Amador weekly ledger., 1858-02-13
Pico Claim.
Butte Cry, Feb. Sd, 1858.

'''S' '""e "ch hoFor reailLe u relnOle, JnOugn
certain danger, until it is about to burst upon
them with all of its dire consequences. They
are apt to console themselves with the deu-
sive hope that some miraculous interposition
OF Providence may avert the impending ca
lamity They hug this Elusive phantom to
their bosoms till the coming of their destroy
er; this seems to be an innate princple-it
is peculiar to the wondrous nature of man.
Who is it that is not impressed with the re-
ality of this singular fact? That it is so,
there is not question in my mind; but why
it is so is immaterial to my present purpose.
Peradventure, upon the whole it is for the
best but it is often the prolific parent Of
much evil; and never was there more stri-
king instance of its ruinous mishief presented
to the minds of men, than the supine indiffer-
ence with which the people Of Amador county
have witnessed the prosecution of the Pico
claim to final determination in the Federal
Courts They have, with seeming complai-
sence gazed upon the prospering growth Of
the vampire, who is to suck the lfe-blood of
their domestic happiness, and rob them Of
their home. Have the people hitherto been
stupefed, their sensibilites blunted, dead to
their own interest, or what has been the mat
ter? Pray tell me! 1t thus appears to me.
But | am glad to see them, even at this late
day, waking up and taking measures to ferret
out this vile iniquity, this monstrous imposi-
tion-this corruption which breeds so much
moral depravity among us-this pestlence
which is so rife, and has so many kin in this
sin-ridden State! 1t is time something was
done to impede its progress, and nowis the
time to do it, The longer the people pro-
crastinate in this matter, the firmer and more
immutably the fraud will be fixed upon them.
Every hour they delay the bands Of this
prodigious cheat are drawn tighter around
them. They have been too remiss in this
matter already This "claim" should have
been defended in the United States Courts.
When you have potent and implacable en-
emy, with whom to contend, You should have
let no opportunity pass without giving him
fight 1t is by constant skirmishes and on
sets that you weary him out--a ha rrassing
and protracted war will inevitably ruin the
most powerful foe This is the most effective
mode of making war. More victories are
achieved this way than any other. A good
general never hazards decisive field battle
until his enemy is jaded and worn by fatigue
and care, but frequently annoys him with
combats, and eventually he thus conquers
him.
But it is not too late to institute this kind
of warfare with Aadreas Pico; and ! would
take the liberty of suggesting the propriety
Of the people doing it--make a stand, and
contest every inch of ground with him.
Teach him that he cannot, with impunity
foist such an enormous fraud upon them.
/ believe that this can be DONE A firm
determination, such one as will not be sha-
ken by every blast which bears upon its wings
an uufavorable omen, to stand by their rights
and not give up their homes, am persuaded,
would accomplish this desirable result. 1t is
my unqualified conviction that resolve to-
defend to the last, would soon drive this ne
farious man to such just and equitable terms
as the people might see fit to dictate. And
l am satisfied that proper investigation
would draw out and expose to the vertical
rays of intellectual day the most monstrous
and wicked fraud ever exhibited to the view
of the mental eye Of man. 1t is time this
iniquty was forced back into its dark and
polluted den in the breast of its author where
it could never more show its ''Medusan
Head" An end should be put to it.
But without further remarks by way OF
premise | will now proceed to examine this
spurious Claim such. | conceive it to be.
Every transaction connected with it is stamp
ed with suspicious circumstances, some of
which it is my intention to unmask, if my
perception does not fail me and my reason
keeps her seat. All that is necessary for any
man to see them is to be able to discern re-
mote analogies. Scrutinize this fact, Pico
so runs his lines in zig-zag way, as to com
prise within his survey lone and Jackson
Valleys, the town Of Sutter Creek and Jack
L = L e !