San Andreas independent., 1858-04-03
Letter from Col. Watkins.

That sturdy old patriot and honest man, Col.
Watkins, has lately written letter to friend,
in which he discusses with his accustomed
yigor and fearlessness, some of the publfc
measures and acts of the present Governor and
Legislature. As the opinions of no man in
the State are entitled to more respect-both on
account of their intrinsic wisdom and untant-
ed honesty-than those of Col Watkins, we
commend the letter to tie perusal of our read
ers. 1t must be borne in mind that Col. Wat
kins is a veteran Democrat, q true type of the
real chivalry of the Old Dominion, and poli-
tician who has spent his life in public service,
without having suffered even an imputation
upon his integrity or honor. He has raised
his voice in the Legislature of his native State;
and has again served the public in his new
home, by representing his county first from
Alameda next from Calaveras] several times
in the Assembly. Wherever he has been, he
has been distinguished for the same zeal cour-
age and hatred of corruption. He has ever
been the uncompromising enemy of public
and private rogues-the foe and stumbling
block of all projects to rob the Treasury. The
words of such q man must have influence in
any community. We find the letter in the
Sacramento Union. 1t reads as follows:
C. In condemning the Legislature for
the bad things they have done, and the
good things they have omitted to do, |
must not forget to give them full praise
for their proceedings regarding the State
Prison. Justice, as well as humanity,
demanded a recision of the contract with
Estill; and the prompt and bold move
ment of the Governor in taking possess
ion of the premises (although it smacks
little of Vigilanceism,) is worthy of all
praise, and has my admiration. But my
admiration of this bold, prompt, and eff
cient movement on the part of the Gov
ernor makes me regret the more his hav~
ing gone out of his way, and trenched
upon the dignity of his office, to kick up
"muss" with the Under Sheriff of Mon
terey, who assuredly did his duty nobly,
mantully, faithfully, and energetically.-
The Under Sheriff, however, in his reply
to the Governor, gave him "Roland for
his Oliver" for more scathing rebuke
[ don't remember ever to have read He
is marvellously proper man, he is, that
Under Sheriff of Monterey. You say
many of my old friends join you in the
regret that am not member of the
present Legislature; had l have so de-
sired, the good people of Calaveras would
have sent me back with great unanimity;
but did not so desire; for, as a public
man, | gave my whole time to my public
duties, and the public business, and my
own, as consequence, goes to wreck, and
it becomes necessary that [ should right
it up. But must acknowledge that I
would like to have been amember during
the discussion of the anti-mob law. ]
have desired to make one speech before
California Legislature on some subject
which 1 had well considered, but upon
entering the Legislature | found the great
drawback of CALIFORNIA; prosperity was
the arrangement of her finances, and my
mind forthwith was wholly turned Cd Ge-
ures and the improvement of her financial
condition. If | was compelled By duty
to say something on other subjects requir
ing debate, it was done on the spur of the
moment, and without that forethought
which was necessary to do justice either
to the subject or to myself. Now, oppo-
sitlon to this anti-mob law, is the theme
of all others upon which | should like to
have been heard; for on these occasional
uprisings of the people 1 have thought
long and well, and weighed the conse-
quences maturely, and should have felt
prepared to have spoken on the anti-mob
law and its kindred subject, the Vigilance
Committee of San Francisco; hence nv
invitation, at the last session of the Leois
lature, to that old sinner Estill on seye-
raj occasions, to set apart some evening
for it's discussion.
| consider these uprisings of the people
on great emergencies as bordering on the
sublime. They certainly spring from q
most hallowed principle, principle
deeply implanted in the bosom of every
man by the hand of God; principle
which began with time, and will continue
in all time to come; and we shall see its
exhibition whenever an abused people
shall be compelled to take upon themselves
to defend the nations right, or redress a
nations wrongs. My mind has settled
down under the firm conviction that these
uprisings are as necessary for the purifi-
cation of the moral and political atmos-
pherc, as that powerful and mysterious
agent which collects the materials of its
awful battery from the dark bosom of the
lowering tempest, is for the purifcation
of the atmosphere we breathe; and YOU
had as well attempt to damn the Sacra-
mento with leaf, as to stay their pro-
gress by the impotent and peurile legisla-
tion of "hedgling" politicians The ac-
tions of the Vigilance Committee of San
Francisco grew out of this principle, and
were remarkable for order, coolncss. wis
dom, determination and patriotic sacrifices.
Their complete justification is found in
the midnight assassinations of San Fran
ciscos citizens, which went unwhipped of
justice; in the midday murders of her
peaceful citizens, engaged in their lawful
avocations; in the sacking, plunderine.
and the confagrations of the city; in the
corrupt administration of the law by bad
men, put into their official positions bv