Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-07-03
Respectfully Addressed to
THE CITIZENS OF TRINITY co.

Co. the Address which follows few preliminary
observations are necessary. The miners of Wea
verville township and vicinity assembled en- masse
on the evening of June 22d, and decided. without
dissent ting voice, that there should be Min
crs Ticket presented to the voters of this Coun-
y at the coming election, and for the better pur-
pose of effectually organizing and ascertaining
the wishes of the miners throughout the County
it was decided to effect this through the means
of q Miners Convention A committee was cho-
sen to act with authority to issue call for Con-
vention, andpublish to the people the reasons for
adopting this course, and the objects to be attain
ed. Those comprising the committee were cho-
sen without regard to party predictions or par
ty politics. In accordance with the decision of
the meeting, the committee have assigned the
23d day of July as the time, and Weaverville as
the place for assembling. They have also appor-
toned the number of delegates to which each
precinct and township would be entitled, and Civ
en- public notice thereof.
The reasons for adopting this course can be
briefly stated, and in the opinion of the commit
tee are comprised under the following statement
OF facts, which are respectfully submitted to the
careful consideration of the miners of this coun-
y, and to the candid judgment of all who have
an interest in the general welfare.
The miners of California as class, are engag-
ed in an occupation requiring Skill labor and ap-
pcation which demands their utmost exertions
Men thus engaged have hitherto taken but little
interest in, and have not had time to devote to
public affairs. This has arisen, not from any in
difference to the public welfare, but has been the
result OF circumstance. The consequence of this
has been that others have managed to obtain al
most exclusive control of public business, and to
receive the honors and emoluments of Office and
in such way that the great mass of the people
are actually deprived of voice in the affairs
which interest all. This fact will be assented to
by every impartial man,-miners know it, and
feel too severely its truth. II needs no argument
That the real wishes of the people are seldom ey-
pressed, is, because interested politicians and de-
signing men have influenced by system of po-
| litical trckery, primary elections and convcn-
tions, thereby controlling the general result and
by means altogether dsreputable, have nomna-
ted and defeated whomsoever they choose. BY
these means the political rights which belong 10
| every citizen, have been disregarded.
The Jeffcrsonian principle-the fundamental
basis and very corner stone Of Democracy is, that
in political affairs men are capable of self gov
.ernment, and that all have a voice in public af
fairs. IL the great mass of the people (as with
miners) are prevented by the intfrUention Of others
from exercising this right in the manner above
pointed out, then we say the .etersOaidn princi.
pie Of HmocrdcV has been Di0lated, and power
concentrated in the hands of few, TO the injury
of the many.
any imputations upon individuals in this commu-
nifty, but it is an undcniabe fact that men fore
stall public opinion and create political prefer
enccs, and manufacture q false public sentiment
in favor Of individuals long before the time Of
election arrives, and thus by dshonorable means
control primary meetings, and force upon voters
men who are not the choice of the people. The
resident voters should say to SUCH and to all, we
are capable of managing our own affairs free
from outside influence. Let the doctrine OF non
intervention and popular sovereignty in sclcc
ton of delegates, he carried into practical effect
and one great cause of The difficulty will be re-
moved. Let miners, who compose far the lar
gest portion of the voting population, feel an in
tcrcs in all that pertains to the general welfare
and that they themselves are deeply interested !.
, Let miners take now, at this time an active, per-
sonal interest in this cause. Meet together, de-
iberatc consult, and like men honestly, fairly and
. carefully choose good men to represent their in
interests, as delegates, to attend the miners
/ Conventions, and thus show TO this community,
and to the people Of this county, that miners can
and will select faithful, honorable men to OCCUPY
the official positions which the law requires to be
filled! Let their motto be- good men, the best
M n, and the right men, for The right place.
The official positions to he filled at the coming
election arc those of Judge of the Supreme
Court, Zone of the most responsible Offices in the
StatP,) State Controller, Judge of the Ninth Ju-
dlcal District. and for county officers Member
OF the Legislature, County Judge Of Trinity, and
local officers at the different precints.1
This will be the first Miners Convention cv,
held in this county or in the State There is moth
exclusive in its character, because it is designa-
ted Il Miners Convention and Miners Tick
| ct, nor do those who engage in it disregard the
interests welfare of those in other occupations.
On the contrary we say to them your interests
are our interests and our interests are yOurs.'
by thus meeting together, without regard to
the political organization of the other parties, we
shall obtain the real sentiments and wishes of the
people. By adopting the course pre- posed we
shall remove all objections to which mere party
conventions are liable, and check the exclusive,
injurious influences, and systematic maneuvcr-
| ing Of party men, and inasmuch as the great mass
of the miners will take an interest in, and the
delegates come fresh from the people, we shall
place power where it rightly belongs IN the hands
Of He People.
In conclusion The miners of Wcavervile and
vicinity, through their committee, call upon their
fellow miners throughout the county, and upon
all favorable to the cause, to unite as one man,
and cooperate with them in carrying out this
work, which is for their intercsts-the best inter
ests of the community, and for the general good.
! JOHN MURPHY, j.. A. MOVES,
f.. BONTECOU, j. C.. MASON,
! JOIN G. ROBERTS, JOHN C. CROwNINSlIIELD,
ALBEIT SHEPARD, b. S. GUPTII,
Miners Committee.