The Nevada Democrat., 1858-01-13
Inaueural Address of Gov. Weller.

arious and complicated duties imposed upon the Chief
Magistrate Of this State That can give to all
the generous friends who placed In this position dare
not hope That reconcile conflicting interests heal
divisions which exist amongst the people, and steer the
ship Of clear of all the shoals and rocks which dscor
dant elements have thrown in her track can scarcely
expect It will hewever be my constant aim to administer
the affairs of the Executive Office in such to
interests Of the State and the confidence
and respect of honest men, Whilst place high estimate
upon the good opinion Of my fellow citizens, and am al
ways proud to have It, has less regard for what
NAV be denominated popular cdmoT. may injure myself
hut the State shall not be shpwrecked during my admin
istraon If have the power to prevent it. is Tar 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 vndcaon of my character if assailed to my acts
and to posterty.
dsposition so frequently manifested by portion of the
peope in different sections Of the country to take the law
into their hands and place the regularly organized
tribunals at defiance Ours is emphaticaly government
of law and that law Is the OF popular will as ex
pressed through constitutional channels In its execution
the sovereignty of the people is manifested 1t may be that
the law sometimes fails TO give adequate protection to per
son and property but the fault will generally be iound
with the people themselves. In many localities there Is
an unwngness upon the part Of respectable citizens ac
lively engaged in business to serve upon ures and as
consequence irresponsible men, with visible means OF
support are entrusted with the power Of passing upon the
guilt or innocence Of persons charged with high crimes
r. as is often the case under these circumstances
notorious offender is allowed to escape, the whole cmmu
nity is thrown into high state U excitement and summa
punishment
duty to be taken from ones business and compelled to
spend week or two in the criminal courts but every good
citizen ought be willing to make the sacrifice when the
public interests demands it. These burthens, however
should equally distributed possible Elevate the
character Of your jurors by selecting them in strict con-
formty with the law, and by imposing severe lines and
penalties upon citizens refusing to serve and in my opin
ion fewer villains will escape, and communities will he
less disposed to disregard the forms of law and resort to
violence.
Another cause of difficulty may be found in the manner
in which judicial and ministerial officers elected.
Political parties hold their primary meetings and present
their respective tickets Because Of the Indifference
Tested by respectable Of all parties these elections
too often controlled and governed by irresponsible
whose patriotism is generally subservent to their pecuni
airy interests BaotboX suffers in the absence Of honest
voters declare the result and men without intelligence
capacity integrity placed I'm responsible Offices All
this might have have been avoided If the people had at
tended to what strictly their business 1t is probable
that the present system Of selecting candidates will prevail
amongst for years to come and in my opinion the cleo
ton laws should be extended TO these primary meetings
The baobox in system of government is the medium
through which the people speak, and he who attempts TO
stie their voice, is enemy 10 public liberty and should
be treated such He poisons the public fountain and
corrups all streams which flow from it, He places men
in judicial and ministerial offices in whom the community
have confidence The seyerest punishment should be
inflicted upon those who strike this deadly blow al free in
stitutions.
It is not strange that the people Of California have
times been excited to madness by the conduct Of
their public functOnaries. The fact undenabe that men
have sought office in this State not from audabe ambi-
anxiety TO acquire reputation and confer honor upon
their families Kindred but from sordid desire
MONEY. The contest has not always been who should
fer the greatest benefits upon the State but who should
gain the most money out Of his position Their whole
energies have been directed to discover short
and easy road to fortune. The good old beaten track
which requires time toll labor and industry, has been
abandoned Iinerant politicians, having neither interest
sympathy with us, and wholly indifferent to the
future character Of the State, have sometimes controlled
its legislation and by their acts put money in their
pockets at the expense of the public treasury Wild
schemes have been devised and special acts passed in
violation OF the rights md interests OF the people This
may not be very pea SAINT picture to look upon but In
my judgment it is a ONE, and therefore choose
present IT, trust however, brighter era is about to
dawn upon our State
As the Chief Executive officer is made my uty TO see
that the laws faithfully executed, and it is scarcely
necessary for to say that the whole power of the State
will be used when required to protect our regularly
ganzed tribunals and maintain the supremacy OF the laws.
