The weekly Columbian., 1857-02-07
The Legislature.

times wrong now unfolding the cor
ruption and dishonesty Of men in high
places, and then again plunging headlong
into errors that the contrition of a lifetime
cannot obliterate. The corruption OF Of
6cials and men in power, seems to be
favorite theme for many tongues and many
public journals, and to an intelligent mind
there is nothing more plain and evident
than that abuses of this kind are frequent
ly engendered and fostered by enmity
and malice on the one hand, and on the
other, by morbid desire of individuals
to build up their own fortunes on the
shattered spoils of those they malign and
over whom they seek to triumph. But
while we are ready to recognize and dep
recate this fact, is there not danger in
stopping our ears and shutting our eyes
to the daily actions of those around us !?
We conceive one extreme as much to be
avoided as the other, and consequently
when we observe an exhibition of charac-
ter upon the part of our Legislators, ut
terly at variance with established princi
Piles ofreason and ofjustice, we are ready,
not to cry out with a hungry pack "hang
him hang him." but, to demand that
the rights of the people shall be vindica-
ted! Whatever may have been the
principles involved in the actions of the
San Francisco Vigilance Committee, it
cannot be denied that large majority of
the electors in this State were in favor
of them. 1t therefore i'll become legisla-
tors, a majority of whom dared not open
their mouths in opposition, during the
campaign, to indulge in the hatred and
malignity which SO many of them exhibi-
ted to those concerned, as was manifest
ed in open session, soon after the conven-
ing of that body at Sacramento!
We would call attention to the circum-
stances attending the election of United
States Senators, and ask; why did SO
many members arise to privileged ques-
tons" and endeavor to convince their
constituents that, they acre personally
innocent, if these individuals had not
scented dead carcass" and feared lest
its exposition would criminate them
with the guilty! With the efolts and
diligence which many in that body have
exerted in exposing the fraud and rascal
ity of those whom seemingly unkind
fortune has placed in power, the people
appears to have been we'll pleased; bat
in admirable keeping with the inconsis-
tency oftheir former actions, both Senate
and Assembly, on last Thursday were
again proven to be the willing instru-
ments in the perpetration of an offense,
which in legislative bodies, is almost with
out parallel! The Assembly has dis
graced itself in allowing one of its men,
bers. (Gen. EstelD to occupy in the State
Capitol, several hours of the peoples
time, and hundreds of dollars of the peo-
pies money, in celebrating upon the
character of prirate citizen!
We have not word to offer in defense
of Mr.. King-this is matter which be-
longs solely to that gentleman and his
friends; but we do object to the refuge
which Estell takes within the sacred walls
of the capitol, in the vindication of his
own character by the exposition of that
of another!
An imposition has in this, been COM
mitted on the confidence of the people !
by the Assembly, in allowing the de-
livery of a harangue, SO foreign from the
object for which they were elected =
and by the Senate, for adjourning their
own proceedings-neglecting their own
business, to listen to the outrageous bill
ingsgate, not of a lawyer before the judi
ciary, but of an Honorable, in the Assem-
bly, Hall! Every word to which Gen.
Estell gave utterance for aught we know
may be true, and ifso, then, Mr.. King
is wholly unfit to live in decent commu-
nifty. But ifeven all is true, this does
not exculpate Gen. Estell from the char
ges of rascality and murder, made against
him hv Mr. Kiur Tbue - .t,,Jo NJ,