San Andreas independent., 1858-02-20


ramento School Taz-Ifems.
Mr.. EDITOR A storm has sue.
ceeded the calm. Last week all was
bright, genial and sunlight; this week all
is gloomy, forbidding and dismal-only,
however, by way of antithesis-for the
stormy weather that makes us wear oul
boots outside Of our trousers, and adopt
our slouch hat and cotton umbrella, is just
the sort of thing we want to set the coun-
try going California is like clock,
that goes by water, requiring to be wound
up periodically, or its works get out Of
order, it does not keep time.
Half of Sacramento is afoat-that is
to say-the ancient planking of | street.
The new experimental macadamization is
rather creamy, the houses are little more
discolored by the rain than usual, and
more coal is used for domestic purposes
but there is just about the same steady
amount of business doing. The Courts
are in session, which, with other matters,
mentioned or implied, tend to enliven ou1
city at the present moment, with much OF
briskness of appearance, in spite of dis
NAL atmospheric influences.
The one absorbing topics of this week,
has been the Insurrection Act, or "Mob
Bill" Debates, loud and long, have ia
ken place on the subject in the legisla-
ture, that, as specimens of oratory, would
have done honor to the efforts of MANY
Cambyses or Demosthenes. Day and
night has the torrent of eloquence been
poured out in session, with vigor and
tenacity of purpose, that shows this great
question to be one of position-just kind
of stand-up fight for the sake of bump
tiousness and dogmatism. Such are the
kind of men we want-well led and di-
rected-men who now are consuming the
peoples money for nothing. The same
amount of money that is now being con-
sumed in daily pay of members, on this
question, laid out in a better cause, in
direct appliance, would have made one
half of the people of the State joyful,
and the country would have been just as
safe as it is likely to be under the stu
pendous idea of arming the Executive
with tyrannical powers, to govern peo-
pie, ever willing, in the mass, to do right,
and to aid and see that it is done.
Amongst other lodges that pro parties
are using, is that of endeavoring to make
the issue one of Democracy; but that
would not 90 down.
The city is full of questionable char
acters. Manifestations of violence, con-
nected with the subjectof Vigilance, have
more than once exhibited themselves
Have we the seeds of disorganization
amongst us? We hope and think not
Calmer reason and right principles, tenn
pered with moderation will prevail. 1t is
allowed that this vexing bill, so uncalled
for, will not pass, or if so, it will never
be carried out to affect the community
The ordinary powers of the law are known
to be sufficient If this law pass, we
must erect Heidelberg or Bastile, to
complete its spirit to the letter, and adopt
a passport system. We shall be worse
than the worst of Autocracies of Europe
The Archey" slave case has attracted
much attention. Public comment is ra-
ther severe upon the decision of the Su-
prene Court. Exception is taken to the
qualification of the judgment rendered.
1t is thought to be at once an interpreta-
ton of the law of comfy, without refer
ence to its Constitutionality, and a contra
diction. 1t is thought to be like the old
Western verdict of "not guilty this time,
but you mus mt do so any more" Judge
Terry's conclusions are considered the
most just; but as there ought to be a
limit to the period of slave, as we'll as
definition of circumstances attached, if
serving his master in free State The
principle involved, is felt to be still un-
settled. The rationale of the case is in
evident, and no precedent established by
this case for future guidance in California
on the subject.
There has been a little squabbling about
the incorrectness of reported Legislative
speeches in the newspapers. Members,
it is asserted, are made to say things 9TH
erwise than as spoken. 1t is, we think,
merely a question of small potatoes, in
volving difference between tweedle dunn
and tweedle dee The scene enjoined,
believe is admitted to be rendered with
general accuracy: Fancy phrases. to catch
the imagination and dazzle the under
standing, when transposed into common
sense, or ill-constructed sentences, well
enough, perhaps, if spoken with proper
emphasis, do not, generally speaking, ap-
pear so graceful to the judgment of their
author, when arranged by others in a
business-like way, on paper. That naught
can be charged against the fairness of
newspaper reporters, in wilfully misrep-
resenting, is the universal opinion.
The city, day or SO ago, amongst the
mob-billites, was trife agog upon the
receipt of news from the South that a
Vigilance Committee had been formed at
Monterey. A man under respite was
hung for not having his name rightly
spelt in the document addressed to the
Sheriff. He was to have been respited
for informality in the proceedings. The
affair is undoubtedly serious. Persons