The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-08-31
OMee, ON CoIoma street.
Corresponde enoe Of the Democrat.

Correspondence 0f che Democrat.
EDITORs DEMOCRAT: Many years Of
careful observation have served to con.
vince me that success in the sublime art
Of healing, frequently depends upon q
slow and cautious administration Of bro
ken or moderate doses of remedies judi.
ciously selected. Your neighbor of the
Republican evidently requires this course
now, in order n relieve him from the ma.
lignant distemper pervading his suSccpti-
bic mind, as evidenced by his volunteer
surrender of all pretensions to truth or
conscientious scruples, in his mad tilt
against "Fraternally" for having called
public attention to the character of n man
for whom the Republican and its political
associates desire them to vote, that he
may be installed in an Office Of paramount
Importance to the people Of the State of
California. But to my purpose;
Query No. 2. How did you and N.
4. II. Ball manage to let some thief steal
forty odd thousand dollars of the uncan-
celled Controllers Warrants, redeemed
by DIR. McMeanS, while he acted rs State
Treasurer, from the Doctors file ofvouch.
els, while in your possession"
That particular Tdriety Of editors rs
embodied in the editor of the Republican
in noticing this enquiry shall be heard
once more:
The charge hintcd at here, is equally
Jasetess wiM tile former ones .Nr, ashley
did not hGre p0SsCSsi0n Of the rOuchers Of
DR.. Wc-hsdhs III 1856 Mr.. Ashley was
on the joint committee of the Senate and
Of the Assembly 10 examine the accounts
Huf the late Treasurer; and Mr.. Ball, n
gentleman ofn0ted capacity as an account
ant and Of the highest character and rep.
utation as man, was its clerk under a
Resolution Of the Senate and Assembly.
The result Of the laborS Of that committee
nny be found in the Appendix to tho
Senate Journals Of 1856. The members
OF whom the committee consisted can be
easily ascertaincd. If 'Fraternaly' is as
anxious to justify his insinuatiOnS, as he
is TO make them, let him go to work and
get up his proofs. Until he does so, We
are bound upon every principle Of justice
TO regard his suggestions Of delinquency
against the members of that committee,
as baseless slanders.
"rhe Treasurer and Secretary of State
had custody Of the unrcdrcmed warrants
and they only could connive ut their ab.
straction. That David +. Douglass who
was Secretary of State, did so, no one
will believe"
(rhc italics in the quotation are mine. J
To prove the utter recklessneSs of our
IdrietieS editor, beg leave to submit a
candid statement of facts, that the world
may judge between US.
In 1856, DR.. McMeans requested the Sc
lection Of joint committee Of the two
Houses Of the Legislature to examine his
books and papers, and report upon their
condition, in order to secure the final ad-
justment of his official business, and the
discharge of his bondsmen. David kas
selected as one Of the committee chosen
BY the Senate, and subsequently acted in
the capacity Of chairman Of the joint COM
mittcc Of the two Houses. This commit
tee organized, and selected n. A. II. Ball
as their clerk. They called in propriG
persona for the books and papers aforesaid,
and executed receipt, not for the actual
amount handed over to them, but for the
books and papers connected with the
Doctors administration these were pass
ed over TO their Clerk, who conveyed
them to the old building occupied prior,
or perhaps at that time, by Adams & Co.
who are remembered as public agents
engaged in the Express business. for
bear comments, believing the public can
understand plain matters Of fact. Here
the Committee held their regular confer
ences and meetings in reference to the
business in question. There tho books
and vouchers were every day during
business hours, spread out before the
Committee or any member Of it who saw
fit to demand q sight at them. David
and another gentleman of the Committee
had frequent conferences with the clerk
during the pretended investigation. The
people Of the Capitol understood generally
that David would be candidate for Con-
gress at the ensuing American convention,
and the unmentioned gentleman had as
pirations for the Office Of Governor. DR..
McMeans pretentions we're also being can
vassed by his friends in relation to po-
sition in Congress at the same time. So
far IS David is concerned, the record this
far confirms ell here said. The Doctor
and Ashley wero both in the Southern
District, and one or the other had to sue.
cumb in theevent ofsuch contest. Un.
known, perhaps, to Ashley, the Doctor
utterly refused to permit his name to be
used in that connection.
1t was very early in the commencement
Of the aforesaid investigation, if it de-
serves the name, that the clerk of the
committee called on the lamented Doctor
Oxley to know Of him "what kind of q
report tho committee desired" This be.
ing answered in manner not very com.
plimentary to the suggestion and having
made an unpleasant impression on the