San Andreas independent., 1858-08-07
Public Wants.

to exercise one of the dearest rights of free
men-tax- payers viii have an opportunity soon
to elect men to legislate for them, whose acts
will have an important influence upon their
pockets. All those whose interests are iden-
tilted with the great State of California-who
deem it important and of vital consequence
that those who represent them should be men
who maintain high and irreproachable charac-
ters in private life, men of moral worth, men
who know what the State and counties they
represent want and need, and knowing it,
have intellect, capability and industry enough
to accomplish twill soon have an opportuni-
ty to select such men if they choose. But
have little faith, when l look back on the past
in Calaveras county, that considerations such
as | have named will weigh one single grain
in the balance. The record of the past few
years makes a man skeptical as to capacity
of men for self government" in this, our day
and generation. We have lost sight of the
Democratic principles inculcated by Jefferson,
Madison, Monroe, and others of the early days
of the Republic; the Jeffersonian maxim that
the only question that should be asked, is a
man capable and is he honest" is obsolete
ITO the victors belong the spoils" is inscribed
high on the Democratic banner, and on every
other party banner. The only question that
thousands of voters now ask I" is a man true
to the party not, is he true to his country.
Capability, honesty, independence of charac-
! ter, moral principle, is ignored by Primary
and County Conventions Availability, SER
vile, cringing devotion to men, and whisky
dispensing qualifications. are only demanded.
With (as have above saiui, hut little faith
that better state of things can or will be in
augurated the present year; with but little
faith tina. anything can say or write will in
fiuence the majority of the taxpayers of this
or any other county to consult their own inter-
ests, rather than that of selfish demagogues.
III spend the present passing hour in noting
down some few matters which think it i'm
portant that those who bear all the burdens of
State and county, should take into consider
alton:
We rant men true to the faith they profess
to believe in. If the Cincinnati Platform of
1886 is their polar star, let them guide their
way by it, and when they see their helmsman
Buchanan, in his erratic course, steering the
ship of State by dim, twinkling star in the
southern constellation, they should have man
illness enough to condemn and not to servilely
"approue."
We rant men to concoct and pass wise and
good laws, such laws as will give security to
life and protection to property-laws general
in their operation, and not for the exclusive
benefit of the few and to the serious detriment
of the many-laws correctly and clearly drawn
up, so that plain man of plain common sense
can read and understand, and not laws that
even keen lawyers and astute judges cannot
make common sense of.
We acant legislators who will devote their
time and talents to legitimate legislation, and
not spend more than two-thirds of their time
and exhaust all their intellects in passing re-
lief bills and special laws for the exclusive
benefit of party hangers-on.
We Uant laws passed for the benefit of the
People-the whole people-and not for the
benefit of a small army of lawyers.
We acant that our Legislators should confne
themselves to their legislative duties, and COM
pei the coordinate branches of the State gov
ernment to confne themselves to theirs.
We rant to see the Judiciary department
occupy high and honorable standing-at-
tending strictly and devotedly to their duties,
and not arrogating to themselves legislative
powers. There is no tyranny more CALLING and
oppressive than judicial tyranny, and no branch
of our State government needs more careful
watching by the legislature, for at this day no
man or set of men have a vestige of respect
for, or confidence in, their decisions.
There are some matters respecting our coun-
ty that we tcant attended to-
We want the Office of County Auditor and
County Recorder separated from the office of
County Clerk
We 'oant the Board of Supervisors to ap-
point their own clerk, and not have the duties
performed by the County Clerk
We rant this separation of offices, so that
the emoluments of Office received by one man
may not be of such an amount as to make it a
good speculation to expcnd at least ten thou
sand dollars to secure an election.
| We want that the Sheriff should be what
it is the intention of the law he should 6e-a
peace officer, and not collector of foreign
miners taxes.
We Want that grand and petit jurors should
be selected and drawn, so that we shall have
some security that good and true men may be
called upon to decide upon questions affecting
lie, liberty and property,
| We acant that no officer of the Court shall
have the power entrusted to his hands, of Sc
lecting just such a jury as he pleases.
| We acant that the office of Public Admins
traitor should be abolished, and that the Coun-
ty Judge shall have power to grant letters of
administration to such person as he reposes
| confidence in and we vdnt that the laws re-
lating to intestate estates should be simplified
and the fees and costs reduced
We scout that the office of County Ascass,r