Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-02-06

didtCly important 10 tue people Oh SalInrhta'
Not the least Of these IL the proposition to
change nc time Of Congressional elections.
We do not design celebrating any argument
on this proposition now, pro or COW We de-
sire only 10 present q summary OF roe reasons
which bear upon it,-leaving to the wisdom Of
our duly elected representatives TIE decision ot
the matter in dispute, without seeking to bias
their action BY our suggestions.
Its urged that the course now pursued lain
Advisable, because It entails the tumult aud
trouble Of two elections, without any advau.
tage being gained TO compensate the addition.
al ANNOYANCE and labor. This argument, how.
ever, is pointlCss, only % FAR as it concerns
party operations. Under the constitution asi,
now exists, an election must be held every
year, for the purpose Of electing AsSsmblymcn
from the resi- ectve counties, 10 attend the an
nual sessions of the Legislature. The only in.
convenience, therefore, under the present
method 81 clectng congressman, grows out Of
the necessity OF aState Convention every year;
one year for the purpose Of nominating cand.
dates foI Congress and Clerk Of the SaprCme
Court, and the next convUking another Con-
venton to nominate candidates for Governor
and other State officers. In partizan point Of
view, there Is some fnrce in this objection.
The advocates Of change also contend, that
the true PIhcy Of representation requires
that the members should be as fresh Ms posi-
BILE from their constituents, ~ they will more
faithfully reflect popular opinion ut the time
they arc called upon Ia act this argument
should be most seriously considered, but for
the fact that any man Of sense or shrcwdncss
would unqueslionably take care TO inform him.
self fully, subsequent to his election, with ref
erence TO the wants and wishes Of his cOnsht.
uentS, Immediately prior to his departure for
the scene Of his future laborS. In addition, the
sixteen months elupsng after he was ~rtai"
Of the position, could be most advantagcously
employed, in qualifying himself thoroughly, tor
q discharge Of his duties. As it 10, men are
OitentmeS selected, whose intellectual faculties
have long been In state Of AisUee. aud fire..
quently those are sent to Washington to rep.
resent us who have never Ind any experience
in legislative affairs. To such, this period for
study would be invaluable. BY possessing
Themselves VI the proper information in nd.
vance, they would be enabled to assume 4 cor.
rect position ON all important questions at
once.
Still another argument. which should not be
disrcgardrd, il, that a. the case now stands,
but little. IL any, opportunity is allowed to
the incumbcnts Of one session, to secure rC
election; a. the nominating convention makes
It's elections during their absence from tho
State. In this way we continually reap the
harvest Of ill.eiIects in sending near men who.
40 matter Of course. cannot obtain the same
favorable hearing for their par ucul"r measures.
which is accorded TO those who have served
several sessions, aud by IN extended acQuain,.
anccshir With their fellow mcnbcrR. Grr era.
bled to bring the influence Of personal rela'
tionship TO bear upon their legislative popo.
sitions. Neither is 1t possible for such ns,r
men to gain prominent place in the most I'M.
portant committees; being rarely, II ever. mp.
pointed chairmen Of those committees.
A change in the law would give to our mem.
bers q fiirer chance to exhibit their red! quail.
ficationS; and sometimes, in instances where
the honor is verify mcritCd. they would be re.
turned thereby permitting us to derive the
benefit Of the superior consideration shown
them in the formation Of committees, and 0i
their more enlarged experience, This fact
should be duly pondered.
The strongest plea, however, for change, Is
ga IN c,uDd in tho nru HI. .,c ths
next census, That census will DO taken in
1850, and under the CAistirg ratio Of Rppor
tionment, We will be entitled to at least fur OF
Eve MEMBERS; possibly u greater number. Il
the Congressional election transpircs this year
and again in November, 1860, . special cleo
ton must be ordered in 1861, or we will be dc
privcd Of our quota T representation. during
the Ontirs- SessieH OF the Sfth Congress, or rial
| the possibility Of contested seats. For we can
not perceive how the members elected in No
vcmbcr, 1860, before VIC can know how many
we may be Justly entitled to are to be dispo
scsscd Of their seats, until the Alh Of March
1868; or how the State is 10 be districtcd, 80 u,
to allow tho sitting members to retain thci
seats. and vet provide properly for the election
Of the additional members, under the census q
1860 On the other hand il the election is nov
deferred. until September. 1889. the next en-
suing thereafter. will occur in September. 1861
utter Congress 1ds decided "ur amount II Irprc
sentatiOn. In this view Of the case, the hes
way to avoid the necessity and possible irrgu
larity and troublesome results of special eluc
ton in 1861, is to make the change now.
II 10 true that the Legislatures Of 1889 or Is
60, may enact that the second election. herrat
ter. b. held in September. 1851. instead 0f M
vembCr. 1860; but If such change be neccsS,
~ and advisable. why not make it uows
change, or special election. il inevitable: NnC
the best method Of evasion left na Of SuIh
contingency, is TO alter the law at once.
But aS We observed in the outset, we do no
seek 10 influence the Legislature now In ScS
sion by any argument on this Ncore; and mere
" submit for their maturCst elaboration, tbs
aagumeuts addUcsd on either aide. leaving q
decision to their better Judgment,
DuPLIcrrY.-The black papers. says the y, II
PGsrlt, are speaking in forms Of high praise o.
Mr.. DOWglas' Kansas Bill, Vet il is said to b
essentially. IL not literally. the same as ,hC
ToombS bill whi,h passed the Senate last ycAI
and was rejected by the Black Republican ma
jority in the House every one OF them voting
against Il! II was then AZ unjust, "wi,ked
cruel. and awful thing. aud 80 denounced BY
the whole black PRESS 1t Ia now a very good
bill and 10 commended BY tue same papCrs
What an hOnest and consistent party this