The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-25

viz ANSN VI ASOA NhS ON's'Nf -" -
means of retrencting county expendi-
lures, as idle and visionary, and that it is
entertained for the most part by such
only as are willing to engage in making
new law before they have taken the trOu
bile to make themselves acquainted with
the old one a sort Of temcrity most pro-
life of worthless statutes, though not I'M
frequently mistaken for a mark Of genius.
But suppose am mistaken in all this.
Grant that the matters Of complaint set
forth in the Grand Jury Report are all
sober truths, and not the misshapen fruits
of restless ambition or party prejudice;
that the reorganization of the Board of
Supervisors is really the panacea the
Grand Jury believe it to be, and that I'M
der its operation all the evils that afflict
the county are to vanish like mists before
the rising sun; that it is the great bosom
of reform which is to sweep away all
abuses as If they were but so many cob
webs; and that through its mysterious
agency, all faithlesS and incapable officials
will be made to vanish like Banquo's
ghost into thin air; grant all that, and
then answer the question Why has a
measure so fraught with the county veal
been so long neglected? The act organi-
zing the Board of Supervisors took effect
in SO, three years ago. In so and go,
two years Of the three, the gentleman who
acted as foreman Of the Grand Jury was
a member Uf the Legislature. Inc county
was going in debt then as it is now AMI
whatever will arrest the evil now would
have arrested it then. Why, then, may ! not
ask. did not this gentleman reOrganize the
Board while representing the people in
the Legislature? Can it be that he was
so engrOssed in the mysteries of the
Bukhead, or so enamored of the beauties
of the Common School system, that he
had no time to devote to the interests of
his constituents? If so, the Bulkhead
owes the people Of Ell Dorado several
thousand dollars. Another thing: Is it
not singular that the Grand jury Shonld
have seen fit, while on the subject of re-
form, to make no mention of the thousand
and one abuses which of late years have
sprung up under the Grand Jury system
These abuses have MT failed to attract
the attention Of others. a few years ago
John b. Weller, IS Governor of the State,
denounced the system, in a message to the
Legislature, as nuisance, aud fOrebore
to recommend its immediate adjustment,
he said, only because Constitutional
provision stood in the way. The truth is,
the RIGHTEOUSNESS Of California Grand Ju-
ries has become by-word and reproach
Acknowledging no limit to their powers,
conforming all the uSt restraints of de-
cornm, they are wont, instead of combining
themselves within the true sphere of their
Duties, to launch out into regions it is not
their province to explore, where, lost in
mazeS and perplcXcd with doubts, they
plunge into a thousand excuses, and so
end their laborS in confusion and error.
Under these circumstances the report,
instead of being what it should be,
plain and concise statement Of the result
Of their laborS touching the matters COM
m!ttcd to their charge, becomes We know
not what. 1t may be a stiltcd production
aspiring to direct Legislators and perfect
the laws, or only tissue of stupid errors
and spiteful miSrepi cSentationS. 1t may
be an ambitious essay on radical changes
as necessary to reforms, or only partizau
harangue singing the praises Of political
friends and venting most villainoLS spleen
upon political enemies. Or, peradventure,
1t is but the flourish of threadbare poll
tician straiuing after effect, ambitious of
applause. If We diveSt the present report
of its extraneons matter, relieve it of its
crochetS and its crudItie<, blot ont its ill.,
naturcd filings and express its petty spleen,
what is there left? The Grand jury
found twelve indictments; saw twelve
patients in the hospital, and ten prisoners
in the jail That's all. In conclusion,
beg leave to remark, in the language of
the learned report | am now bidding
Al III 4 4E
public grievances and believe radical
change necessary to reform. 7, therefore.
recommend that the members Of the Legis.
lature from this county procure the pas
sage of act defining the duties and limit
I ing the powers of the Grand Jury with
rxactnesS, and prohibiting the exercise by
them Of any other powers than those Spe-
officially granted, in addition to.which |
will add" under the penalty Of death :"
Ell DORADO.
From WASHINGTON. - Letters from
Washington state that T. ID. Judah. of
California, is there, to push his PROPOSE
ton for Congressional aid for the con-
Struclion of a railroad from Sacramento
to Carson City-the first and most West
erly division of the contemplated Pacific
Railroad. Judah is interested in the
Auburn railroad and has always been op-
posed to the Placerville route, simply be-
cause he was not employed to survey it
and he will bend all his energies and re-
SORT TO MISREPRESENTATION to create a