San Andreas independent., 1858-01-16
Governor Weller's Inaugural Equah-
zation of Taxation.

J
the reader will find Governor Weller
inaugural Address. 1t lisa plain, pointed
avowal of the principles and measures ht
lays down for the guidance of his admin
istration. 1t reflects mind eminently
practical, enriched by experience, famil
lar with public business, and throughout
seems highly toned with honesty and pa
triotism. If the allusion to the necessity
of the culture of courtesy and friendly
relations between the States and sections
of our common country, may be regarded
by many as inopportune, at this time, ii
is at least pleasure to know that the
man who represents the largely dominant
party of California, is loyal to the Consti
tuition and the Union 1t is true Gov
ernor does not always reflect the popular
mind; but in this respect, we are yery
sure, Governor Weller has not misappre-
hended his constituency.
That the great secret of success in q
popular form of government, is in the
purity of the ballot-box, Mr.. Weller clear
ly comprehends; and his recommended
tion to carry the election laws to the pri-
mary elections, is, in our opinion, credit
to his judgment and patriotism. AS un-
der monarchial institutions, for the pro-
lection of the "Lords annointed," it is
deemed necessary to visit the punishment
of treason upon all those who adulterate
the royal blood with meaner stuff, so with
us, who acknowledge the sovereignty of
" the ballot box" no punishment seems
too severe for those who corrupt its purity
The hint which the Governor throws
out, as to what he is pleased to term the
equalization of taxation directed, doubt
less, towards the taxation of mining pro-
perty), does not seem to be consistent
with the general soundncss of his Ad-
dress. Suchatax would be neither consti-
tutlonal, equal, just, or polite. Section
13, Article XI of the Constitution of
California, is quoted to attract the legis-
lature to the subject. 1t reads: "Tax-
alton shall be equal and uniform through
out this State. All property in this State
shall be taxed in proportion to its value,
to be ascertained as directed by law" but
the mines could not have been embraced
In this provision, for they belonged to the
United States, and the right of State
to tax Federal interests, was not dreamed
OF by the trainers of our CONSTITUTIONS
And all our past legislatures, very wisely
left that business where the following
section of the Federal Constitution placed
it: Congress shall have power to dis
pose of, and make rules and regulations
respecting the Territory, or other property
belonging to the United States" &c
We presume, however, that in this
recommendation, the Governor, was actu-
ated by an honest desire to facilitate the
extinguishment of our State debt; that
ne was not aware of the present happy
condition of the State finances that he
penned the paragraph under the convic-
tion that, for the present year, as in the
past, the expenditures would exceed the
receipts into the treasury by several humid
red thousand dollars; and that he had
not thoroughly deliberated upon the re-
mote and Incidental consequences of the
taxation of the mines. If the power of
the Legislature were twice as clear as it
IS in the premises, the impollcy of such
legislation is a conclusive eargumentagainst
it. The wisest statesmen of all parties in
the nation. have declared in favor of the
present untrammcled system of working
the mines it was worked into our State
platform of orthodox democracy; and
the merest suggestion of change on the
part of a former whig President, was Sc
verely animadverted upon, and made po-
ltical capital of, by many democrats in
this State. The "poor miner" was then
an object of tenderest sympathy and COM
passion, when he did not need that SYM
pathy. But he was omnipotent at the
polls, and it was necessary to humor even
his whims. Now. however, the tables
are turning; the miner has become poor
indeed, and whilst tax on his little
patch of government property would be
seriously felt, his political power is losing
ground-the omnipotcnt has become con-
temptible.
Let us consider thelaw enacted. How
will it work? Will the Assessor or the
claimant estimate the value of the claim
If the Assessor, how is he to procure
data to guide him? Will he swear the