The Shasta courier., 1859-04-02
Preserving the Law.

The law snail be sustained in the county
while AM an otlicer.-Sherif Stockton TO Cor.
Heller.
MEssRs EDIroRs Notwithstanding I NAV
call down upon my head the cowardly curses Of
few ofthe Sheriff's lickspttles and toadies, vet
will say word or two with the above quoted
Language v-.he Sheriff for my text. You well
remember that, during all of the late Il Shasta
War;" the idea kept most prominent was. that
Sheriff Stockton was endeavoring to preserve
the peace and maintain the law. All who did
not side with him were denounced by the afore.
said lckspittles, toadies and subsidized s,.n-
porters, as nobites, Vigilantes, and break.
ers.
That was all right, if they believed it. But
now for Eeir consistency Of course in view
of Sheriff Stockton's immense repugnance to
any riolat-~7 Of lar by miners, it is not reason
able to suppose he would deliberately and pre-
meditatediy violate the law! Of course not.
And if ht-did, the aforesaid retainers would. of
course, e sure him So would think any hon.
Let usfec. A few days ago Sheriff Stockton
stopped several wagons loaded with Chinese
traps, including mining implements, bedding,
&C., and took possession of said property in pay
ment of mining taxes due by the owners there
Of Now do not say that this is so, but it is
SO reported in town and through the country
Is it So Mr.. Editor? We do not know.-EDs.
CoUR.] Ifso, then he has violated the law, for
the statute (see Woods Digest, page 1851 ex-
pressy exempts from execution, . The tent and
furniture, including a table, camp stools, bed
and bedding of a miner; also, his rocker, shov-
els, spades wheebarrows, pumps and other in
struments used in mining, with provisions ne
cessary for his support for one month"
But here is still bolder example of the Sher-
ifs breaking proclivites, or rather his con-
tempt for the mandates of the law Section 9th
of the Revenue Act (see Woods Digest p. 6l7,)
says
The tax collector is hereby authorized and
reqared (unless otherwise directed by the Board
of Supervisors in the respective counties either
in person or by deputy, to accompany the
Assessor through the county, and upon the entry
Of any assessment Of movable personal property
to any person, firm, corporation, association or
company, who does not own real estate within
the county, to demand the payment of the taxes
on the same" &c, sc.
Has Sheriff Stockton ever complied with this
law? | am informed he has not Is this sus-
tanning the law2 trow not. 1t is treating it
with the most perfect contempt. And am in
formed that the County Treasury last year lost
considerable money by the neglect of the Shor-
if to sustain the law in this particular Verify,
the people who live in glass houses should not
throw stones.
And here, Messrs. Editors, permit me to say
that there is penalty attached to "wilful neg
ligence" in the discharge of the duties Of Sher-
if quote section 50, p. 6S4 Woods Digest :
Every Sheriff who is guilty of wilful negli
gencc III the discharge of his duties, :; X X
shall upon conviction thereof be fined in sum
not exceeding five thousand dollars, and may be
removed from Office"
As a Grand Jury is to be empanncled next
Monday, they will violate their oaths if they do
not take cognizancc of this matter.
Yea, verify, I" the laws must be maintained.
come what may."-Gog. Weller 10 Sheriff Stock
ton. One OF THE MOBITE MINERS.