Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-03-27


AS the session Of the Legislature is draw
ing to close the members seem to have, at
last, discovered that they must do some work.
We trust that in their new born zeal they will
not amend and repeal, without reflection, the
old laws or cngraf new ones upon our stat
ute books. The insolvent law is, probably,
doomed, and we are glad Of it. 1t has induced
men to contract debts beyond their means to
pay, and has held out rewards for fraud and
perjury. 1t has relieved few honest debtors,
has done much wrong and little good. Blot it
out and leave to the next Legislature the du.
ty OF preparing law on the subject, that while
1t will relieve the honest and unfortunate debt
or will also protect the honest creditor, and
give no encouragement to reckless speculation.
The civil and criminal practice acts will, Of
course, be tinkcrcd upon. That is always the
case, and whether the amendments will be i'm
provements or not We cannot pretend to de-
eide, but We take it for granted that any
change in the practice before Justices, will
cause some poor fellow to be mulcted in costs
and bLeSS the author Of the innovation.
The anti-gambling laws will also, We sup
pose, be altered. They need some alterations.
In our opinion every kind Of gambling should
be prohibited, or no attempt should be made
to absolutely forbid any kind. The business
requires to be controlled by the law-not pro-
hibiIed, unless every branch of it is prohibit
cd. 1t is difficult to perceive any difference
in the degree Of immortality between banking
games and other games at which men bet
money. And while the jurics are composed
of men who are in the habit of taking hand
at the latter games, strong proof will be re-
quired to wiring from them reluctant verdict
against one charged with an offence which in"
wolves no greater moral dirclictlon, than
acts which under the implied sanction of the
law the jurors are daily committing. The Sc
verify of the present law is one reason Of its
incfficiency. For Notwithstanding the able
and jealous cndcavors Of the courts and law
officers TO obtain convictions, it is notorious
that their efforts have been effectual only
against few fricndlcss culpritS. The pres
ent statute is almost dead letter. Let the
Legislature make the punishment more com
lncnsuratc with the nature Of the offence and
the convictions will be more certain, the law
itself more respected.
We are by no means certain that the most
sensible and Ctficacious plan for restraining
gambling within certain limits, and gradually
decreasing it in extent, will be to license ga
ming houses and regulate the gamcs-punish.
ing severely all unfair dealing and playing
The State would thus have volunteer anti
unlicensed gambling force-for every man
who had a license would sec that no work of
the kind was carried on in unlicensed houses.
Let those who want to gamble do so, but make
them gamble in certain places, those places be-
ing the licensed houses, and we verify believe
that the evil to community will be far less, the
dupes fewer in number, and all participation
in it, whether as dealer or better, will soon be-
come SO disreputable that law for its abso-
lutte extinguishment among us could be sure
" enforced.
Tho Legislature will, we trust, examine
closely all proposed changes in the laws which
affect the tenure of property. CALIFORNIA;
great curse has been a lack of confidence in
the stability Of her institutions, the uncertain
ty Of the pursuits Of her people. Don't for
get the good Democratic maxim, 'that is the
best government which governs least, "-ad-
journ speedily and thereby win the regard and
thanks Of your constituents.