The Placer herald., 1866-02-24
JoTTINGs DOWN FROM THE CAP 1TAE
[BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

After some days absence from my post,
| returned about week ago and have kept
running docket Of affairs about the Capitol
each day since then, and accustomed As l
have been to noting the proceedings Of each
successive Legislature, since that memorial
lied by the appellants Of the Legislature of
u Thousand Drinks past weeks pro-
ceeedings have out Heroded Herod, and it
would seem indeed that "Cbaos bad come
again" More exciting questions have been
sprung, more interesting topics mooted, and
more animated debates have been the order
of the day during the past week, than it has
been my fortune to witness in any LegisIa
tive body not excepting the Senate and
Congress of the United States, in their
palmy days when the genuine Old National
Democracy ruled, and the Abolition hordes
had taken possession of the Capitol like the
Goths and Vandals of old,-and once ,ben
glorious Union remained intact and untaint,
ed-and our National escutcheon untarnsh
cd and with out spot or bemish.
10 the first place, the passage Of the San
Francisco Paid Fire Department Bill, which
went through the Assembly with perfect
whereas, outstanding the outside pres
sure Of the large delegation from the Depart
ment Of San Francisco, backed by the athletic
style Of Jake Chase, and passed the Senate
few days after, created no little stir. Hor.
ace Hawes' famous Registry Law, which is
"as clear as mud" and the provisions Of
which it would take PhiadeI pbia Lawyer
TO interpret, had passed some time previous
through the Senate, and that on to morrow
the day for which it is made the special or.
der Of the Assembly, the dough-faced min,
ions will swallow its repugnant and nauseous
provisions with equal avidity is also fore
gone conclusion. lnasmuch as the bill re.
qures every voter to register at the County
seat, would like to know what chance .be
voters of Last Chance" and other distant
precincts of Placer would have under its
provisions.
The defeat in the Senate of the bill of
Smith of Butte, of Wardrobe noteriety.
has however created the greatest excitement,
inasmuch as Immediately following, that
sweet-scented sheet the San Francisco Amer-
ican Flag charged that seven Senators
among those who voted against the repeal
we're paid $4,000 each in coin by the San
Francisco Bankers and Merchants to do So
Immediately upon the receipt Of the shee,
containing the mischievous and unfounded
libel, the Senate appointed a committee to
investigate the matter, with power to send
for persons and papers, and Mr.. Mccarthy
was accordingly sent for, and he responded
to the summons ty coming up on the return
boat. Going before the Committee on Wed.
nesday morning, be refused to testify or
communicate any intelligence unless the
Committee would hold its session in San
Francisco. This answer being returned to
the Senate, that body dissolved the Commits
tee and determined to invite Mr. Mccarthy |
before. them to answer in person. Upon be
ing interrogated be refused to answer apy
questions touching the matter. He however
at length in answer to questions stated that |
be was the proprietor OF the american F2ag
was responsible for what appeared in it's
columns and although he did not write the
offensive article he dictated it, and took the
responsibility Of it. At the opening of the
Session last evening the Senate having taken
recess, Mr.. Mccarthy was allowed to make
a statement in which he gave as his reason
for wanting the investigation to take place
in San Francisco, he was afraid that the
witnesses in the case, would be got out of
the way by the parties who had furnished
the means to bribe the Senator'S who he
charged bad been bought up. The Senate
very properly deeming the charge rivoIous,
proceeded to interrogate him in relation to
any knowledge be might himself be posses
sed OF concerning the matter, whereupon by |
an almost unanimous vote of the Senate he |
was ordered to be taken in custody of the |
Sergeant at Arms, who was ordered to deIiv-
er over to the Sheriff Of Sacramento county.
who was directed to imprson him 10 the
County Jail until he should answer the
questions propaunded. After remaining in
custody during the night a writ of habeas
corpus was issued out this moring return.
able at 10 O'Clock but the case was continued
uutll 7 this evening. Long before that how.
ever, the District Court Room was crowded
to suttocation by throng anxious to hear
the argument Of Hon. N Greene Curtis. on
the part OF the Senate and Hon. j. w. Cof-
froth and J. b. Goods, District Attorney, in
behalf of Mccarthy. After an elaborate ar.
gument on both sides the result arrived at
was, that he should be remanded back to
Jail until he purged himself of The contempt
by testifying in the matter as demanded BY
the Senate. It is somewhat remarkable
feature of this case, that the Counsel en-
ployed on said side are Democrats, there
being plentiful lack of talent in the ranks
Of the opposition.
The Assembly yesterday passed the Sem
ate bill to amend the Act prescribing rules
for the government Of tho State Library,
which virtually makes w. C. Stratton the
Librarian. The friends of Madden fought
it to the last, but Stratton out.general.
ed them. The debate waxed hot and
furious, Chamberlain ''bilen'in" and even
Holden taking sides with him for The first
time, but be seemed lost in such company.
The best speeches made in relation to the
matter were those Of Judge Brown of Contra
Costa and Lupton Of San Francisco in favor