The Shasta courier., 1859-03-05
War. War. War

sirous of bringing the miners into conflict Win
the legal authorities. If we did not know him
as well as we do, we would most surely be i'm
pressed with this belief. We think, however,
he is only unnecessarily angry, and surround
ed by bad advisers. We admire Sheriff Stock
ton, personally,-esteem him highly as gentle
man-but at the same time we do not hesitate
to avow the opinion that his recent proceedings
are unnecessary, supererogatory, and ridiculous.
On Thursday last certain miners were to be
tried in this place upon the charge of being con-
cerned in rout They were under bonds to
appear for trial on that day. They made no re-
sistance when arrested. They did object, how
ever to being arrested by certain gamblers whom
the Sheriff had appointed special duputies, and
declared that they would not be arrested by
them So also said the two hundred men who
brought the Chinese into this place on Tuesday
last They told the officers that if they thought
the law had been violated, they might arrest
them at once-that not an arm would be lifted
against AN oiIicer-that they were willing to let
the Courts settle the matter.
men who are as fully worthy of belief as Sheriff
Stockton, any other gentleman in the land
Notwithstanding these white citizens have told
him again and again that they did not mean to
disrespcct his authority or treat him with the
slightest indignity, unless he or his Deputies at
tempted Illegally to tramp or spit upon them
notwithstanding they proclaimed it in trumpet
tones all along their line of march, and on the
streets and in the saloons of this town. that they
would not resist an officer of the law,-yet he
to appear in this place, and remain here during
the progress of the trial of those charged with be-
ing engaged in a routl Indeed we are informed
that men whom he summoned on Tuesday
last to aid him in preserving the peace, have
been retained in town ever since, to be present
and protect the majesty of the law when the
trial commences
Now, in the name of common sense we ask any
man. what necessity, what shadow of necessity
is there for any action of this kind Does any
one anticipate rescue? Why, there has been
no one in prison to rescue-they were all out on
bail, avowing desire to have the question tried
in the proper Courts f!
Has any man in this place, during the entire
week, observed any evidence of an intention, on
the part of any body of men, to resist the officers
of the law? No. There is scarcely a man in
town who will say that he has seen the slightest
evidence of any such disposition. Some timid
souls may have imagined that they observed
some such signs, but, We opine, few brave men
have had such thought.
What then could be the motive for summon
ing this posse? 1t could not have been desire
to preserve the peace, nor to secure certain men
trial, for the reason that the miners avowed a
FIRM determination to be tried upon the charge
for which they were arrested. Can it be that
the Sheriff is desirous of Furnishing the Tax
Payers by increasing the County Debt? We
think not. Is it his wish to provoke a conflict
with the miners, in the face of their repeated
assertions that they will not resist his authority?
We trrst not. But why, then, has he attempted
to increase the expenses of this County over a
thousand dollars per day, by summoning posse
to remain here on duty? On what duty, pray
The duty of protecting the majesty of the law ?
law has been or is going to be impaired ? The
people are entitled to this evidence. Give it to
them. We for one, would like to see it.
1t is reported that Sheriff Stockton has sent to
the Governor for arms and that His Excellency
has started up some two hundred muskets Now
is this not the very sublimity of righteousness 4?
Why send to the Governor for arms to defend
his authority against men, many of whom are
his personal friends, and who tell him that they
will not resist his authority? Is it not the very
acme of folly2
We desire to be perfectly understood in this
matter. We have not the slightest possible feeling
of ill-wil toward Sheriff, and we want it dis
tinctly understood that we do not blame him
for anything which he has done in this matter,
except the summoning of large posse after the
offence, if offence it was, had been committed,
upon the ground that it was reported that the
miners, in certain event, were determined to
resist his authority. 1t seems to US that their
words ought to have had more weight with him
than any rumor.
The alacrity with which the officers have pro-
eeeded against the miners movement is very
significant A short time since an Irishman
was shot down in cold blood in this place
What efforts have been made to secure the muir
derer2 Have the officers of the law expended
single day in endeavoring to capture this vio-
later of the law2 Who dares say ave to this
question Yet the officers know where the
murderer is, or did know few weeks ago. We
do not blame them for not going out of the
county after criminals, because the law does not
compel them to do so, and if they 90. it is chief
ly at their own expense. But we believe if q
proper effort had been made, the man TO whom
we allude would have been caught before he
left town. Why has not the Governor been
informed of his escape? His Excellency would
doubtless offer sufficient reward to pay an off
Ger for making the arrest If it is proper TO ask
his aid in preventing the commission of misde-
meanors-in opposing the execution of the mi
ners' local laws against Chinamen-whv not in
woke his aid in arresting murderer? These
are questions that are not meaningless-,hai
have force-that will not be laughed at
Again: on Sunday last deliberate attempt