The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-10-26
cOrresPOsdsuee Of the Democrat
constitutional Amendments.


EDITORS DEMOCRAT: The Legislature
ut its last session, proposed several amend
'hcntS to the Constitution of the State
which have To he adopted by the mex
Legislature before being submitted to III,
people for final ratification or rejection
II Is my object, in this communication
to direct public attention To them. to ex
anime their virtue, judge of their utility
and see whether there is any actual OF
pressing demand for the very importan
changes proposed. ] think they arc rad
teal and extensive enough to demand yer,
general attention aad discussion, which
undoubtedly, they would have receive,
before now, but for other more exciting
and absorbing topics.
The first Of this series of Innovations
Tor l must style them 80, begins with IN,
executive department Of our government
10 the extension Of the official term 0
the dovcrnUr, am directly AMI positive
ly opposed. No circumstances Of tru,
eilicicnt or economical State policy de
mand il, but may positively antagonlze it
The present constitutional term strikes III,
happy medium between order and con
ScrvaliSm on the one side, and due re-
gard to the spirit Of freedom and demo
cratic institutions on the other. see nc
political propricty in cndcav0ring to EaS
ten ruler on the people for four years
Has the political action Of the people O
this State no significance in this respect
How many Governors Of this State have
been reelected! That there has beer
but one, and even that one rather cxccp
tional, plainly shows the peoples Opin
ion in this matter. Whether that il. that
they are opposed to the four years term
an principle, or that their Governors or,
not worth re.electing, makes little differ.
ence; both are equally convincing and
conclusive reasons against the proposed
amendment. When this State is bleSl
with wise, decisive, energetic and able
Governor, n man with controlling, far.
seeing aud thoroughly enlightened mind
the people can make by rc.clrcting him
his term one Of four or ten years, &C.
c0rhing rs his merits deserve or their az
fairs require. But the election Of Gov.
cInor every two years is none too often
for il is n cardinal principle Of Democracy,
that no public servant, particularly MI
executive nr legislative one, ought 10 b.
too far removed from the direct reach and
influence Of the people. lf offices are ere
ntrd for the benefit Of those who till them
grant lengthy terms are to be- coveted
they add To profit, power and irrcspOnsi
bility. On the other hand. "shOrt settle
mcntS make long friends" in politics a'
well a. in monetary matters. The prov
crb is as pertinent aud truthful in one
ease as the other. Responsibility is tn,
great safeguard Of frccmcn and frccmcn'
rights.
In an economical light the proposition
brings Us M comfort. presents uS no cap
tivnting points. Destitute Of favorable
consideration on other grounds. ii has no
even the mean merit of being economical
Wchave county elections every two years
80 that settles the financial view Of III,
question.
The proposition To elect the Secretary
"f State, is by no means pleasing to me
do not think it gives promise Of more
efficiency, E.ithfnlncSS or ability, in thu
office. am not aware. hog the practic,
works in those States where the Secreta
~ II State is elected BY the people, there
fnrr cannot speak very cmphatically 81
this point, as experience, after all, is thu
true touchStonc Of any measure. Still
the intimate relations existing hctwccr
the GovcEnOr aud Secretary Of State
ought to be considered. and care taken T.
provide against any possible conflict .
, opinion. am no Sticklcr for n wide ant
extended system Of Executive patronage
for il is the never diving worm that gnaws
Mt the root Of all constitutions, the grca
! parent ofruin and corruption in oil States
/ but "Ortler is Heavens first law" att
there are positions which, to have filled
nv elective officers, would be impOlitic
unwiSc and subScrSivc Of everything Iik'
order and efficiency; aud this in my mint
is one Of them. Being opposed to the cx
tension Of the official term Of the Govern
or, the same reasoning applies and carries
with it my opposition to the extension o
che official terms Of the other State officers
Next in order come the proposed chan
GEES in the Legislative department Bicn
| uIaI beSNOnS VI tuc A4SS1Sl"su'Nb VIZ" wv
constitutional doctors, contain the grca
panacca for all the ills Of the State. Blu
all change is not reform. And the lop
ping Off Of necessary expense is by NJ
uScans wise or true economy. Bicnnia
sessions Of the Legislature may suit AM
bc advantageous to other and older an'
more settled States, but in this State the.
would be fruitful Of evil and be ATTENDED
with many disadvantages. Our State
yet in ils infancy. We arc young, as
piring and progressive people. Our in
tercsts are varied, vast aud occasional.
intricate and conflicting, and require tn
immediate, constant and fostering care
judgment and supervision Of the LcgisIa
ture. Scarcely day passes without on
being surprised at tho Development OF
new interests new fCld ofminCral wealtl
discovered, or perhaps some great agri