The Placer herald., 1863-08-01

empt from any control or taxation by the federal
government. | am induced to be thus explicit on
| ths SUBJECT from various indications which recent
~ occurred, foreshadowing disposition on the
part OF the present administration, to assert
control over the mines, with view to raise extra
ordinary revenue for governmental purposes
Such course Of policy will not be tolerated by
our citizens, and il persisted in will result disas-
trously to the material interests of the state. My
own opinion is fixed and unalterablc. that TO THE
MINERS BELONG THE MINES" and if elected to the
Chief Magistracy of the state pledge myself to
employ all the power which the constitution and
the laws may confer on me to the maintenance
and enforcement Of this policy.
Ihere is another subject of vast Importance to
all classes OF our citizens and of special interest to
the laborng white population of California. Re-
cent events in the Atlantic states indicate an i'm.
migration to our shores Of large number of the
negro race The destructive aud unconstitution-
al policy OF the administration has released from
| servltudc many thousands of this unfortunate
race, III the border and other hern states. They
follow our armies from their old homes to the free
states There they are not permitted to remain
and consequently will, unless prohbtory meas
ures are adopted, seek an asylum in California.
While duty enJoins US to act with kindness toward
those OF African descent who are already within
our borders, sound judgment teaches that il is i'm
polite to permit the immigration into our state
OF race which must ever remain Il separate and
effect OF their presence will be to bring their labor
into ruinous competition with that of our worthy
industrial classes q result which must be depored
by all who regard the material prosperity and
moral advancement OF the laboring population, as
one of the noblest objects OF a states legslation
In the event ofmy election, shall use my person
al and official influence, rs far as it may be lcgit-
mately eXerted. to procure the passage of laws to
discourage the immigration of all such persons
1t will be my proudest ambition to aid in making
| ina .l..AX Al
the state designed it thoud be- the home of hap
py, enlightened and patriotic race OF white free
men.
As the Federal taxes, which our citizens will be
required to pay for many years to come will nee
essarlly be onerous in the extreme, shall if cleo
ted, endeavor to administer the state government
with view to the srictest economy. To the at
| tanment OF this end shall advocate and earnest
y recommend to the legislative department OF the
state thorough revision of the revenue laws, the
abolishment OF all useless offices, and the reduc
tlon OF salaries whenever practicable During
the last session of the Legislature franchises OF
great value have been lavishy granted to ndivid-
uals IN many instances with such reckless disre-
! gard OF the wishes OF the people as to induce IL
reasonable suspicion that corrupt appliances had
influenced the legislative action. .4gain, the leg
isature, with the sanction of the Governor, has
made appropriations anticipating the ordinary
revenues OF the state for years to come. 1t re-
qulres no argument to Illustrate the perncious re-
suit of such system. These abuses must be cor
rected or the state will be involved in hopeless
bankruptcy Whether party which has naugu-
rated them can be safely entrusted with their re-
formation, is a question which remains for you to
determine.
Fellow citizens if ever there WAS time in our
history which demanded from the people of Cali
tornia the exercise of enli ghtened reason and ex-
| allied patriotism, the present is that period The
ordinary issues of state canvass sink into insy-
mnnra IN al
pendent on the result of the appro aching Scptem-
be rejection. 1t will determine by what principles
and under what rulers the government of Caiior-
mia shall be administered Tor the ensuing four
years. More than that it will exercise an i'm
portant influence on the public opinion of the
eastern states and possibly on the destines of the
nation. Your very isolation from the tumultu
GUS passions, and scenes Of sanguna violence,
prevalent in other sections Of the Union. will be-
stow dignity and power on any judgment you may
| render. Decide then, whether you will adhere to
a party, the leaders of which ruthlessy trampie
upon the most sacred guarantees OF liberty, or
whether you will support the national democracy
i'll their efforts to arrest the progress OF despot-
ism which threatens to subvcrt every vesige Of
freedom that yet remins in the American conled-
eracy. Decide, as far rs your votes can determine
the question, whether the intcrnecine war which
desolates our unhappy country shall be waged for
the preservation of that constitution, and the res
toration of that Union. which your fathers ordain
ed or whether it shall be conducted in spirit Of
| fanaticism, which abhors and rejects Ike the die
| tates OF humanity and the usages of civilized ma
tOns, with no other objects than the emancipation
| of four millions of negro slaves of the south, and
the establishment of consolidated military des-
potism in the north. Whatever may be your de-
csion, my fcrvent prayer is that Heaven will
vouchsafe to our beloved country speedy deliv-
erance from her present troubles, and to Calior-
MIA and her sister communities on the Pacific the
continuance OF peace prosperity and liberty.
JOHN G.. D0wNEY.
July 18th, 1868.