Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-02-27
uestiOn when they cast their votes up.

l will repeat what l said yesterday in
reference to one or two subjects connect
ed with this proposition. This branch
road proposes to connect the village Of
Georgetown with the main wagon road
leading from Carson Valley to Sacramcn-
to city. The appropriation which the
people voted at the last election is to be
applied to the most difficult portion Of
the road lying between Carson Valley
and Brockliss' Bridge, on the South Fork
Of the American river, and it will require
every dollar Of it for that purpose
Georgetown is no further removed from
the terminus Of this road than any other
town in FL Dorado county. II Placervie
wants road to Brokliss' Bridge, her citi-
zeDs will build or improveit it. If Grizzly
Flat wants such a road, her citizens will
build it; if Indian Diggings, Newtown,
Diamond Springs, or any other place in
the southern part Of the county desire a
connection with this main wagon road,
they are willing to build it, and at their
own private expense. They do not ask
that the citizens of Georgetown or Colo
ma shall be taxed to build it for them.
Now, sir, this is the condition of that
main wagon road. 1t comes down from
the Sierras sufficiently far into the interi-
or Of FL Dorado county to give no adj
vantage whatever to the southern part Of
the county over the northern indeed, the
advantage is the other way. Branch
roads from many Of the southern towns
in the county, to connect with the main
road, would be far more expensive than
any that might lead from localities in the
north and am surprised that members
in my own delegation have the assurance
to ask that the people Of the county
shall not only DC taxed to build road
from Carson Valley to a point as eligible
to Georgetown as to any other locality in
the county, but that they shall also be
taxed to continue that road TO the very
doors Of the citizens of that place. Is
this not most extraordinary request
one indeed, which the people of that
county should have the right and the op-
portunity to answer. Sir, this branch
road is as sectional to Ell Dorado county,
as the Sacramento and Folsom railroad is
to the State Of California and a propo-
sition to tax the people Of this State, to
defray the cost of constructing that rail-
road, is just as fair and entitled to as
much consideration as the branch wagon
road which VIC are now considering. DO
you think if the people of this county
had any hopes that the State would build
q railroad from this city to Placervillc, or
to any other point, that there would be
any lack Of petitions for that purpose
Would they not pour in upon us per
feet dclugc Of stationery? And yet mem
bcrs of my delegation show, from their
dcskc, with a seeming air of triumph, al
most q mountain of correspondence, and
almost a mile of petitions, praying for
this taxation in FL Dorado. But assert
that these petitions have never been pre-
sented to this House, and nre, therefore,
not in its possession; and We, as legisla-
tors, have no knowledge of their exist
encc. But will further undertake to
say that they have cnanated from persons
who have direct interest in this road,
and from no others; and if they had been
presented to this House at the proper
time and in the proper manner, they
would have no more weight than the rail-
road petitions to which | alluded; and
the necessity of rcmonstrances against
them, Of which the gentleman Mr. Buel
spoke, is about as urgent in the one case
as the othcr@
do not believe the argument used by
the gentleman who supports this bill
mean the action Of the Senate upon it
is a sound one and one chief reason is,
that it is unparliamentary, and should
not therefore, bc listened to. Jefferson
says, in his manuel, page 43, at is q
breach of order, in debate, to notice what
has been said on the same subject in the
other House, or the particular votes or
majoritics on it there; because the opin-
ion of each House should be left to its
own independence, not to be influenced
by the proceedings of the other; and the
quoting them might bcgct reflections
leading to a misunderstanding between
the two Houses. And yet, sir, this ar
gumcnt has been used, almost to the cX-
clusion Of every other to influence the
votes of this House. He has told you
that because the Senate had done thus
and so, therefore VIC should indOrse and
confirm whatever they might sec proper
to do; that, because the bill received the
unanimous support of the Senatorial del.
egation. it should receive the support Of
this House, notwithstanding it is pre-
sumed that the Representatives, who are
more numerous and "fresher from the
people, " should be at least equally as well
posted in regard to their wants and wish
es. In conclusion, Mr.. Speaker, l fell au-
thorized to say that, if this bill shall be
sent back to the Senate with the amend.
ment proposed yesterday, two at least,
and perhaps more, of the Senatorial dele
cation will concur in that amendment
FIT FOR A LAwYER.-A lady walked in
to lawyers office lately, when the fol.
lOwinp conversation took nlace. tiSouirc