pay it, "P. P" says: This hue and cry
about Legality, constitutionalty, &C., IN an affair
of this kind, under such circumstances, is compar
atvely mere farce" Does the Constitution
make any provision for its own violation p
Does it not hold every citizen, who lives within
the limits of the State of California, under obli-
cations to act in strict compliance with its pro-
visions, under all circumstances, as a sacred
and binding covenant, entered into in good
faith, not to be violated to suit the caprces and
assume the responsibilities of thieving officials
or be disregarded to please venal and corrupt
politicians? If we disregard " constitutionaliy
in affair Of THIS kind under such circumstances,
do we not establish dangerous precedent for
the future When will similar causes for its
violation cease to exist? 1t is q covenant en-
tered into by the people, who, after calmly,
considerably weighing it, in relation to its
present and future bearing upon the welfare of
the State, have deliberately ratified it by their
votes.
1t expresses fully, but nothing more, and
nothing less, than the absolute, unchangeable
rules and regulations by which they must and
will be governed in their relations to themselves
and others. All their laws, municipal civil and
military, are valid invalid, only as they agree
or disagree with it. 1t is the balance in which
they are all Weighed the sale which declares
them to be genuine or spurious The law
mixers ought to have no more right to enact a
spurious law than the counterfeiter has to man
uflcture and circulate spurious coin. The peo-
pie ought not to act in compliance with law
which is in direct opposition to the Constitution
under which it exists, but adhere strictly to the
Articles of the Constitution until such time as
they see fit to frame another covenant,-one, if
they choose, which will enable them to adopt
thieving officials, dead-head politicians, gassers
and bummers, in creation. Make California, if
you choose, an asylum for all the piratcal rem
egades, outlaws and fiends in human form, from
every nation under the sun and give them all
an Office, if you like, bat do it constitutinnally.
If it is certainly much easier to preserve fair
name than regain lost reputation" let us, as
people, show to the world that degree of hon
orable intelligence and wisdom which will COM
mand the respect and admiration of the world,
by refusing to assume an unconstitutional debt
in open violation of that solemn compact, which
gives us name and place in the great Amer
ican confederation of States. IF the people as
sumo the responsibility of violating the Consti-
tuition because official thieves have influenced
an imbecile and corrupt Legislature by the use
of stolen cash. or otherwise, to enact an uncon-
stitutional law for that purpose, will they not
display weakness of intellect, a lack of intel
ligence and wisdom which will render them "a
bye-word and reproach," a despicable and de-
graded people throughout the civilized world
In reply to the inquiry, "what is the best
practicable policy to pursue for the promotion
OF the future welfare of the State 2" | would
say strict observance of, and compliance
with every article of the Constitution, will, to
certain extent, roll back the dark clouds of
aoVersity which linger upon our political sky"
ana snow to vile officials that there is an instru-
ment which prescribes limit to their villain
Gus encroachments upon the rights of the peo-
pie, which they dare not trile with for the flu
ture we must also abandon our former blind
auherence TO party principles and elect none to
hill any office of honor trust or emolument bnt
honest, honorable and intelligent men.
DEMOCRAT.
fIcKETTs ORATIoN.-Mr. j. W. Sullivan of
the newspaper Agency, San Francisco, forwar-
ded to this office copy of the Fourth of July
oration delivered by Mr.. G. E. Pickett, in the