The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-03-16

Prayers 0ma Ftes ~ the hysterteeis'
The Legislature passed an Act to
change the trial Of Horace Smith, who
killed Newell, from San Francisco to PA
Ger county. The hysterical newspapers
took fit and ftothed Indignantly over the
Legislative outrage" as they called it,
and they joined their prayers with Mooney
for the Governor to veto the "hcnous
act" The Governor did veto the bill and
the Legislature passed it over his veto.
The hystericals are now in another fit
and they behold glorious object" an
honest Governor. The Legislature are
all dishonOrable wretchcs, but "thank
God" according to Moneys prayer, 1--WE
have an honest Governor Now, we do
not hold that the Legislature have cstab-
lished a good precedent by interfering be-
tween an individual and the Legitimate
privilege Of court Of law, but we wish
to point to the base fittings who judge
the honesty of other men by the fact that
some Of their own notions have been &C.
quiesced in, in spite Of their opponents.
The Governor is "an honest Cover
nor" Why is he honest? Why is he
especially praised for honesty? Is it be-
cause he has acted as he thought best for
tho public goodH Is it because he has
evidently placed = proper estimate upon
IT, .,-GtSre Of his duty? No! he is ian
honest Governor" for the reason that in
the performance Of his duty he has occa-
siOnally cOnformed to the prejudices Of
those whose advocacy is wholly sustained
by impugning the motives and doubling
the honesty Of the actions Of persons who
differ from themselves. We can but sup
pose that Governor Downey ought to per-
ceivc that the manner in which he is be-
sought to follow the advice Of ag;tating
newspapers and praised for suitinS the
agitators, is not calculated to proudly as
sure him Of the excellence Of his Admin
istration. lie ought to perceive that
whenever the express news is current that
he is ian honest Governor" the class
who are thus approving him are inftren-
TALLY making it appear that in every in.
stance where they do not say, here is an
honest Governor" he is q dishonest
Governor. 1t is singular ambition that
will court such judgment upon public
acts and individual character. Let us
give q summary of the Governors case
with the honesty callers in the case Of the
Legislature and Smith: The Governor
was asked to veto the bill "veto it, "
was the advice, land you will be acting
rightly, honestly" he vetoed it and con-
seQuently he is ian honest Governor, y
consequently the implication is unavoida-
be that, if the veto had not succeeded the
advice given, and agreed with the desire
expressed, the Governor would have been
guilty Of dishonesty. His own judgment
in the case had no merit; circumstances
which were independent of the impcrti.
nent pressure had no direct part in the
official act From the source, the nature
and the name of the praise bestowed the
Executive would appear to be dependent
upon hystcrical newspaper suggestions
for all prompting to special acts of hon
esty," and that the credit of such acts docs
not irtrinSically belong to the Executive
as citizon or as an official statesman
but that it inseparab'y attaches to an in
tluence which affects to possess "a grca
moral power" over public opinion and ha.
no hindrance to its exercise for the per
lection Of public affairs but the obstinate
dishonesty Of public officers.