Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-01-16
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
or y sel.n q. ssyeIIer, s.evernor Of Califernia.

State Office. Notwithstanding have some expe-
rence in public affairs. that experience will be of
little service to in dischargng tie various and
complicated duties imposed upon the Chief Mag
istrate Of this State That can give satisfaction
TO all the generous friends who placed me in this
position, i dare not hope. That can reconcile
conflicting interests, heal divisions which exist
amongst the people and steer the Ship OF State
clear Of all the shoals and rocks which discordant
elements have thrown in her track, can scarcely
expect 1t will, however, be my constant aim to
administer the affairs of the Executive Office in
such manner as to advance the interests of the
State and secure the confidence and respect of
honest men. Whilst place ahgh estimate upon
the good opinion of my fellow-citizens, and am
always proud to have it, no one has less regard
for what may be denominated popular ciamor.-
| may injure myself. but the State shall not be
shipwrecked during my administration, il / have
the power to prevent it. IT is far more impor-
tant that ! should be right than that I should be
praised. and therefore will do what conceive
to be my duty, at all times and under all circum-
stances, and leave the vindication of my charac-
ter, if assailed to my acts and to pusterity.
Every lover of republican institutions, must
deplore the disposition, so frequently manifested
by portion of the people in different sections of
the country, to take the law into their own hands,
and place the regularly organized tribunals at
defiance. Ours is emphatically government of
law, and that law is the essence of popular will,
as expressed through constitutional channels. In
its execution, the sovereignty of the people is
manifested. 1t may be that the law sometimes
fails to give adequate protection to persons and
property, but the fault will generally be found
with the people themselves. In many localities
there is an unwllingness upon the part of respect
able citizens, actively engaged in business, to
serve upon juries and, as a consequence ire
sponsible men, with no visible means of support,
are entrusted with the power of passing upon the
guilt or innocence Of persons charged with high
crimes.
VI; as is often the case under these circum-
stances q notorious offender is allowed to escape,
The whole community is thrown into high state
OF excitement, and summary punishment demand
ed. 1t is certainly disagreeable duty to be Ia
ken from ones business, and compelled TO spend
week Or two in the criminal courts, but every
good citizen ought TO be willing to make the sac
rifce when the public interest demands il. These
burthens, however. should be as equally dstribu-
ted as possible Elevate the character of your
jurors by selecting them in strict conformity with
law, and by imposing severe fines aud penalties
upon every citizen refusing to serve and in my
opinion. fewer villains will escape, and commtni-
ties Will be less disposed to disregard the forms of
law and resort to violence.
Another cause of difficulty may be found in the
manner in which our judicial and ministerial Off
elected. Political parties hold their pri-
mary meetings and present their respective tick
cts. Because of the indifference manifested by
respectable men of all parties these elections are
too often controlled and governed by irresponsi-
BILE men, whose patriotism is generally subservi-
ent to their pecuniary interests. Ballot box
suffers in the absence of honest voters declare
theresut, and men without intelligence. capacity
or integrity are placed in responsible Offices. All
this might have been avoided. if the people had
attended to what was strictly their business 1t
is probable that the present system of selecting
candidates will prevail amongst us for years to
come, aud in my opinion, the election laws should
extended q fhpsa rri 'ba
ballotbox, in our system of government is the
medium through which the people speak, and he
who attempts TO stiie their voice, is an enemy to
public liberty and should be treated as SUCH
lie poisons the public fountain, and corrupts all
the streams which flow from it, He places men
in judicial aud ministerial offices in whom the
community have confidence. The seyerest
punishment should be inflicted upon those who
strlke this deadly blow at free institutions.
1t is not strange that the people of California
have sometimes been excited, even to madness
by the conduct of their public funetionaries The
fact is undeniabe that men have sought Office in
this State. not from a laudable ambition to be
useful in contributing to its greatness, nor from
an anxiety to acquire reputation and confer hon
OF upon their families or kindred, but from sor-
did desire to MAKE MONEY. The contest has not
always been who should confer the greatest ben
efts upon the State but who should gain the
most money out of his position Their whole en-
erges seem to have been directed to discover
some short and easy road to fortune. The good
old beaten Track which requires time, toll, labor
and industry, has been abandoned Itinerant
politicians, having neither interest nor sympathy
with us and wholly Indifferent as to the future
character OF the State, have sometimes controlled
Its legislation. and by their acts put money ia
their own pockets at the expense of the public
treasury. Wild schemes have been devised, and
special acts passed in violation of the rights and
interests Of the people. This may not be very
rfn Mt faiaf l.
ment IL is TRUE ONE, and therefore choose to
present it. | trust, however, a higher era is
about to dawn upon our State
As the Chief Executive officer il is made my
duty to sec that the laws are faithfully executed
aud 1t is scarcely necessary for me to say that
the whole power of the State will be used, when
required TO protect our regularly organized trib-
unals and maintain the supremacy of the laws
IHIs MUST BE DONE AT ALL HAZARDS.
The unsettled condition of our land titles has
not only seriously retarded the prosperity of the
State, but engendered much i'll feeling which has
sometimes terminated in bloodshed. The act of
Congress OF March 3D.. 1851, was intended. as its
title imports " to facilitate the settlement OF land
titles " but its practical effect has been to retard
Improvements, prevent settlements, and in many
eases. TO impoverish claimants under Mexican
grants. MaEy Of those who held perfect titles
guaranteed by the treaty with Mexico, have been
fhlned by litigation with the Government in the
Federal Courts. Some of them, after seven years
sar in our judicial tribunals, are fortunate in
deed. if they are able to retain moity of that
estate which we plighted our faith should be fully
secured to them The policy of the Spanish or
Mexican States, has always been so entirely diff
fereDt from that which has prevailed in our Gov
ernment In regard to the disposition of its lands
that the agricultural interest here has suffered
very much in consequence thereof. The confir-
nation Of these grants has placed an immense
amount of the best farming land in the hands of
few persons. whilst true policy demands that
We should have as meyy free holders as possible
The American farmer always desires to be the
owner OF the soil which ne eultiyates.
In many cases grants were so loosely made and
the boundaries so indefinitely given that honest
persons who supposed they were occupying pub
lie land are now about to lose their improvements
by the manner in which the surveys are made
When individuals have gone in good faith and
made Improvement upon what was supposed to be
part Of the public domain but which, by the
decisions of the courts is found to be covered by