Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-11-13
Correspondence Of the Democrat.

BrZAN'S BHIDiE, Nov. 2, 1873.
MEsSRS EnTOns: The approaching session of the
Legislature promises to he of COlsIdcrb bic moment
to the mining interests Of this State NotW
nine years Of defeat and the efforts of
certain class Of people to start legislation upon the
subject Of the mineral lands, are not To be- rClnuAhcd
long mcmlcrs To be found repre- srntiny mi
ming constituency, sufficiently faitc>r to the trust
posed in thcm sufficiently ignorant of hat that
furnish them with hopes Of ut
cess. Defeat has not discouraged them, will it,
The successful working Of the present systcnt hich
Years Ut experience have established, Ill give way
the! declare, t"grcatrr and more permanent prosperity.
Br that il may their solicitations To h. renewed
and urged, Judging frOm the signs Of the times with
more than usual pcriinarty.
Legislation upon the sui cct Of the mines is advocated
by classes " citizens. Those iding IN the
agricultural counties, and who are constantly striving
to get the mineral land, into the nssrssi" Of the State
in order that they may c taxed, and ~ TlaliIc the
burdens, which they claim rest di'proport oay upon
them, nov compose one class he other. and perhaps
the more potent Of tho two, resides IN "ur midst, and
composed Of land spectators and water tpcrult,r. II
asU includes portion vi the ditch owners and famurs.
A. the first class will b. benefited only GENERALLY, and
as iniS iduas not extensively, tho zane zeal viii M,
mark their cndcaIOrs will characterize the Efforts of
the latter, particularly the water spccuiatOrs who be-
ing more directly Interested will mot fail tn every
argument which the braiR and purse Of ROnupos can
suggest Session after session huir these latter lndl
,iduas hockcd alnmt the Hobbies Of the Legislature
rrtputo asking for additional privileges To those they
already possess.
They usually find willing and ready advor ties in those
members hailing from the ultural districts who
canUt fOrbcar practicing little " inter, ion the
affairs that belong exclusively To the mining counties
especially il propose TO tail in amy nv affect
the privileges which tho miner enjoys. This, L,
degree, prompted by feeling Of spite VI envy
chiefly account Of his being CNCmp; from axatori
III matter that troubles them sOrrly There is a num-
Der Of honorable cxcCptlonS how ever, who willingly ac-
uirscr in Whatever policy the mountain count zee fit
tn adopt in reference TO their peculiar Interests
believing aud justly too that We better acquainted
with wants and wishes than they can possibly
be- But upOn the subject Of ia xAtOn thcy invar-
ably unit, and nothing but the greatest unanmty on
h;tn he pinE,r
prevented the passage Of laws imposing direct tax u
the Labor which Ia the same thing the purely i'm
Hginary property the miner may possess.
The prcpOndcranrG which hold in the State
Legislature, may day be- found the other hand
aud although that period may yet be very remote still
it bchOUvcs the miners and those identified with mi
ming interests to be wAtc of those into whose hands
We have entrusted rights, sacred and priceless Ms
they are" that they may not be sacrificed either cach
cTOuSly or through mistaken notions Of policy. very
little watering, very little nIisrepresc alton even
now, ID a that 10 required 10 change the whole theory
Of our mining government. This does not arise from
the fact that there IL much ervy among
miners Themselves with reference 10 the proper policy
to be pursued from the fact that it il an interest
which, while It receives equal protection, Hppdrent
~ enjoys entire exemption from the hurt hens which
other interests have 10 bear in contributing the sup
port Of the government which affords that
Thus an erroneous view bias placed all other interests
appaTeHtly less favored, in attitude of hostility 10
ours, and therefore comps He'd not only to adjust
and harmOuiIe the differences that exist among our
selves, but TO hattie with united OppOHitiOn arrived
against from without. II 10 highly important then
that Of the mountain counties should exercise a
sccpess vigilance upon the movements of those who
contemplate change In the present order of things
Experience abundanty proves that the present yIem