Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-03-07
Letter from Sacramento.
SACRAMENTO CITY, Feb. 2S, 1857.

usual, because the delay so common at this sea-
son in communicating with you people in the
mountains, renders il necessary to do so in order
to prevent miscarriage
The Legislature is moving very slow and eau
tious. 1t always happens that at the tail end of
a session the big speeches pour out as free as
water on the poor thread bare hobby " Reform"
This is the cry with every species of politician
from the Senate chamber to the free lunch cs-
Establishments in San Francisco 1t is of course
considered as shrewd and we'll mana ged tactic'
in politicians, to talk longest and oudest about
reform just before adjourning so that their latest
breath on REFORM may be remembered by the
" dear people" =
Some few charter Bills have been introduced
Bridging the Sacramento river now seems to bo
the rage. There is to be q draw bridge and a
bridge that won't draw. The Bill providing for
the construction Of railroad bridge at the r
street levec will preclude the approach of steam
ers sail craft or any other sort of craft that
carries masts or smoke pipes. The city will have
to be moved down below the bridge so as to af-
ford us the facility of steam communication to
San Francisco. One more charter Bill ought to
be introduced into the Legislature and pass that
is to give some responsible man or men char
ter for fifty years to build an iron fence forty
feet high around the capitol and fix a rate of toll
for those who desire to Visit the Legislative halls
as spectators, and to authorize commissioner to |
be appointed for that purpose, to issue season
tickets to " lobby Ihembersa at prices ranging
from $500 to 81 600 each. This system would in
one or two short sessions yield revenue enough
to the State to dciray all the expenses of the Leg
islature, and pay off the State debt Your read
crs may not see the wisdom Of Slis policy, or the
proprety Of such luw, but i4xley will just take
the trouble to examine the Statutes california,
they will find worse laws than that.
Both the Senate and Assembly chambers were
devoted last evening TO calico parties given by
the ladies of ofSacrameato. Can't say Shethcr there
was any hoops or not
The articles Of npcachmcn. against c. W.
Whitman were adopted without opposition
Viewing the technical shield behind which the
Controller has taken his position, it will be a
hard matter to make them stick
Great sympathy is felt for DR.. Bates, late
State Treasurer. The Dr.. has full confidence
that the deficit Will be paid over in due time.
The decision of the Supreme Court rendered
on last Tuesday was the most important matter
which has come to the surface since the last APP
pcarance of the great sea sarpint." This you
will recollect, involves the constitutonalty of
the the Act providing for the building of a. State
House This decision brought up a review of the
decision made some time ago. in reference to the
Wagon road Bill VS. johnson ct. al, Justice Bur-
nett delivered the opinion of the Court, and the
Interpretation of the eighth article of the consti
tuition by Justice Barnett agrees exactly with !
that of Chief Justice Murray, to the effect that
the Legislature las no constitutional right to
make an appropriation of over three hundred
thousand dollars except in case Of war. invasion,
&c, or even for the support Of the government
without first passing the Act naming the object
for which it is appropriated and then submitting
it to the people. Justice Burnett maintains that
the Legislature having no power to contract
debt beyond the limit specified by the constitu-
ton cannot legally or constitutionaly levy
tax upon the people to pay that debt, it being
void. To Chief Justice Murray is the people Of
the State of California indebted for the only true
and just Interpretation of the constitution, His
intutive genius, his profound legal atainmens,
and eminent ability, will be remembered and ap-
prcciated when all the old iogy, disappointed and
bockbiting politicians have passed into quiet OBJ
llvion.
There was but little done on yesterday in
either house. Mr. Brent, of Los Angeles made |
a sensible speech on the financial condition of the
State. He is chairman of the committee on ways
and means. Mr.. Brent is one of the best speakers
in the House, and man of good talent. After
the debate Mr. Burch, the representative from
your county offered resolution providing for
joint committee to take into consideration what
is regarded as the critical condition of affairs
This will have good effect as may count on
some uniform-acton on the part of the Lcgisla-
turc to eXtricate the State from her embarass-
ments Mr.. McKune offered several resolutions
o'the same end. The case of California now is
8Save me Cassius, or sink" RICHELIEU.
II