Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-02-27
SPEECH OF MIR. LOOFBOURROW,

% - SA1N "a vi AAASe AlOOE AbOOANANOV
In Committee Of tile UzOle, Of the As.
%mbiy, on the EI DOrad0 Branch
Wagon ROad Bill, February 15, 1868.
Mr.. Spcakcr:-On yesterday I gave no.
ticc that would, on to-day, move for q
reconsideration Of the vote whereby Sen
ate bill No. 80-An Act to provide for
the construction Of Branch Wagon
Road in FL Dorado county, and to au-
thorize the Board Of Supervisors to levy
tax for that purpose passed this
House. In order to bring that PROPOSE
ton again before this body, Twas obliged
to vote in the affirmative on that qucs-
tion, a proceeding well enough under
stood by members here, but which might
be well calculated to astonish those Ofmy
constituents who are not so well vcrscd
in these parliamentary matters. now,
sir, make that motion; and in connection
| herewith desire to submit few, q very
few remarks in addition to those offered
OH yesterday. 1t appears to me that all
measures coming before this House, and
especially those which involve ataxation
ofthc people, should be carefully and ma
turcly considered before they receive our
sanction. Unlike other laws, their effect
depends upon no contingencies; they arc
positive demand made upon the people
for part of their substance, to be ap.
piled to some supposed general good, and
which must be Obeycd. 1t becomes US
as honest Legislators to examine carefully,
cautiously and thoroughly, all Of these
schemes which require US to make that
demand upon the people. As ! said be-
fore, tax laws are the most direct, posi-
tive and palpable that can be enacted by
Legislative body. They come nearer
the idea of material connection between
the people and those who lcgislatc for
them than any other species Of legisla-
ton, and hence il is important that this
power which they have in all confidence
given us should not he abused, nor in
any manner used to oppress them. 1t is
because believe that this House acted
hastily and prematurely on yesterday,
in their action on this measure, and that
they did not sufficiently examine the prin
ciplc which should regulate their action
upon this and other similar measures
which may be brought before them
that ask them earnestly to reconsider.
The doctrine of submitting to the peo.
pie all propositions requiring a heavy
taxation upon them, when it is obvious
that there are strong reasons to believe
that such propositions do not express nor
meet with the wishes of the people; the
doctrine, Isay, is so sound, so Self-evident,
so perfectly in harmony with every sense
Of right and justice, that am only sur
prised that Democrats should not recog-
nizc and advocate it. 1t is only the ap-
plication Of great principle which our
party tenaciOusly clings to Us the very
life and soul of Democracy; | say, sir,
that it is the correct doctrine to submit
to the people all such measures, under
such circumstances, and where, as in this
case, it is entirely practicable, SO that we
can have an expression from them as to
whether they are willing or unwilling to
stand the proposed imposition of taxes.
The proposition acted upon yesterday
is entirely local in its nature; indeed, it
is more sectional" than any of which this
House has an idea. The whole matter is
not only confined to FL Dorado county
alone, but to an extreme northern Sec
ton of said county. 1t is emphatically
one of those measures which, while it
results to the interest of one man, re-
suits in the misfortune Of three others.
will undertake to say that three.fourths,
or very nearly thrce-fourths, Of the in
habitants Of that county who will be call
ed upon to pay this tax, reside in locali-
ties that will not receive one dollars benc-
fit from it, but on the contrary will be
iWured.b by diverting all of the trade and
travel from them that may come from the
States, from Utah Territory, or from Car.
son Valley, and direct it to the extreme
northern portion Of the county, and from
thence into Placer county--as member
remarked to me q week or two ago, du-
ring the agitation Of this question. Why,
sir, they have only to build bridge across
the north fork Of the American river,
and the people Of that county have oil Che
benefit, or great part oft which will re-
suit from the building Of this branch
road by the people Of FL Dorado county.
am not at ell surprised at their vote up
on this question yesterday; selEinterest,
sir; self-intercst-a powerful motive, in
deed, prompted them to favor it. But Il
cannot DO true that a like motive actua.
ted other members upon this floor, for il
is evident they have no interest save that
justice may be done to the people who
will have to assume these burthens. And
nm lad IN huliavn that thav did noI