The weekly Butte record., 1863-08-01
" The Foiled Attempt to Steal Mine

Such is the caption of an article in yester
day evenings Bulletin, which may cause the
President to bitterly curse, or mournfully ex-
claim. q save me from my friends" The miners
Of California are indignant at the attempt.
ordered by the President. to sieze, By military
violence, one mine. for they realize that if the
seizure had been effected and retained, prece
dent would be established, by which all the
mines in California would be made subject TO
the greed of Washington politicians. The
Bulletin, with no doubt the best of intentions,
comes to the rescue of the President, hoping to
save him from merted contempt. That paper
charges that Stanton, Black, Walker and
Others. were the conspirators that in conse-
quence of their former standing as Democrats"
which entitled them to cOnsderation-an
their present loyalty" he listened to their
counsels and suggestions. This was all well
enough. But his own conduct, seeking advice
outside Of those entitled TO his confidence, at
last finding refuge in the bosom of his old law
partner, Mr.. Sweet, shows that he doubted the
honesty of his own chosen friends, men who did
not thrust themselves upon him. This was an
insult to them, or it proves that he is man of
extremely weak Judgment, and incompetent to
fill the Executive Office He never-while
doubling the integrity of his Cabinet, and the
lobby" by which the Bulletin says it is sur
rounded-magined that Mr.. Sweet might be
tricky" and he took no pains to ascertain the
fact. He handed over the matter to his old
law partner, and assumed all the responsibility
that would attach. How would sensible man,
determined to be just, have acted Here was
a matter peculiar to California but which has a
worldwide notoriety. Had he been truly desir-
ous Of doing bis duty in the premises, aud as an
Executive officer, anxious to avoid the charge
of seeking to usurp Judicial powers, he would
have consulted the proceedings had in Court,
and would have told the parties that their rem
edy was BY judicial action; that if they sue
oeeded before the proper Court, that tribunal
would order a writ; that it the writ was disc
beyed or resisted, and it became necessary TO
enforce the order of the Court by force of arms,
no doubt it would be done, for no Court submits
to contempt that if the resistance to the au-
thority of the Court was 50 great as to neces-
state using all the military force of the Z. S
he, as a mere Executive, could DO nothing un il
that fact was ascertained through the paper
channels and that even then, private request
for military force could not, legally, be admitted
as sufficient He did none of this Such is the
ignominious position in which the Executive
officer of the |. S. is placed by his friends and
his party journals There is L. s District
Court 10 this State. He could have telegraph
ed 10 Judge Hoffmau-a gentleman whose ca
paclty and honor cannot be impeached d-who
would have stated all the facts within his
knowledge. There was no particular bury; in
fact it seems the President devoted consider
able time to the subject in Washington, but
never thought of the State aud its inhabitants,
to be affected by his illegal acts. In this par.
ticuar he failed to do his duty by the State of
California, while at the same time. he showed
an ignorance of law which should ruin any
professional man. But this is not all. The
Bulletin, one Of the organs says: The iustruc-
tlons Of the Secretary of the Interior charge
Mr.. Swett to so discharge his delicate duties
as not to give the impression that the Govern
ment purpose to interfere with miners who
acknowledge the title Of the United States in
the mines they work, but only with those who
set up fraudulent and fictitious titles So Mr..
SWEET was constituted the judge ard jury,
under the authority of the President, 10 act as
be pleased. and without reference to the legal /
tribunals Of the land and this most fragrant
attempt at usurpation has the approval of
the Bulletin and others Of like ilk. 1t was
delicate matter-oHe likely 10 provoke a
revolution. " Be very careful Mr.. Swett-
don't let the impression get abroad that
we intend to interfere with the homes: MI
ners fix this MP 6rst, and then we have a
precedent to support the theory that the Gov
ernment Ownes all the mines, aud as We are the
government, we can, by degrees, slow and sure.
play the same game on every mine worth bav-
ing. We can place our friends in possession
and make good thing out of it. Preach
hOuesty-say we ouly intend to in;efere with
fraudulent and fictitious titles'-the multitude
may. perhaps, be humbugged with that story.
but we know what We are about" Such is
the view a reasonable man must take Of the
whole scheme; and there is no merit in the
Presidents wriggling cut Of dilemma for
fear bis party would be beaten before the peo-
pie We are disposed TO exercise charity to
all men but the attempt to steal a mine" is
unworthy of mercy. Respect is due TO worthy
officers; but it cannot be reasonably exercised
towards the men who seem anxious to assume
all the powers Of government. The organs of
the Administration had better drop matter
,l,rt,