The Placer herald., 1866-03-03
JoTr1N es DOWN FROM THE CAPITAL
(BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
SACRAMENTO. March l. 1866.

| SACRAMENTO, March !, 1866.
Editors Herald: If ever there existed
legislative body whose acts are marked BY
fiat contradictions. and characterized BY
glaring Inconsistencies, it certainly is that
setting in the Capitol Of The great State Of
California at the present time. As is the
has been more noise with fewer practical re-.
suits than any of its predecessors, and the
entire sessions incubation has failed to hatch
out 4 single measure calculated to result in
any benefit to the people at large. 1t is
| true that numerous local measures for the
benefit Of individuals in isolated communi-
ties have been ground through the mill
and nothing personal is meant to the Hop
per Of Sacramento in making use OF this
6gurs,-lut as yet nothing has been matur
ed for the benefit of the people Of the State
at large. That curse Of the Golden State,
that has retarded her prosperity and cloggsd
the enterprise aud weighed down the ener-
ges of her people, has been rife in the balls
Of legislation during the present session.
Bills Of this character are rushed through
under suspension Of the rules without con-
sideration; and the proceedings Of the two
Houses--more especially Of the Assembly
frequently remind your correspondent Of the
country debating school he attended in bis
boyhood's days, with the exception that, less
Of frivoli,y and far more dignity character.
lied the proceedings of the latter. From q
survey Of the field and a cursory examina.
ton of the outside Of the heads Of the mem,
bers Of the two branches Of the present Leg
islature, your correspondent expressed the
opinion at the commencement of the ses-
sion, that it embodied more than an average
degree Of ability as we'll as Of responsibility,
but subsequent experience giving in.
sight into the matter, and going to show
what the contents of the aforesaid heads are
composed OF, proves most conclusively that
your correspondent was egregiousIy deceived
by external appearances, and that really
there is nothing in it. Tho narrow minded
policy Of the majority Of the Legislature, as
exhibited in its history spread upon the jour.
nails, will mark it for all time to come
With the power to have made an honored
record by pursuing broad and liberal poll.
cy, the course Of the majority has been char
acterizei by degree of bigotry and intol
ersnce unexanped in the history Of legisla,
ton. 1t was said Of Chatham, think, by a
contemporary poet, that
| For the sake OF his place he narrowed his mind,
And gave up to party, what was meant for
mankind.
1t did not require The party in power to
60 through the first named process, for their
mental capacity was originally constructed
on the marrow guage." but that they have
legislated exclusively for their party to the
detriment OF the State at large, the journal
Of each days proceedings will abundantly
prove. The freedom of speech has been cur.
tailed, and opposition choaked down under
the potent gag rule Of the previous question.
Notwithstanding the Spartan band Of tie
Democracy, aided by corporaI's guard of
conservative members Of the so.calIed Union
party,-fought that monster Of legislation
the Registry Law, with all their energies
and disputed the ground inch by inch--but
this opposition was Of no avail, the matter
had been settled in caucus, the fiat Of Horace
Hawes, who is one Of the ablest as he Ger,
tainly is one Of the shrswdest members Of
either House. and who rules the majority
with rod OF iron--had gone for,h--and the
faithful no daring TO disobey the mandate,
swallowed the montrosity whole--and the
Assembly yesterday passed the Senate Bill
by decided majority. They also rushed
through series Of resolutions introduced on
Saturday prior to the adjournment Of the
two Houses over to Tuesday, y,-censuring
President Johnson for bis veto of the Freed
mans Bureau Bill, sustaining the action Of
the majority in Congress, and lauding little
Johnny Couness for his vote to pass the bill
over the veto Of the President. When it is
taken into consideration that the majority
passed series Of resolutions in caucus few
nights before recommending Fred Billings,
who has for some years past been a stand
ing candidate for member Of Congress and
United States Ssnator--fora position in the
Cabinet, the last move would seem eminent
y calculated to induce the President to &C.
csde 10 the wishes and adopt the recon-
mendation Of the majority Of the California
Legislature. But it has been truly said by
an ancient philosoper that "those whom the
gods would destroy they first make mad"
and the good book truly says that pride
goeth before destruction, and a naughty
spirit before fall"
With regards the progress of Legislation,
it will be impossible to finish up the business
before the two Houses within The Constitu,
tional limits Of one hundred and twenty days,
which expires on the fourth Of April, and as
the pay Of the Members expires with it there
is no danger Of the Session being prolonged
beyond that time. So far as the order of
business goes the Assembly is far in advance
Of the Senate, .e,-which body was, on account
of the absence Of its members on the Salt
Marsh and Tide Land Committee, engaged
in taking testimony in relation to that mat.
ter in San Francisco, making a heavy
draft on the roll call-no quorum WAS pres
ent and that body was accordingly compelled
to adjourn over until sufficient number re,
turned to enable the transaction OF business.
The attention Of that body for the greater
portion Of The Session today, has been oc.
cupied in the consideration of the School