Weekly Trinity journal., 1863-01-17

Letter from the Capital.
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE JOURNAL.

Strangers brought to the capital by the con-
vening of the Legislature find the city in q much
better condition than it was one year ago, yet far
from pleasant. The streets are exceedingly mud.
dy, the sidewalks constructed without regard to
The Capitol itself is in excellent order. having
been fitted up by the Secretary of State in the
most careful manner. The Legislature met on
Monday but as usual on the first day of the ses-
sion, nothing was done further than to administer
the oath of office. On Monday evening the
Union members held caucuses and very harmo.
niously united on nominees for officers of the re.
spective houses, all of whom were unanimously
elected on the following day. No bill has yet
been introduced in either House, but number of
"notices" " were given to-day. 1t is not proba-
Bile that any Legislative business of importance
will be considered until after the Senatorial
question is disposed Of. A movement, which by
many is considered as premature, was to-day
made to fix a day for joint convention for the
election of U. s. Senator. II was offered in the
House by Mr. J. ]. Owen, of Santa Clara, who
asked unanimous consent for its introduction,
that order of business having been passed. Oh.
lection being made, no effort was made to obtain
a suspension of rules but shortly after Mr.. Van
Dyke introduced similar resolution In the
Senate 1t designated Wednesday, the 18th
inst' as the day on which the two Houses would
go into joint convention. Mr., Highly moved to
amend by making 1t the 2ist instant which mo-
ton was lost-ayes Q, noes %. Mr. Shannon then
moved to lay the resolution on the table which
was also lost--ayes l6, noes II, and 1t was then
passed, II to 16. As no movement has vet been
action of the Senate may be considered as unfair
at least 1t is well understood that the secession
members calling themselves Democrats) would
do anything to prevent the election of John
Conness. Suppose then, the friends of Park and
Phelps refuse to go into caucus. or doing so sue
eeed 10 staving Off a nomination., and force the
friends of Conness to go into joint Convention,
they clearly gain great advantage, the anti
Union men being ready to assist Ia turning the
scale against Conness. l think the true Union
men of the Legislature should select a man for
U. S. Senator, and not allow their enemies any
voice in the matter. 1t Is probable that num-
ber of those who voted for the resolution did so
are desirous of having short session-in other
words they did IL for buncombe. l do not be-
lieye the resolution will pass the Assembly until
a call is made for Union caucus. Then IL will
pass. and the quicker the better
Tuesdays proceedings in both Houses were
enlivened by discussions on the Presidents PROF.
lamation of freedom. In the Senate the follow
ing resolution was offered by Mr.. Porter, of
Contra Costa
Resolved, By the Senate, the Assembly concur
ring, That the loyal State of California receives
with earnest favor the proclamation of freedom
issued by the President of the United States,
Commander-inC Chief of our Army and Navy
regarding the policy of the measure as necessary
for the success OF the efforts of the Government
for the suppression OF the desperate and wicked
rebellion, and the re-estabishment Of its authori-
ty, consistent with the spirit of our institutions,
and full Of promise for the future permanence,
unity, and prosperity OF the Union aud we here.
by pledge to the measure the cordial and earnest
support of the people of California.
Mr. Shurtlef offered substitute in favor of
using Legitimate means to suppress the rebel
lion and to restore the Union as II was and main
tain the Constitution as IL is" etc. The last res
olution of Shurtleff's series is as follows:
Resolved, That we view with disfavor the re-
cent Emancipation Proclamation of the Pres-
dent, believing 1t to be unwise, impoltic, and in
direct contravention Of the American doctrine,
as laid down by our fathers In the war of the
Revolution, aud unanimously re.afirmed by the
American people In the last war with Great
Britain.
In the discussion which followed, Messrs. Gas.
kill, Perkins, Crane and Powers advocated the
immediate passage of the resolutions The point
by such expression of approval hasten to nerve
the arm of the President, and encourage the loyal
soldiers now fighting for liberty and freedom.
Not an hour should be lost. Mr. Perkins, in re-
ply to proposition of Mr.. Brdseye that the
resolution and substitute be referred to Com
mittee, said he would not consent to refer reso-
luton of sympathy with treason aud rebellion to
any Committee of the Senate. He continued
"There is no difficulty about the substitute 1t
! Ia sympathy with rebellion, q resolution that
would snit jeff Davis to-day, and all his aiders
and abettors in tearing down the Government of
our country. Let me say to the Senator from
Shasta that the time has gone by when there is
any hope of the restoration of bis beloved nsti-
tuition of slavery, the corner stone of the Demo-
cratic party here aud In South Carolina. The
day has gone by, sir ; 1t cannot be restored. Aud
there are but two parties now in the country
Those two parties are not the Abolition par ty
and the Democratic party, but the one for the
restoration of slavery, aud the other made up of
the true, loyal Union men of the country"
Mr.. ShurtleR replied that he had no sympathy
with the rebellion. Among other things he said ::
have no affection for what is called the pet in-
stitution of slavery. Had is never existed 1t
would have been far better believe it best for
the State of Missouri to do what she seems TO be
moving to do, namely emancipate all her slaves.
do not believe in Congress purchasing slaves