The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1866-1887, 1867-04-20
0ROvlLE, SATURDAY. APRIL Goth.

We baye another communication from "Ob>efy-
err more fully celebrating the views he discusses
1t is to be regretted that he announces his deter
mination to pursue the discussion further, for he
presents excellent and readable arguments on
subject of much importance TO the public al the pre-
sent time. His determination to carry 1t no iur-
ther would seem to imply that his mind was MADE
up, for right or wrong, and that those who DO not
take the same view may consequently remain IN the
darkness and wrong This is hardly proper
course to pursue with those who are earnestly IN
search of light upon the subject Of labor and desire
TO adopt the true policy in reference thereto for the
advancement and prosperity OF the State
The argument that the Of Indians on the
American continent is destined to become extinct
is scarcely justification for holding tribes OF them
in bondage for their labor, to the annoyance and
disgust Of those who settle in their vicinity 1t is
but recently that the residents of Chico and adjoin
ing towns arose en- masse and demanded from the
authorities the removal of the Indians held by Gen.
Bidwell from their midst This was caused by the
depredations and incursions of other bands, who
came TO war against the Chico Indians, and muir
dered teamsters whom they CHANGED to meet, and,
in some instances families on the frontier settle
ments. The murder of the Hickox family Is yet
fresh in the emory of our people, and many will
also remember prior report that Gen. bdweh
himself had been killed by party of Indians who
came down from the mountains to war upon those
whom be kept upon his ranch The profit to him,
however was sufficient to induce him to incur the
danger of their presence and the frontier settlers
were guard sg ainst his serious interruption from
such raids The policy of the Government has been
to provide for and protect the Indians, not to
slave them; and we cannot agree with observer"
when he says that "peonage can no more come in
competition with white American labor than igno
rance can compete with science. The very argu
ment used by those in favor OF Chinese labor, Is
that it is the cheapest, that it be employed at
less expense than American labor. Therefore it is
not only in competition with intelligent labor, but
if persisted in it must do away with white labor en-
tirely. Under its influence shoddy and petroleum
will control finances, stolid mediocrty fill our
public stations and science and learning be slowed
away in attics. What use have those who employ
poems and Chinese for cience and intelligence!
They may paronize the author by purchasing books
by the yard for their libraries being guided therein
purchasing his painting, by its dazzling frame.
With us it is simply question of State policy,
whether we shall invite Coolie labor to our State.
or encourage hither better class of European Ia
borers. The one seems to us as easily attainabe as
the other an6 we are therefore in favor of the lat
~. They would be glad to earn themselves farms
along our public improvements, and were an op
portunty afforded them, would make our State
fragrant with vines and flowers, and cover it with
fields of waving grain. They would become cti-
Zens, build themselves houses, and in every sense
become useful citizens. We have only to look to
Illinois for successful precedent. Her plains
were as barren of timber valleys She
adopted measures to invite European emigration,
and is now the giant prairie State of the West.
1t Is one vast farm, and her broad prairies are
network of railroads. and interspered with artif-
cial forests. Can such state of prosperity be de
rived from the introduction of Coolies in midst
and their employment as laborers? Shall we en-
ploy the Chinese on our public works simply be-
cause they will work for seventy cents day. and
send their earnings out of the State? Or shall we
employ those who will remain and become good
citizens, investing their earnings for the advance
ment and prosperity of the State? There no ques-
tion of consttutionality about it. 1t is simply,
will we do this or do that, as matter of our own
business preference. We say give us the European
laborer in preference to the Asiatic.
Concerning the statement made by Observer
that every man who desires can take homestead
without price, pay the cost of survey and entry
make it your home and it is yours'-we would beg
leaye TO call his attention to what Gen. Bdwel and
the balance of our delegation has induced Congress
30 say in reference to our lands in California since
the passage of the presumption law. The section
of the land law, virtually repeating the homestead
law in California and retiring the General Govern
ment from the State as landholler, together with
the opinion of Attorney General Speed sustaining
it, will be found in another column. He will see
that he is altogether mistaken. That Congress
under the direction of General John Bidwell has
turned preemptors from their claims, and given
their homesteads to holders of fraudulent rejected
Mexican grants The Attorney General says Con
gress has an undoubted right to do this any time
prior to the payment of the purchase money by the
pre- emptor. Our Supreme Court says the opinion
of the Attorney General is based on solid grounds
With land thus taken from the pre-emptor by the
cupdy of our represen atives and the State flood
ed with Coolie labor on public works how long
will il take 10 State with the homesteads
OF desirable, intelligent aud laboring population