Mountain Democrat., 1858-01-09
Inaugural Address Of John B. Weller,
Governor Of California,


FELLOW -CITIZENs:-For the first time in nv
life, am about to enter upon the duties Of State
office. Notwithstanding have some experience
in public affairs, that experience will be of little
service to me in discharging the varions and CON-
plicated duties imposed upon the Chief Magistrate
Of this State. That can give satisfaction to all
the generous friends who placed me in this posi-
tion, dare not hope. That can reconcile con-
Hicting interests, heal divisions which exist amongst
all the shoals and rocks which discordant elements
have thrown in her track, can scarcely expect.
1t WILL however, be my constant aim TO administer
the affairs Of the Executive Office in such manner
to advance the interests Of the State and secure
the confidence and respect of honest men. Whilst
place high estimate upon the good opinion Of
my feOw-ctizens, and am always proud to have
it, no one has less regard for what may be denomi-
mated poputdr cIamor. 1 may injurc myself, but
the State shall not be shipwrecked during my adj
ministratiOn, If have the power to prevent it. 1t
is far more important that should be right than
that should be praised, and therefore will do
what conceive to be my duty, at all times and
under all circumstances, and leave the vindicaton
Of my character if assailed, to my acts and TO
posterity.
Every lover of republican institutions, must de-
plore the disposition, so frequently manifested by
portion of the people in different sections Of the
country, to take the law into their own hands, and
place the regularly organized tribunals ut dcii-
anCe. Ours is emphatically government Of law,
and that law is the essence of popular will,
pressed through constitutional channels. In its
execution, the sovereignty Of the people is mani
tested 1t may he that the law sometimes fails to
give adequate protection to person and property,
but the fault will generally bc found with the pe0-
pie themselves In many localities there is an
unwillingncss upon the part Of respectable citi-
zens, actively engaged in business, to serve upon
jurics; and rs n consequence, irresponsible men,
with no visible means of support are entrusted
with the power Of passing upon the guilt or inno-
cencc Of persons charged with high crimes.
II, as is often the case, under these circumStan-
ces, notorious offender il allowed TO escape, the
whole community il thrown into high state 0f ex-
ctement, aud summary punishment demanded. 1t
Is certainly disagreeable dutyt0 be taken from
ones business and compelled to spend week or
two in the criminal courts, but every good citizen
ought to he willing to make the sacrifice when the
public interest demands it These burthens, how.
ever, should lie rs equally distributed az possible.
Elevate the character Of y0nr jurors by selecting
them in strict conformity with the law, and by i'm
posing fines and penalties upon citizens re-
fusing to serve. and in my opinion fewer villains
will escape, and communities will belIess disposed
to disregard the forms Of law and resort "a violence.
Another cause Of difficulty may he found in the
manner in which our judicial AMI ministerial 0fi-
cers are elected Political parties hold their pri
mary meetings and present their respective tickets.
Because OI the ln0HeT0nce IndHlItsteu ny Te-peC-
table men of oil parties, these elections are too
often controlled and governed by irresponsible
men, whose patriotism is generally SubServent to
their pecuniary interests. Haliot-loX suffers III
the absence Of honest voters. declare tue result,
and men without intelligence, capacity or integrity,
are placed in responsible Offices. All this might
have been avoided. il the people had attended to
what was strictly their business. II j. probable
that the present system Of selecting candidates will
prevail amongst us for years to come. and in my
.l.Wwa Ian NAt ~
these primary meetings The ballot.b0X. in our
system of government, is the medium Though
which the people speak. and he who attempts to
ste their voice is an enemy To public liberty, and
should I've treated a. such. He pnisonS the public
fountain, and cOrTnpts all the streams which flow
from it He places men in judicial and ministerial
Offices in whom the community have no confidence.
The severcst punishment shonld be inflicted upon
those who strike this deadly blow at free instu
tons.
1t Is rot strange that the people Of California
have sometimes been excited even To madness. ly
the conduct Of their public fnnctipnlres Tie
fact il nndeniable that men have sought Office in
this State, not from lAudabe ambition ~ be useful
in contributing to its greatness, nor from An anx-
iety TO acquire reputation and confer Lonor upon
their families or kindred. but from q sordid de-
sire TO MAKE MONEY. The contest has not always
been who should confer the greatest benefits upon
the State, but who should gain the most moL'y
out of his position. Their whole energies seem to
have been directed to discover AOme short AMI easy
road to fortune. The good old beaten track, which
requires time, toll. labor and industry. has been
abandoned. ItinCrant Politiciahs, having neither
interest nor sympathy with us, and wholly ndifler-
cnt as to the future character Of the State, have
sometimes controlled its legislation. and by their
acts put money in their own pockets at fhe 'x-
pense of the public treasury. Wild schemes have
been devised, and special acts passed in violation
OF the rights and interests of the people. This
may not be very pleasant picture to look upon,
but in my Judgment it is q TRrE ONE, and there
fore choose to present it. trust, however, q
brighter era il about to dawn upon our State.
As the Chief Executive officer, it is made my
duty to see that the laws are faithfully executed,
and it ia scarcely necessary for me to say that the
whole power of the State will be used, when re-
quired to protect our regularly organized tribunals
and maintain the supremacy of the laws. This
MUST BE DONE AT ALL HAZARDS.
The unsettled condition of our land titles has
not only seriously retarded the prosperity of the
State. but engendered much illfeeling, which has
sometimes terminated in blOodshed. The act Of
Congress Of March 3d. 1851, was intended, as its
title imports, ITO facilitate the settlement of land
tites" but its practical effect has been to retard
improvements. prevent settlements and, in many
cases to impOVerish claimants under Mexican