The hydraulic press., 1859-04-30
EXPLANATORY.

our merchants TO close their stores on the
Sabbath /:
That is the way to do it. If the people
do so without compulsory enactments; and
if they do not so desire, such enactments are
tyrannous. '
To this brief paragraph the Christian Ad-
rocate calls special attention, 'sas indicating
the licentious character of items that some
times appear in a few papers of our State on
this subject of Sunday law and then OBJ
serves:
''It is not easy to decide which is the more
admirable, the logic or the ethics, of that
passage. 1t ought to immortalize its author.
Has he taken lessons of Diderot, or Voltaire?
Or has he had visions of circles and spheres,
and the myriad fancies that float in muddled
brains? If a man desires to be honest, and
just, he can be so without compulsory en-
actments; but if he does not so desire, en-
actments against embezzlements, and fraud,
against larceny and robbery, seduction and
murder are tyrannous-O, tempora, o. mores.
The desires of the people are the rule of leg
islation. Let our Legislators stand in awe of
this sage teaching of political ethics, lest
they shall find place in history with Nero
and Jeffries.n
Our Christian and satirical friend either
cannot or will not see any difference between
leglslating to protect society against what
are universally admitted to be crimes, and
the passage of enactments compelling the
observance, as sacred, of a day which is not
universally admitted to be so, and which
even the text book of Christianity itself, we
mean the new testament, does not declare to
be peculiarly holy. Some of the brightest
lights of the pulpit have opposed Sabbath
legislation-Dr Scott would oppose it now
and il has been pronounced in conflict with
organic law by the highest judicial tribunals:
because the writer of this agrees in opinion
with such eminent authority, does it follow
that he thinks it tyrannous to punish crime?
The Adroeates inference is rather violent and
unfair; it is what the lawyers would call
non sequtor.
So far as keeping any day holy is con-
cerned, we are willing, individually, to go
further than the Aduocate thinks; we are
willing to try and keep every day IN the sreek
holy, and believe every man should be the
same.
We do not care to argue this question, but
there is one more point which needs atten-f
tion. Certainly, "the DESIRES" or the will,
'of the people are the rule of legislation = a
doctrine which is the very basis of our gov
ernment, dreadful as it seems in the eyes of
the Aduocate; and the astonishment with
which that journal refers to it, clearly shows
how willingly it would disregard ''the wishes
of the people" if it had the power to compel
an unwilling observance ofa religious festi
val, strictly as such. Is this 1icentious? 2"
GEOLOGICAL HINTs.-An Indian arrowhead
made of stone as at the present day, was
lately picked from the solid cement in the
claims of Lewis Il Hiscox at Buckeye Hill,
at depth of eighty feet from the surface
and about one foot from the bedrock This
little relic of ancient diggerdom was really
found as described. It's discovery in such a
position certainly indicates high degree of
antiquity for the aborigines of California, for
the geological changes necessary to bury the
arrowhead beneath a hill must have occu-
pied very many ages. Even if the hill were
the result of a slide from some greater height,
such slide must have occurred centuries ago,
as is evident from the large growth of pine
and other trees found on the spot, and the
many evidences that this is not the first
growth.
Another arrowhead was recently found
three feet deep in bedrock crevice beneath
solid dirt, at the mouth of Moonshine Creek,
near Freenlan's Crossing.
In gazing upon these simple objects one
cannot escape the conviction that they are
the dumb memorials of people who roamed
these mountains, in condition similar to
their existing descendants, at a period more
remote than the dawn of authentic history.
Even the Chinese race may not be as vener-
able as that of the humble digger Indian.
TUESDAY, the 26th inst. was probably eel
ebrated wherever Odd Fellowship extends
throughout America. The celebration in
California was very general and hearty, con-
sisting of professions, orations, poems, din
ners and dances. The orations were all
good, the poetry not. Mr.. Bausman's poem
read at Sacramento, occupied an hour and a
quarter in the delivery, and has been publish
ed in volume of seventy-two pages. 1t is
social satire, and is said to contain many
excellent passages. The best orations, for
10 cal Of antSidors thoca daliuarad