San Andreas independent., 1857-05-09

iiuit. LiCSiuSS uCSCItCu, Hill III tuC plsLC vi
smiling villages-in the place where once were
temples and palaces-ruin, nothing but blank
ruin This is the Democracy upon which you
stand--this is the Democracy which eschew.
and | clcaye to that rigid, uncompromising,
true Democracy which is harmonious in itself
and which lends harmonious proportions to the
government. Mr.. Speaker as was stated the
other day, do not pretend to be prophet, or
the son of a prophet, but only as one who
faithfully believes in the ways of Providence as
righteous ways, as one who believes that the
Lord God WILL in the plentitude of His power
and mercy, bring all things to happy Issue
may, without arrogance or egotism, presume to
declare what behold, as l seek to raise the
vail and look up into the vista of the future
tell you that the time will come when this
Federal Government shall embrace this entire
world
A message was announced from the Senate
Mr.. WATKINs-Now, Mr. Speaker, these inter-
ruptions entirely throw my mind off from what
WAS talking about-nor do | precisely know
what / was talking about just now. Let me
then get on to something else. Somewhere it
has been said that my Democracy has been de-
nounccd. Then ! return a Roland for your
Oliver, and denounce your Democracy. | de-
nounce it because it is subservient-Id denounce
it because it is proscriptive-I denounce it be-
cause it is proaigate, which latter assertion is
fully substantiated by the proceedings of this
morning. denounce it because it magnifes
the questionable claims of individuals at the
expense of the rights and interests of the State
Il denounce it because it fosters every species
of political piracy. Fearlessly, before this As
sembly and before the people of the State,
denounce your political association as SHAM
DEMOCRACY, thoroughly selfish in its organiza-
fino nd ha rd for tbo Of
misguided, misdirected, maltreated, tax-ridden
and plundered California
Now there is some satisfaction to the patriots
heart, when he can catch q little struggling
CLEAN of sunshine through the lattice of the
window that looks into the future We will
not despair or cease to indulge in hopes when
we consider the inexhaustible resources which
We enjoy as State, the irrepressible force and
energy, the recuperative power which charac-
terizes the American mind Nor does hope
with US necessarily travel slowly, on the path
of steady daily enterprise. Let the pro1igate
tremble lest that revolution come which shall
give an immediate, practical demonstration of
the truth that Democracy in its element and
Democracy in its results, is Freedom Of thought
Freedom ofopinion and Freedom of action This
is the glory of the American mind which leaps
into the whirlwind and directs the storm. But
heart of the philanthropic patriot should not
despond. We ought to hope for, and strive for
better times. and thank my God for the assu-
rance which | have that the day of recompense
the hour of terrible retrbution will come.
But one word more, Mr. Speaker and am
done. | have, like thousand of others, lived
in vain / say like a thousand of others.
have lived in vain | have made no mark on
the great scale of human events Still had q
desire to connect my name with the glory, the
honor of the State of California, and the perpe-
tuity of this nation. 1t was a vain idea-an
unnecessary aspi ation, for | ought to have re-
membered that my day had come and gone.
On being interrupted by the chairman of the
Enrolling Committee, Mr.. Watkins took his seat
Mr.. BsATry-Perhaps it will be thought that
ought not to say anything on this OCCASION
But will not allow my colleague, or any other
man. to iinpugn my motives or call the integri-
ty of my acts in question. defy that gentle
man, or any other gentleman, to cast stigma
upon my character or standing as o man and
| legislator. have served in the Legislature of
the State of California three years in succession
| and am willing that this body, or the people.
should examine the record and see whether
stand fair upon it or not Whenever the gen.
| tleman from Calaveras SO far forgets himself
the proprieties of the place, and the common
amenities and courtesies of life, MS to attack my
character and standing upon the floor of the
Assembly chamber, l will hurl back the foul
aspcrsions to his teeth. | will tell that gentle
man, that although he may have advantageous
+ ly seized an opportunity here to-day to make
his buncombe speech, which is to elevate him
to the Gubernatorial chair, he has made sorry
mistake in attacking my character and position
My character is above the attacks ofsuch man.
am above the level upon which | could re-
Give injury from aspersions coming from such a
source | have but my character to sustain
and never will set quietly by and hear impu-
tations cast upon it. have endeavored to treat
every member of this House. and every person
with whom | have come in contact officially
or otherwise, with courtesy and respect. may
have erred in my decisions some times, but the
error has been unintentional. Ny purpose has
always been an honest one, and defy gentle
men to point to one single act of mine which
goes to prove otherwise. Every man is liable
to err, and if have done so at times, the won-
der need not be great, and certainly the misfor-
tune should not elicit q torrent of abuse and
condemnation. My errors have been those of
the head and not of the heart have endeav-
ofed to the extent of my ability, to carry out
the rules and regulations laid down for the
guidance of the action of this House, with i'm
partiality and with no especial favor to any
man. and how far have succeeded leave it
to the members to Judge
] regret exceedingly that have thus been
obliged to throw myself on the indulgence of
this House, but Icould not do otherwise in JUS
| tice to my character as private citizen and a
public man. The gentleman from Calaveras
says he does not know how he got to this Leg
islature. He knows well enough that he was
sent here as Democratic member He was
nominated in Democratic Convention. al
though in an underhanded, secret manner. By
secret understanding he received his nomina-
ton, although he had but thirty-five out of one
hundred and fourteen votes in that convention
That was the way he came here, sir. 1t may
be that the gentleman does not know this. 1t
may be that you, Mr.. Speaker, and the other
members on this floor do not know this, but I
know it; and yet the gentleman comes here
aud repudates, and cries, down with the De-