Weekly Trinity journal., 1861-11-09
I'm Defense of the Lieut. Governor Elect.

| Mr. EDITOR Il have seen with much surprise
not unmingled with Indignation, an article in th'
Alta California, which does our distinguished cit
izen, Hon. J. F. Chells, the grossest injustice
Whence this very reliable Information of the
incompetency of the Lieut.. Governor elect was
obtained, am at loss to know. 1t certainly
was not derived from those with whom he has as.
sociated, and who have had opportunities of judg-
ing of the qualifications of this gentleman, and
am reluctantly forced to conclude that the au-
thor has drawn lavishly upon his imaginative
powers to discover ineficicncles which have no
existence.
Fortunately for Mr.. Chells and the people ours
is free Republican Government, in which no
provision is made for our officers 10 undergo the
supervision of censorship, nor do | believe the
indulgent masses will tamely submit to rebuke in
their selection of upright and faithful public ser
wants, especially when they come from an IRE
spousibe scribbler who lives by imposition upon
the generous impulses of his confding and indul-
gent fellow citizens.
| am of that class of persons who do not be-
lieve it Invariably necessary for officer to have
had the advantages Of thorough collegiate ed
ucation nor to have spent the better portion of
their lives loaling or prowling around the pre-
cincts of Legislative bodes in order to acquire
parliamentary knowledge sufficient to preside
over the deliberations of California Senate,
where many of the most efficient presiding Off
GERS which our country has produced bad previ-
ously acquired thorough knowledge of parlia-
mentary law, Neither John Hancock or George
Washington proved upon trial to be wholly def
cient of the necessary ability to preside with dig
nifty and decide with propriety, although neither
had previously acted in a legislative capacity
The late very able Speaker of the Congress of
the United States for some time after his election
availed himself of the superior parliamentary
knowledge of Page"
Why is it then that without trial gentleman
is condemned as wholly unfit for place in which
he has not had an opportunity to prove his eff
ceucy? Our distinguished fellow citizen, called
by the people of the State to the responsible post
of Lieut.. Governor, may or may not be guilty Of
spelling God with little ''g he may not
have been introduced to Murray or Kirkham at
an carly period of his existence, but he has with
those who know him acquired a reputation for
business and shrewdness unsurpassed in this COM
munity in fact this reputation is so thoroughly
fixed in the hearts of our people that he has re.
ceived the envablc cOgnomen of " Razor" which
distinction | very much doubt the ability of the
Alta editor 10 acquire, even after the most untir-
ing efforts and daily association with the " auc.
tioneers."
The .Aha suggests trade, species of politi
cal huckstering to which it ought not even refer,
when designating and pointing out errors and
faults in others. Charity" it is said, "covers
multitude of sins,' but the outlines of this
"Mackinaw blanket sheet" as city cotempora-
ry appropriately dubs the Alta, bids defiance to
her good intents.
Mr.. Chells, while having sufficient ability and
disposition to discharge his duties as Lieut. Gov
crnor honestly, faithfully and fearlessly, has no
political axe to grind whereby the designing of
San Francisco and elsewhere might work upon
him. He neither desires to be Governor or U. s..
Senator, unless the people, grateful for an honest
discharge OF duty-for ''proving faithful over a
few things; may make him ruler over many. We
fear the same may not be said of many present
day politicians, and though do not charge it
still it may be that the avOrite OF the .Hitd into
whose hands it would have the discharge of Mr.
Chcllis' duties fall c0uLd like to be Governor or
even IT, S. Senator, and might use the position Of
President, pro tempore to adv vance his schemes.
At all events am satisfied that in Mr.. Chellis we
shall have the right man in the right place. And
if in his power TO bring it about by close aud
honest application, peculation, corruption and
frauds upon the public treasury and rights of the
people, will be banished forever from our Lcgis
latve halls.
Dry up Mr.. Alta. and devote yourself to a
more praiseworthy vocation than traducing the
character of honest men.
3" ONE OF THE PEOPLE.
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