San Andreas independent., 1858-04-10
Amador and Calaveras.

Briggs Bill for the settlement of the deb,
due from Amador county to this county
have reported it back to the Assembly
without recommendation. AS this mat
ter has been standing between the two
counties for long time, and has caused
considerable litigation and no little hard
feeling on both sides of the river, few
facts in regard to the matter may be in.
terestlng to our readers.
The question of the division of the
county of Calaveras was submitted to the
people In 1854, by the provisions of an
Act passed by the Legislature of that
year, the division to take place and the
county of Amador to be organized, we
think, about the 1st of August of that
year. The Act further provided, that
the Court of Sessions of each county
should appoint two Commissioners to as
certain and apportion the debt. Amador
county, however, failed to comply with
the law, and consequently nothing fur
ther was done under that Act. The
Legislature of 1855 passed an Act to as
certain and apportion the Indebtedness,
appointing two commissioners from each
county for that purpose. Again Amador
county refused to act in the premises,
and the Commissioners on the part of
Calaveras county applied to Judge Crea-
nor to appoint the fifth man, as the law
provided. The fifth Commissioner hay
ing been duly appointed, the Board (con-
sisting of the three) proceeded to ascer-
tain and apportion the debt This duty,
we believe was performed by the Board
with the utmost fairness and impartiality,
and it is believed by those who are ac-
quainted with the situation of our affairs
at that time, that Amador got two or
three thousand dollars advantage in the
apportionment Still the authorities of
that county refused to do anything in the
matter; the Supervisors refusing to re-
cognize the apportionment, and the Audi
tor refusing to draw his warrant in favor
OF Calaveras county for their portion of
the debt, as required by law. A manda-
mus was obtained, compelling the Audi
tor of Amador county to issue the war
rant, which he accordingly did, but ap-
pealed to the Supreme Court, which af-
frmed Judge Creanor's decision, thereby
legalizing the whole proceedings of the
Board of Commissioners, and making our
claim good against Amador county. But
after all this trouble and litigation, we
we're but little nearer getting the money
from Amador county than in the begin
ming, the Supervisors having neglected
to assess a tax for the payment of their
portion of the debt. But after fighting
as long as there was any show, and being
beaten in every point, they then COM
planned of the injustice of their having
to pay the money so soon, and ask our
Supervisors to take Calaveras county
warrants, which they would buy up in
the market (aohich said ,carrdnts, from
q combination Of circumstances which
% IS unnecessary here to captain, ,oere
sold at rery loac fgure) instead of pay
ing the money. Our Board of Supervi-
sors, to settle the matter and avoid fur
ther expensive litigation, acceded to this
modest request, and in February of last
year, passed an order to that effect, and
held themselves in readiness at all times,
to comply with the agreement they had
entered into. But Amador county, true
to the policy it had pursued throughout
the whole controversy, did nothing in the
matter, their Treasurer refusing to assist
the Supervisors in relieving the county
from that debt, by Withholding the funds
collected for that purpose. In Septem-
Der last, our Supervisors seeing no way OF
getting anything from Amador county,
without another lawsuit, sold the warrant
of Amador county to- VIM. Beals, of
Mokelumne Hill, receiving therefor the
balance of the Judgment obtained by La
forge against the County Treasurer, then
held by Mr. Beals, amounting to some
$4,000, and the balance in Calaveras
county warrants, thereby relieving our
Treasury of warrant that was consuming
its funds as fast as paid in, and getting a
full equivalent for our demand against
Amador county, and, as they thought,
getting shat of her altogether. Now,
Mr.. Briggs introduces Bill into the
Assembly, to give Amador county the
Privilegeof buying up our scrip and turn
ing it over to us instead of the cash, as
provided in the Act of the division.
The Bill was referred to select CON-
m1ttQa. yr1tk r,oror 10 cor1 Co.