Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-02-05
LETTER FROM avid FREEMAN"
InLEriLLE. Feb. 2. 1850.

IDLEviLLE, FEB. 2, 1907.
EDrroRs DEMocaAr: The apathy heretofore exist.
ing am0ng the miuiug population with regard TO
State affairs, is fast disappearing Indced, think
that at present. there Is no class Of men 10 our State
who turn their eycs with keener gaze towards the
Legislature, or watch more atcntiveiy 0r tntclli-
gently the curse pursucd by their repre- eutaNves
there, than the miners. This 10 good and hopeful
sigu. Men that heretofore OOkcd On California as
Temporary cnncern, where they might recruit their
fortunes, begin t. think II not ~ bad place to live
Uneven to believe there arc worse places to make
u home.
The valley people aud all those interested in farm
ing enterprises, seem To imagine that they are Cab
Fpr" ~, THAT they alnne are pcrmanent,-that they
alone take and have abiding interest ~ our state
and that We Of the mountains, We miners, are
but transient delivers or rUvinE vAgabOnda, who
neither feel nor care to feel WIN neither have nor
care to have, an abiding interest IN the Country
! tell them they mistaken. tell them tue mIn'
ing population ere irrcvtcaby tied to this Stnle,-
tied, net by necessity but BY Tree will Americans
never were faIn0uS fur undertaking their privileges.
The miners well maintain this trait OF charactcr,-
they well appreciate Ils rich aud fair inheritance
The mining interest 10 the permanent the ruling in-
ercst II the State; permanent for will b. ~ last
ing ~ the gdrn'bO~ led eternal hills; ru'lnR 'Or
the mines contain, and will cODtaiD tho most enter.
prisinE, intelligent and energetic, the strongest
armed aud wilcd and Drained men In the State
II would be well for certain men to ruRilnaie on
these considerations. The politicians have had
monopoly 0G the game NJ government IN tlnieS p1ss
-the people begin III think Il time for them - take
hand A BETRAYAL Of trust Is now certain POhtIcat
death tO any man engaged in the transaction. Tue
assertion IL this wihout an Argument, ought TO be
sufficient to enforce il ON the minds Vt our aspiring
politicians.
I prccrive some parties have already commenced
the agitation Of that RI,st absurd ut all proposed
measures Ut StAtcsInanShip the taxing Ut mining
claims, - induced by the simple announcement that
the Legislature had the power IL d. So. Who was
the profound and daring genius that 80 hastily
What triumph ii wlsdum We all know there
are many ways whereby II man becomes diSlin-
guishCd, but this bUld attempt at nntnreiy rather
took me by surprise. though knowing the very VAIN
often seek prominence betTe the public IN the Most
Qucst unablc Of ways. Some gentlemen appear To
give this question good deal II attention, though
little Ut wise or enlightened Thought There Is
science tO the study Ut which would cOnend them,
the priucplcs aud practice th which they seem To
have M conception ni,-I mean political economy.
II they will, this question: waste the people
time and money, Why not discuss II III large ana
liberal manner why not first inquire whether u
be possible or whether wise nr polite,
"a hcthCr just unjust ~ taA INNING claims =
Certainly these questions deserve rs careful ana
diliRcut study the Qurstiuu Of the power I" tax
The case at DIR. Duncunbc presents the most M
tcrcsting feature Of the present session Of the Leg'"
latWre, M far. The Action Of the Democratic mem.
bers, in the matter, meets the hearty approval 0t All
right thinking citizens. There has been good
deal said about party spirit governing the MATURITY
but that men pretending 10 lie Americans sh""'d
vote ID admit EritNh NUiect 10 seat in an Amer.
lean Legislature, seems I" the to be piece 1T I'M
accountable liberation, tn be explained only by at
tributinE il 10 the influence Of PARTY spir'f. The
Doctor, by his own showing, Is lirllsh SUBJECT,
voluntary, sworn subject ut that brilliant race 81
Anglo-Saxon MonarchS, commencing with" far mcr '
George aud ending with the mothcrly Victoria. And
to- shnw en'phaiicav that he is British, II need only
be said that he first allegiance TO George the
Third thai King whum the American Declaration
ut independence branded 10 oil time the worst Ut
tyrants. No matter what he has sworn 10 support,
he has never renowned this allegiance, aud, there
fIrr, he cannot be- an American citizen For Amer
lean law requires frn British subject nut only an
oath u support the Constitution, but formal and
sUlcmn remuneration Of oil former allegiance and
political ties whatever, particularly that t. Great
Britpin, before he can become citizen. This the
why America recognizes that hidc0uS aOsurdl,y,
that double headed monster, double allegiance
WI v did not this Duct0T, II he was tired Ot ms
British burden ease himself Of Il in fair open and
manly hummer, instead M evading 1t under the
,uib6lc Of his birth! What II the virtue of his ia.
tvitv HE tOok oath Ot ically IL the most Bit
ter tue Of his native land Can any man then. be
more alien than he. Docs his mere return abSOlve
him from his OATH or re.insatc him in his former
high position Ot American citizen Surely not.
The difference between native born aud natural
lied citizen OF subject Of Hny country seems to me
| To- be this q natlyeborn requires no "cnablipg
act" to change his allegiance; naiurali1ed citizen
does. This, think, Ia American law and usage
u Is not Tong since Nussnh whn wanted I" Oe re-
licved from his allegiance to this Government,
being about tn return tu Kussin, obtained his re-.
quest by net Of Congress. Here another course
the Doctor might have pursued. He might have
obtained a rescIipt from his allegiance from the
English authorities. Then he might have returned
to American soil without the yoke "f monarch
upon him.
On the whole, I don't GO in for DR.. Dunuombc.-
am an enthusiastic believer in the doctrine OF
Americans ruling America. Not Americans one
half English, not Americans onc.llulf French but
men neither owing nor acknowledging any duty o'
obligation 10 any power earth other MGR Mt'
Republic. would have this North America con
trolled. populated, governed BY Americta CW!sen"
would have il the most unhealthy place possible f'E
| British or any other subjects.
Some may dc,nur to these sentiments, but they
A WILD FRESHMAN.