Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-01-16
Our Legislative Correspondence.

Netting Of the legislature The Inauguration and
Address - Taring Mining Claims Permanent
Oefc1s-Ne ollership-Secretary Of State
-Conaitutional Conrention-.State Treasurer
Ro,ce and Bates-Hon. John c. Buvch-THe
Heather
SACRAMENTO Jan. IL, 1858.
One week ago to-day the session Of the Ninth
Legislature commenced, and though little has
been accomplished thus far, yet enough has been
done to show that the people have some guaran-
tee of realization of those dreams of long prom
ised reform and retrenchment in the admnstra-
tion of government.
Gov. Weller was duly inaugurated on the sth
inst, and by happy coincidence that day was the
anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans, and of
the nomination of Col Weller by the Democrats
of Ohio, ten years ago, for the office of Governor
The inaugural Ceremonies were grand. Sacra-
mento was very fively, and the presence of seve-
raj military companies from San Francisco, and
hundreds of visitors from other parts of the State
added to the booming Of cannon and the fahnting
of flags from every house-top in the city, render
ed the occasion one of more that usual interest,"
The two houses of the Legislature assembled on
platform in front OF the State House, when Che
oath of Office was administered to Col. Weller,
Governor and Mr.. Walkup, Lieut.. Governor, by
Justice Terry, of the Supreme Court. Then fol-
lowed the inaugural of his Excellency, which was
a splendid effort touching upon almost every sub
ject of State and National policy. Col. Weller
said he intended to maintain the laws of the State
at any hazard and without fear or favor, and
was in favor of compensation to settlers for their
improvements A delicate hint was conveyed
to the effect that some mode ought to be devised
of taxing mining claims, though no suggestions
were uttered. The agitation ofquestions foreign
to the home policy of California was deprecated
in the strongest degree, and the Governor urged
the most thorough reform and retrcncbment in
every department of government.
NE. Whitesdes, of Yuba, has been chosen
Speaker of the Assembly by the dominant party,
and in the Senate Hon. Samuel A. Merritt, of
Mariposa, was elected President pro tenn. Mr..
Whitesides is gentleman of fine appearance, af-
fable manner and intelligent understanding. He
was formerly Speaker of the lower House in Wis
consin, where he resided. The organization of
the House was effected without any trouble, the
nominations having been arranged on last Mon
day evening. Gen. Thomas N. Casneau. Assist
ant Clerk of last session. was elected Secretary
of the Senate, and Joseph W. Scoby. who has
been Assistant Clerk of the Assembly for four
years. was elevated this year to the Office of Chief
Clerk. James Quin, of San Francisco, was cho-
sen Sergeant-atArms Of the House, and James
w. Hawkins of the Senate. Pages and porters
have been appointed and nothing now remains
to carry along the business of the session actively
and prosperously, excepting the appointment of
standing committees TO each House, which will
probably be announced tomorrow morning A
large quantity of business is under wav. Mr..
Berry. Senator from yonr neghboring District.
took his seat without opposition, Gen. Cotton
having resigned, although Berry had the legal
right to the Office. believe he participated in
the Democratic caucus. although elected in OPP
position to the regular nominee of that party
Hon. Mr.. Burch, your Senator, was recently
rendered the office of State Controller, in place
of J. W. Vaudeville, resigned, (at present U. S.
Surveyor Generally by Governor Weller. but de-
clined the honor. II is now suptosed that Geo
W. Dent, Of San Joaquin, will be appointed,
though there is no certainty about it whatever.
Col. Weller has way ofkeeping his own secrets,
which is excessively annoying TO applicants for
Office. He keeps them fawning around him a
long time, and then takes sudden start in an
entirely new direction, by appointing some per-
son not named for the Office as Was the case with
Mr.. Burch. Not even has the appointment of his
own Private Secretary, comparatively fnmpor-
tant office, been announced The San Francisco
Offices within the gift OF the Executive are dnite
numerous as well as lucrative aud the names of
the candidates therefor is legion.
The question Of the late vote of the people on
the calling of Constitutional Convention has
been revived here by the allusions to it in Gov.
Johhsoa's Message. The Governor Tor the ex
Governor) contends that the question was mega
tived by the fail ure of several thousand voters to
vote upon It. though Of those who did vote
large majority is conceded. This matter has
been prolific theme OF debate among members
of the Legislature since their arrival at The Cap
Ital, and when it is narrowed down to an Issue of
Yes or No in either branch Of the Legislature the
vote on the construction to be given to the ex-
preston of popular will is likely to be close
one. 1t is understood that Col. Weller comedies
with Gov. johnson in bis view of this matter, so
that any attempt to enforce an affirmative side of
the question, by directing the election of dele
gates to convention, will be attended with
much difficulty. Time alone will tell, however.
All the new State officers, Except Controler,)
are now installed, and are presumed TO be per-
forming their respective functions. The State
Treasurer, Mr.. Finday, gave an excellent bond
of 100000. signed by some of the ablest and
into his possession some $460O0O in cash. Now
there is screw loose somewhere. The bond of
an officer ought to cover the sum of his trust for
should Mr.. Findlay choose to run off with the
amount now in his charge, it would be a nice
thing to pay the 100000 bond and still have
surplus which would bankrupt the State. This
is possible but not probable. and hence say that
additional bonds ought to be required to guard
against the delinquencies of any officer less hon
est than Mr. Findlay.
The Rowe and Bates defalcation, which has &C.
cupied much of the time of the courts and of the
Legislature heretofore is about to be overhauled
at this session. Mr.. Burch offered resolution in
the Senate on Saturday, which was adopted, pro-
viding for the appointment of Especial committee
to investigate the present condition of their de-
falcations, and ascertain the best mode of recoy-
ering the lost moneys to the State. Rowe has
now been in the Prison Brig for nearly year,
and has certainly earned the title of the Obsti-
nate" by his refusal to tell what became of the
! l. f..