Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1863-10-27
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California,s Lesson to Nevada.


pie of this Territory, and especially to the
chosen trainers of our State Constitution.
1t holds up to our view, and as a guide
and beacon to us the political. history of
California. The article in question CON-
tains many suggestions that are valuable
and that it would be well for US to- treat
with respectful consideration. Among;
Others, it calls our attention to the provis-
ions in the Constitution of that State pro-,
hibiring the issue of paper money; deny
ing the right of the Legislature to grant
special franchises; the individual clause
foz corporations, and the check upon the
powers to create a State debt. These it
designates as wise restrictive provisions
which have saved that State millions, not
withstanding their frequent violations by
Legislatures and Courts. 1t urges upon
us to adopt strongly restrictive Consti-
tuition, quoting for the refreshment of our
memory the political adage that "What-
ever State Constitutions do not prohibit
they permit" On this point of manifold
restrictions there is much to be said pro
and con. The Bulletin takes the ground
that Constitutional Conventions are apt
to contain many patriots Legislatures
are generally filed with schemers." That
its estimate of Legislatures is tolerably
correct we are forced to admit; but upon
what data it fixes higher standard of
patriotism and moral excellence for Con-
stitutional Conventions, We are not so
clear. One thing is very certain, and that
is if, by any mischance, the Bulletins rule
should fail just for once, and the schemers
should happen to outnumber the pure
patriots in the Convention, their malefac-
tons would be much more difficult to
rectify than the deviltry of a legislative
session. The latter by the eonnivance of
a corrupt or imbecile executive, or by
sufficient numerical force of rascals to
override the veto of just one, might, it
is true, seriously damage the State. New
ertheless, we cannot see that such COM
plication of evils as both corrupt legis-
lature and rascally or foolish Governor, is
more likely to occur than hasty and in
considerate Convention and an apathetic
endorsement bv the people of any Consti-
tuition that Convention may frame. We
will, however, trust to fate in that matter
hoping for the best. The following para
graph we endorse as sound, every word
of it:
1.-The power to create offices to reward
political favorites by the Legislature and
the appointing power of the Governor will
be much more restricted than in this State.
All power that can as well be exercised by
the people as by the Legislature or Gov
ernor, Will be reserved to them. If the
Governor may appoint notaries public,
tax-collectors, provision-inspectors, toll
gatherers, etc., so that he can have agents
in every election precinct, he becomes es-
sentially king. BY such means, State
NAV be robbed and enSlaved. So in re-
gard to granting special franchises by
Joint action of the Governor and Legisla-
ture, many checks will be required that
our Constitution does not contain. Fran
chises for toll-roads, gas-companies, water
companies, street railroads, etc., ought
never to be conferred without the direct
consent of the people concerned, after be-
ing matured by local legislation"
1t suggests also that our Supreme Court
consist of not less than five Judges, and
"at least three years residence in the
State prior to being eligible" As to the
number we concur, but how the three
years clause would work is difficult to
perceive. In the first place, when the
election of those Judges take place, the
State will have just been born. If three
years prior residence in the Territory is
required, we opine that the judicisl acu-
men of the first Supreme bench would be
rather below par. 1t is further eontended
that the practice Of lawyers, IN taking fees
contingent upon success, IS productive of
great evil and should be prohibited by
Constitution. The article concludes with
some pertinent remarks concerning econ
omy in the State Government, pointing out
the peculiar character of the taxable prop
erty within our boundary; asking:
Where is so much money to come
from, in State having no farms, no ex-
tended commerce, no manufactures, and
essentially no property except the mines
where the people work, and the houses m
which they ives 1t is very clear that the
government of such State must be ex-
tremely economical, or it will be failure.
If the attempt be made to run up State
debt to pay current expenses, it can
hardly succeed as well as that wretehed
system worked IN California, for here we
had basis for credit, while IN Nevada the
mines compose almost the sole resource,
and they are the property of the General
Government"
As we said before, the suggestions made
are well worth our earnest attention.
DoN'T LIKE THE NAME The pirate
Mafit writes to the Paris Patrie to say
that he is not pirate. He quotes Noel