Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-10-27
,fOKELUMNE HILL:
MOKELUMNE HILL:
SATURDAY: -: :OCTOBER p. 1866.
New Volume,

ifornia. it was launched upon the tempestu-
Gus sea of journalism. Society, at that time,
was unsettled. The population of California
was as nomadic as the Bedouins of Sahara.
Gold, the glittering prize for which all man.
kind are SO eagerly striving, was readily OBJ
tanned and as quickly spent. There was no
stability to anything. Towns were built up
one day and deserted the next. Men would
leave claims which were paying what would
now be considered fortune to the possessor,
for no better reason than a mere rumor that
richer diggings existed in some other locali-
ty. Under such circumstances as these, the
issuance of newspaper, was, at the best, a
hazardous enterprise, and it was with many
misgivings that the projectors of the CHRoN-
IcLE awaited the reception which their bant-
ling would meet. Contrary to their expect
atoms the venture was successful one, and
from that day to this, the CHRoN1cLE has
never failed to make its appearance every
Saturday morning. With the exception Of
the Sacramento Union and the Alta, it is the
Oldest paper in the State. 1t has been en-
larged to nearly double its size when first
issued, but it has never had q new dress since
the day it was born, and that has been patch
ed but once. The greater portion of the ma
terial now in use in the office, was bought
when the paper was started. but still, at the
risk of being considered egotistical, we ven
ture the opinion that it will compare favora-
bly,, geographically speaking. with the ma
Jority OF interior papers. 1t speaks well for
the foundry at which the types were cast,
l.. johnson & Co.'S, Philadelphia-and also
for the printers to whose care they have been
confded. Politically, the course ofthe CHRoN
IcLE has been consistent. From its initial
number, up to the breaking out of the great
rebellion, it steadfastly advocated the princi-
Piles and doctrines of the Democratic party.
Not even the storm of Know Nothingism
which swept over the State like whirlwind
in 1866, caused 1t to swerve or deviate from
its course, and amid the detection and apos-
tasy of many ofits contemporaries, the CHRoN-
IcLE remained true as steel to its principles,
and despite herculean efforts of the opposing
party, carried the county-the only one in
the State which went Democratic. Ever
since the Inauguration of civil war by South
ern traitors, the CHRONICLE has zealously
advocated the cause of the Government and
,,Dbo1d II ~, its ondeoyoro to e,hJro ~, o+ro
cious rebellion which at one time threatened
our national existence. From the formation
of the Union party it has been an ardent sup
porter of the tenets of that organization, and
contributed not a little to the success of the
party in:this county. So long as our unhap-
py country is racked and torn with internal
dissensions, while the issue between Congress
and the apostate johnson, in regard to the
proper method of reconstructing the seeded
States remains unsettled, and until the ends
and purposes for which the Union party was
formed, are achieved, it will continue to
advocate radical measures.
At the commencement of new volume,
it is an almost universal custom emong p,.o-
fishers of newspapers to give a history of the
past, state their prospects for the future and
dun delinquents. IN regard to the latter
portion OF the c,istom, however, we have al
ways oeen a'h exception to the general rule,
and-don't get frightened-we are not going
TO commence now. 1t is too late. When
we first entered printing office we foolishly
thought that those peoole who had the good
taste and sense to subscribe for a newspaper,
would certainly be honest enough to pay for
it. We are older now. We have the names
of gentlemen on our books who were kind
enough to subscribe for the CHRONICLE years
ago. Our portion of the contract then enter
ed into. has been faithfully performed
Through the mud, rain, snow and bowling
blasts of Winter, and the binding heat and
dust of Summer, the paper has been regular
ly carried TO their residences every Saturday
morning, and yet but few of them have given
us the trouble of writing them receipt, even
for one year. We appreciate their benevo-
lence. When We take into consideration,
however. the fact that printing bill is the
last one man ever thinks of paying, and
that many people never intend to pay the
first one, we are not much astonished. We
do not know whether such men have any
consciences or not; but if they have, we pity
them. If some of them are not smitten with
blindness yet while reading the paper, it will
be because they do not meet their just deserts
But then they know We have no use for coin
Paper and ink cost nothing, and types never
wear out. Rent. fire. wood, lights, etc., are
always free to printing office. And then
type-setting is nothing but fun. anyhow: il
IS such nice, delightful, easy occupation,
and so conducive to health, that printers
ought to work for nothing, and the most Of
them do. We do not wish to insinuate that
anybody owes us anything, or that if they
do We want them to pay. Nothing of the
kind. But if anyone thinks he is in arrears
to this Office, and wishes to enter on the new
year with a clear conscience and a lieh,
heart, 1t will afford US the most exquisite
pleasure imaginable to assist him by any
means within our power.
A GREAT banquet has been given in Lon.
don in honor of the promoters of the ocean
telegraph, and divers persons have beer
knighted by the Queen for their participation
in it. Cyrus W. Field would have beer
knighted with others. but Her Majesty tho