San Andreas independent., 1858-01-16

lie domain, but which, BY the decision of the
Courts IS found to be covered by Mexican
grants, the settler is entitled, upon every prin
ciple OF justice, to full remuneration for his
labor and improvements The whole consti-
tutional power of the Legislature should be
exercised to protect him. These hardy and
industrious pioneers who have gone upon wild
and uneultvated land and By their labor and
industry made the earth give forth its richest
productions, and surrounded themselves with
all the comforts of home, are entitled to our
special consideration. Their energy and their
enterprise have already placed California
amongst the first agricultural States of the
Union.
The condition of our finances impose upon
us the necessity of practcing the most rieid
economy. Ever since the organization of our
State Government, the expenditures each wear
have far exceeded our receipts, and as a con-
sequence we are now bnrthened with nublic
debt. State as well as an individual must
be ultimately bankrupted if its expenses are
allowed for series of years to exceed its in
come Our debt, amounting to some four
millions OF dollars has been incurred to nav
current expenses of the Government.
All over $500, 900 ofthis amount contracted
since the adjournment of the first legislature
was In direct violation of the Constitution
and although the proceeds of our bonds were
shamefully squandered, yet very LARGE ma
Jority OF our people at the recent election or
dered that the debt shall be paid They have
determined that innocent holders of bonds
slall not suffer by the unconstitutional acts or
dishonest conduct of our own agents. Cali
fornia has said in unmistakable terms that the
disgrace of reputation shall never rest upon
her eseutcheon. rejoice that those who have
placed me III the position which now occu-
py, nave SO nobly vindicated the reputation OF
our State A State which violates her pighted
faith and trilles with its honor, would soon be-
come reproach to republican institutions,
and by-word among civilized nations
We must take care to steer clear of those
difficulties in the future. Provision must be
made for the prompt payment of the interest
on our debt, and especial pains taken to con-
fine the expenditures within our income
This we can do, and must do or bankruptcy
at no distant day, is inevitable. The public
have heard enough from their public agents
upon the subject of economy-they now de-
mand that it shall be practised. Much was
done by the last Legislature, but more re-
mains to be done. The expenses of conveying
prisoners to the Penitentiary, and supporting
them whilst there, is an enormous tax upon
the people. Whilst the convicts in many of
the States are supporting themselves, we are
taxed SI20,OOO per annum to provide for
them and that, too, under a system which al
lows a large number to escape every year =
If you add to this the amount paid for trans
portation of convicts. $3.50, o,O00) you will have
a sum equal to the arhole expenses of some of
our sister States, with four times the popna-
ton
In the State of Indiana, the whole amount
of the ordinary expenses of the government
for the year ending in October, 1855, was
STAT ,442 and during the succeeding year,
was reduced to $50, ,522. and this with pop
ulation of nearly one million and half!
In the three State Prisons of New York,
with nearly two thousand convicts, in the
year 1855, the expenditures over the earnings
were but S35 900
In California, the expenditures for State
Prison purposes, and for printing, alone, in
the year ending 30th June, 1856, amounted to
more than half million Of dollars
These are certainly crying evils, which de-
mand prompt action on the part of the Legs-
lature.
The 18th section. XIth Article of the Con-
sttution, declares that "taxation shall be equal
and uniform throughout the State. All pro-
pcilJ III tIlS DGdlc SIiill Dc taxed IN DrODOr-
tion to its value, to be ascertained as directed
by law"
1t may we'll be doubted whether our pres
ent revenue system is in accordance with either
the letter or the spirit of this clause of the
Constitution. 1t declares that ALL property
shall be taxed and yet it is notorious that
many persons hold property which annually /
ylelds-and in all probability will continue to /
vi of,
come, on which no taxes whatever are levied. /
In imposing taxes necessary for the support
of the government, the great principles of
equality and justice should be observed. and
each interest made to contribute its proper
share. Those who receive from the govern
ment protection in their persons and property,
ought to pay their just proportion of taxes
Nothing short of EQUAL distribution of the
burthens of government can or ought TO give
satisfaction to the people.
The second section, ninth article of the Con-
stitution, declares
g The Legislature shall encourage by all
suitable means, the promotion of intellectual,
scientific, moral, and agricultural improve
ments. The proceeds of all lands that may
be granted by the United States to this State
for the support of Schools which may be sold
or disposed of, aud the FIVE hundred thousand
acres of land granted to the new States under
an act of Congress distributing the proceeds of
the public lands among the several States of
the Union, approved \. D. l84l, and all es-
tates Of deceased persons who may have died
without leaving will or heir, and also such
per cent. as may be granted by Congress on
the sale Of lands in this State, shall be and
remain perpetual fund, the interest of which,
together with all the rents of the unsold lands.
and such other means as the Legislature may
provide, shall be involably appropriated to
the support of the common schools through
out the State"
The embarrassed state of our finances and
the unsettled position of land titles and public
surveys have no doubt prevented the Legisa-
ture hitherto from carrying out the patriotic
designs of the trainers of that instrument Bv
its terms certain lands donated by the Federal
Government to the State, are to be appropria-
ted for school purposes, and if this fund is
properly administered, the time is not far dis
tant when every child in the State can receive
the rudiments of a good education at the pub
lie expense. The ignorant are often vicious,
and it is scarcely necessary for me to say that
there can be no stability in a government like
ours, based upon public opinion, unless the
great body of the people are educated. 1t
l. f.1l 10