The weekly union record., 1866-01-13
The Question of Division.

community, the past week, By the unexpected
agitation Of the question of division of Butte
county. The people of Chico and vicinity
celebrated the opening Of the New Year by
one grande f0urisie, whereat they passed some
high old resolves, such as might have been
expected on the evening Of jubiaut celebra-
tion of the day. The day and the subject
concurred in giving zest and vigor TO the
amusement Assemblyman Tilden also showed
in a speech that he was gifted with as lively
an imagination as any of his auditors. This
was TO US like thunderclap in clear sky.
We began to think sit was dangerous being
safe"-especially in Butte county. The pro-
ceedings of the Chicoites have convinced Us
fully that they will never suffer for want
Of check or brass. The dogmatic and lofty
terms of their pronuaciamento indicate hilarious
gasconade rather than consciousness of strength
or good cause. 1t is the misfortune of some
to get everything misplaced Or i'll timed. Who
Knows that the meeting could have been
organized on any other day? Others have an
incurable propensity for tearing things to
pieces. Again, others are weakly ambitious
of doing small business on large scale
Such either never see beyond their nose, or
are ready to bite it Of out of spite to somebody
else, or had rather be first among beggars with
the itch than second among kings, though
faring sunptuously and clothed in linen and
purple. They can see with nicely the point
of a needle, but the face Of batterng ram is
beyond their visual capacity. They are never
afraid of any thing, not they, and are always
ready "to rush 10 where angels fear to tread"
But, seriously, the division of the county
if proper in any respect, is improper at this
time 1t is we'll known that Seneca Ever and
g. E. Smith, Of our delegation, owe their
election to their hostility to a division of the
county. Very many of the most wealthy and
influential Democrats voted for them CD that
ground. The main reason Of those who urged
their nomination and election, in preference to
Others, was their position against division
of the county. Their supporters made it, as
far as possible, the issue, while those in oppo-
sition avoided it, or denied that they were in
favor of division. Those who now seek division
in no manner presented such an issue at the
last election. On the contrary, the Chico
candidate for Senator (Nourse) pledged himself
that, if elected, be would neither move for, Dor
entertain, such proposition, unless "petitioued
for by a majority of the legal voters Of the
county" Under such circumstances, it is
improper now to agitate the matter. We
submit that il would be fairer and more manly
to get majority in favor of division first, and
rely On strategy less. The doctrine that
minorities shall rule majorties, ard elections
be considered utilities 'if our side don't win,"
is played out. The Chicoites lay much stress
upon the financial advantages to accrue 10
here say that General Bidwel, who knows as
much 10 that respect as anybody, told US, Just
before the last election, that ''he was opposed
to division of the county till the county
Indebtedness should be paid. As to the argu-
ment OF separating the agricultural from The.
mining portion, the Chicoites are not little
inconsistent, as they now propose TO take the
largest portion of the mining sections into
their new county.
On general principles, there is neither excuse
or necessity for division Of this county. The
present county seat is very near the geograph-
ical center of the county-is accessible at all
seasons, and roads hich will compare favorably
with roads in other counties of the State,
radiae from it 10 all portions Of the county.
Neither do the number, situation or convenience
of the population of the county require two
county organizations instead of one In these
respects, it is unnecessary TO dilate. The truth
is, the efforts for division are prompted solely
by ambition to have Chico the capital of a
county. This is the beginning, middle an end
of the whole matter, whatever other preteuses
may be set up. and the Chicoites can hardly
fool anybody of sense The rumors that our
two Senators and ,Assembiyman Smith would,
if a certain line were adopted consent TO
division, seem to be owing 10 msapprehen-
sion of what had been said by one or more
of them. They are all right on the question,
and II would seem that, such being the case,
the measure must fail before this Legislature
Nevertheless, meeting was held last Monday,
on the matter. at the Court House, and action
had on it, and arrangements made 10 circulate
remoDstrances against the division. We trust
that our citizens will numerously sign them,
and show thereby that large majority OF the
voters are opposed to division.
The San Fraucisco Examiner says 0. NJ
Clayes, having failed to purchase the Flag, is
going 10 remove his own paper, the Stockton
Independent, 10 San Francisco, and run it as 9
y,oiif,ral Sst1t D., l.