San Andreas independent., 1857-04-18

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est as sufficiently, and which legitimately be-
fore the public, Oe shall rtte precisely as ace think,
acithout the slightest regard for consequences"
Bssse For the information of Brobdignag-
ian writer, in the Calaveras Chronicle, who, in
reviewing our article on the Big Tree road,
says "we, the Independent] betrays an igno-
rance of the facts inexcusable in an editor" we
copy the article of '' PUBLIcus,' from the Stock
ton Republican. 1t proves that the writer in the
Chronicle not only was ignorant of his subject,
but did not know what paper he was quoting
from, when he uses the polite terms "nigger in a
fence" q weasel in a rat-hole," &C., as coming
from US or our magnanmous contributors. This
idea was first introduced by first-class lawyer
who is reliable and heavy -tax-paying citizen
of Stockton. 1t was written before our article
was published and before our views were known
in that city. We smelt =" a mighty, big, white
MICE" too, but used other language to con-
vey the idea. A first class lawyer and citizen
of Mokelumne Hill, had better hurl his thunder
bolts at "PuBLIcUs," Of the Republican, who
assure him carries ''metar' Of the right jingle,
and ''weight" and ''worth,' equal to his own, or
to the best, to compete with him in this issue.
Our duty is not to lead, drive or direct, in mat
ters of such vital Importance to this county and
to the entire Southern section of country
represented in that call, but to suggest, aid
and assist in the effort "a monitor, forsooth,
to stand by and warn our mutual interests of ap-
preaching danger.
Although we esteem and respect most of
those who signed the call, yet we saw in it an
anomoly, because it was surreptitiously sprung
upon us. We have no higher regard for any
man than for the venerable, the honest and the
unfinchng COL J. S. Watkins, whose name
headed this Convention call, yet we in common
with others, believed there were designs at the
bottom of it, and believing so did not hesitate in
expressing ourselves. Silent and secret as the
waves closed behind Israers host, were the
subtitle influences of Sacramento put to work
in this move? Disastrous as the fate which be-
fel the persisting and unsuspecting Pharaoh
will be the result should Stockton and her in
terests fail to pursue the course we have mark
ed out,-and be true to the Southern counties
This eminent writer, who is veritable Dog
berry, may think that we ought to subserve,
unquestionably, the interests of Mokelumne IIil
the abect pleasure of an abject mind could not
ask more? We not blaming the people of
Mokelumne Hill for making all honest effort
to subserve their own interests-that is but ra-
tional and natural. But we do absolutely op-
pose the affinity of interests which bind few
interested influential outsiders to Sacramento; !;
of these way-side and other interests, most of
people are as profoundly ignorant as they are
of the motives which first instigated this Con-
vention move. 1t might be the remote hopes of
a fat contract, lucrative Office, or roadway
privilege Qeading north from the Hill, that first
started the music on this Harp of Thousand
Strings" which was to lull us asleep until the
garrote and the "cold poison" of Sacramento
had paralysed Stockton and the whole Southern
mines! Is it not so? The following article
is what we set out to introduce:
From the San joaquin Daily Republican, April 3d.
Wagon Road Convention-Why Called
at Mokelumne Hill.
Editor Republican The Importance
of taking Immediate and active measures
to induce overland emigration into the
southern mining and agricultural districts
cannot be too highly estimated. Viewed
in connection with the recent acts of Con-
gress, providing for Wagon Road, Mail
Route, and Telegraph Line across the
plains, our present action on this subject
seems destined to tell with tremendous cf
feet upon the section of country interested.
We must not expect to attain the position
which nature has destined for us, by qul-
city sitting down and awaiting fortune to
give us a lift We must put our own
shoulder to the wheel, if we expect to get
out of the mud. No people ever did, or
ever can prosper without united effort
Local advantages, geographical position,
fertile soil, genial climate, all are moth
ing, unless developed by our own energy
and enterprise
This section of the State has already lost
immensely by supineness and inaction.-
What we seemed to have lacked has been
an elevated, far-seeing spirit of public I'M
provement, and the opportunity is now af-
forded us, by an united effort, toredeem the
past. The question is, will we avail our
selves of the opportunity, or will we, as
heretofore, let the golden moment slip