THIS MUST DONE ALL HAZARDS.
Tho unsettled condition of our land titles has not only
seriously retarded the prosperity Of the State but engen
dered much llfeelng, which has sometimes terminated
in blooshed The act Of Congress of March 3D. 1851
intended as It's title imports ito facilitate the settlement
of land ttes but its practical effect has been to retad
improvements prevent settlements and in many cases
to mpovcrsh claimants under Mexican grants Many Of
those who held perfect titles guaranteed BY the treaty with
Mexico have been ruined by litigation with the Govern
ment in the Federal Courts. Some Of them. after
years in our judicial tribunals fortunate indeed
If they able to retain moety of that estate which
pghted faith should be fully secured 10 them The
policy of the Spanish Mexican States has always been
entirely different from at which has prevailed in
in regard to the disposition Of its lands that
the agricultural interest here has suffered very much in
consequence thereof The confirmation of these grants
has placed immense amount Of the best farming land
in the hands Of few persons, whilst true policy demands
that should have many free holders possible.
The American farmer always desires TO be the owner OF
the soil which he cutvates.
In many cases, grants were loosely made and the
boundaries so indefinitely given that honest persons who
supposed they occupying public land about
to lose their improvements by the manner in which the
s..tt, h,..a II
faith and made Improvements upon what supposed to
be part of the public domain, but which, by the decis
ions of the courts is found to be covered with Mexican
grants the settler entitled upon every principle Of JUS
ticc TO full remuneration for his labor and improvements
The whole constitutional power of the Legislature should
be exercised to protect him. These hardy and industrious
pioneers who have gone upon wild and uncutyated land
and by their labor and industry made the earth give forth
its richest productions and surrounded themselves with
all the comforts of home, entitled to especial
sderaton Their energy and their enterprise have already
placed California amongst the FIRST agricultural States in
the Union.
The condition of our finances impose upon US the neces-
sity Of pactcing the most rigid economy Ever since the
organization of our State Government the expenditures
each year have far exceeded receipts and conse
quenee we are now burhened with public debt. State
as well as an individual must be ultimately bankrupted
its expenses allowed for series of years exceed
its income Our debt amounting to four millions
dollars has been incurred to pay current expenses Of the
Government,
All $500 900 Of this amount contracted since the
adjournment OF the first Legislature in direct viola
ton OF the Constitution and although the proceeds of
bonds were shamefuly squandered yet very large
ory of people at the recent election ordered that the
debt shall be paid They have determined that innocent
holders of our bonds shall not suffer by the unconsuon
al acts dishonest conduct OF agents California
has said in unmstakabe terms that the disgrace Of repu
uaou shall never rest upon her escutcheon. rejoice
that those who have placed the position which now
occupy have nobly indicated the reputation of our
State. State which violates its plghted faith and tes
with its honor would soon become reproach to repub
institutions, and byword among civilized nations
We must take TO steer clear Of these difficulties
the future Provisions must be made for the prompt pay
ment of the interest debt and especial pains taken
to con6ne the expenditures within income. This
can do and must do, bankruptcy at very distant
day, is inevitable The people have heard enough from
their public agents upon the subject of economy-they
now demand that it shall be practsed Much was done
by the last legislature but remains to be done The
expenses of conveyn prisoners to the Penentary and
supporting them whilst there is enormous tax upon
the people Whilst the convcts in many Of the States
supporting themselves taxed Sl20O 600 per
to provide for them and that, too under system which
allows large number to escape every year If you add
to this the amount paid for transportation of convict
1885 000) you will have equal to .he whole expen.
of of sister States with four times the popu
lation?
of Indiapo uhoIo Of tbo