The Nevada journal., 1858-01-01
THE NEVADA JOURNAL.
FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. 1st, 1853.


at the capital on Monday next, and as
soon as practicable thereafter John B.
Weller, Governor elect, will be inaugu-
rated. The incoming administration is
wholly Democratic, not enough of oppo-
sition existing in the two houses to offer
unaided an effectual force against any
measure proposed. The State govern
ment is perfectly at the mercy of the
demo cracy, who assume the direction of
every department Under the most favor
able circumstances. The State has
been brought to pay cash to all its Off
GERS and employees, for which purpose
there is now collected in the vaults of
the treasury three hundred thousand
dollars. Never before has the govern
ment been in condition to pay cash.
The scrip system began with the first
Legislature, and was perpetuated down
to that of 1857 That system has been
the cause of half the knavery and dis
grace that have been attached to the
government. 1t gave encouragement to
brokers, sharpers, thieves. 1t infested
the capital with a class communicating
to legislators. 1t gave to men with
gold the opportunity to control the ne
cessities to great extent of poor men,
bers who depended upon the sale of
their per dietn scrip to pay their bills
1t created an excuse for men of expen-
sive habits and loose ideas of moralL to
barter their votes and influence for the
means to meet their unnatural wants.
1t gave officials in the executive depart
ments chance to issue paper on little
or no authority, and pay the same out of
the treasury, which opportunity was not
in all eases neglected. In short the
scrip system has engendered manifold
evils which have crept into every depart
nent of State, the machinery of party,
and infected in some degree the frai1e
work of society. The scrip system has
done all this. Other causes have assist
ed in the degradation of California Leg
islatures. Corrupt men have become in
some Instances law makers it is true, but
instead of singing these out for exhibi-
ton, as should have been done, the press
of the State, too deficient in moral or
physical courage, has labored most as
siduously in denouncing all who chance
to be thrown together in halls of legis-
lation, good, bad, and Indifferent, until
men of ability sensitive of their reputa-
tion shrink from the exposure of their
names as candidates for the Leg gislature,
knowing the certain brand Of infamy to
be affixed to them in case of an election.
To the press is owing the had repute of
the morals of the State abroad. News
papers have found it fashionable to
abuse public men, and they have follow
ed the mode to extravaganza. They
have invited emigration but by their
constant and unwearied defamation of
all official personages, they have deter
red the good from coming and held out
inducements to the bad; for what better
asylum for rascals could be desired than
where the lawgivers can fraternize with
them? These are the roots of the evils
which have been seen in our Legisla-
lures. For once the scrip system is
abolished, and cash paid for services as
they are rendered lessons the induce
ment for sharpers and Shylocks to hang
around the capital to the detriment of
the interests of members and of good
government. Legislators, however poor,
are for once Independent of outsiders,
and none but the vicious or prodigal but
will remain SO. Ten dollars day, or
seventy dollars week in hard cash
will keep any rational man from want
while in the employ of the State. In
tercourse with that class of men most
liable to hold out inducements to fraud
on the government is no longer neces-
sary, and thus the members of the ninth
Legislature is favored beyond his prede-
cessors. 1t is to be hoped too, that like
all other fashions, that of condemning
Legislators as body for the venality of
part, will soon find an end. Let the
guilty be held up to public scorn and
execration, hut give credit to honesty
and its endeavors. We trust this will
be done At least will the press Of the
dominant party be unwilling to condemn
its own Legislature without cause, and
in no case the worthy members of the
body; and for one of the opposition we
shall confne ourselves to a legitimate