Weekly Trinity journal. [volume] (Weaverville, Calif.) 1857-1972, 1864-01-23
Our Sacramento Letter.

BAD APPOINTMENTS.
Considerable indignation is expressed here in
view of the appointment of John S. Barrett, as
Secretary of the Supreme Court, it being the
general belief that he is inclined towards Cop
! perheadism The friends of Barrett, in their
defence, do not deny that he acted as agent for
Beriah Browns Copperhead paper, but they say
he supposed it was to be war paper This is
improbable but they say also that it was on his
part merely financial enterprise. I do not
think this excuse a very good one. On the same
principle man might engage in fitting out YES
sells of war armed forces to act against the
U. S. Government That it might be pecunarily
profitable, is a poor excuse to urge in defence of
aid rendered to the enemy. 1t is the excuse of
man whose Unionism is only question of policy.
do not know Barrett, but do know that in
these times only those men who a.e above sus-
picon should be placed in positions Of honor
and trust. His appointment, however, bad as it
may be, is laudable act compared with the APP
pontment of George O'Doherty as Law Reporter
of the 18th District Court, by Judge Pratt.
O'Doherty know well as a secessionist of the
most rabid kind. For his gross abuse of this
Government in the San Jose Tribune he deserves
a ball and chain in Fort -Alcatraz. He has not
a single qualification for the position in which
he has been placed that is not possessed by hun
dreds of loyal men in the 18th Judicial District,
while his personal habits are such as to make
any decent man blush at the thought of intro
ducing him into respectable society. Wherever
he goes whisky suffers.
TAXING THE MINES.
A minority of the Committee of Ways and
Means of the House have presented lengthy re-
port in favor of taxing mining property for State
and county expenses. 1t maintains that mining
claims have marketable value, they are bought
and sold, many of them yield large profits to the
owners, and it is unjus to require the agricul-
tural, mechanical and commercial interests of
part by the owners of mines. The Bill is a copy
of the l4th section of the present Revenue Law,
except that it omits mining property from the
list of property which is exempt from taxation.
1t will cause a very warm discussion. The
motion to print the report was opposed by repre-
sentatives from mining counties, but it was
ordered printed then an attempt was made to
refer the Bill to the Judiciary committee for de-
cision as to its constitutionality. Thompson
Campbell the chairman of the Judiciary COM
mttee protested against such reference, saying
that his committee should not be made a board
of arbitration to settle the disputes of all the
other committees of the House. Campbell is an
able man his opinion on questions of law has
mu weight, in short he is the pet OF the AS
sembly, and his speech had the effect OF sending
the Bill back to the committee of Ways and
Means, and as the object of referring it was to
procure argument against the Bill, this re-
sponsibility will rest the majority of that COM
mittee, and the opinion of Mr.. Campbell on the
delicate question will not be matter of record
which can hereafter be used against him by
either party. Your correspondent believes that
members of the Legislature are sent here that
they may assume all necessary responsibilities,
and act for the best interests of the people, as
tbev understand them, and not for the sole pur-
pose of using the position of legislator as
a steppine-stone to the United States Senate or
other high office. do not think Mr.. Campbell
raised himself much in the estimation of the As
sembly Most men, howev cowardly they may
be themselves, have the highest admiration for
those noble souls who never shrink from respon-
sibilities, who scorn to dodge when duty becomes
danger Mr.. Campbell made a very argent ap-
peal to the Assembly not to crowd SO much labor
on an already over-worked committee, but he
would have been much more sincere had he sim
ply said: &C Gentlemen, shall be a candidate
for the United States Senate at the next session
Of the Legislature, and I beg that you will not
endanger my prospects by forcing this question
on my committee and thus compelling me, as
chairman, to express opinions which, whatever
they may be, will raise opposition to me in the