Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-04-27
State Constitutional Amendments.

this State proposed certain amendments to
tho Constitution, which will be submitted TO
the people for ratification or rejection at the
uext general election. While we are not in
favor of continually changing and making
alterations in our fundamental law, still the
amendments which will be presented for the
action of the people this Fall, are so just and
reasonable that we think they should and
will be adopted. In 1862. an amendment,
separating the judicial from the general cleo
tion received two thirds vote and became
part of our Constitution. 1t was popularity
supposed, at that time, that by holding the
election for judges separately from that for
general officers, political bias and prejudice.
and party strife and rancor, would not enter
into the selection of those who hold the scales
of justice in their hands, and the Judiciary be
chosen with reference to their legal and NOR
al qualifications instead of their political
creeds. Previous to 1862, from the time of
the formation of the State Government and
the adoption of Constitution, the officers of
the executive, legislative and judicial depart
ments were chosen at the general election.
sspirants for the bench entering the lists and
swopping, trading, cheating, buying and
selling votes to obtain their nominations,
with as much avfdity as candidates for other
positions. The amendment to the Constitu-
ton. separating the elections, has totally
failed to accomplish what it was designed to,
and has proved entirely inadequate to rene
dy the evil. The idea that, because the cleo
ton for judges is held month later than
that for general officers, it has tendency to
remove party feeling and political strife from
the contest, when they all receive their NOM
nations at the hands of the same Convention,
is simply ridiculous. The same delegates
who are elected to select candidates to be
supported at the general election, also make
the nominations for the Judiciary, and every
one is well aware that the question of who
shall wear the ermine, enters into the fight
at the primaries the same as that for other
positions. Self-interest is powerful, and hu-
man nature weak; and it makes no difference
whether mans ambition causes him to as
pire to position on the Supreme Bench, or
to run for Constable, he will make use of ev-
cry means in his power to accomplish his
purpose. The experience of the past five
years has clearly demonstrated the impossi-
bility of preventing political strife from en-
tering into the selection of the judiciary, and
we hope to see the amendment to the Consti-
tuition. abolishing the separate elections, re-
ceive the sanction of the people. As the
matter now stands, the holding of the judic-
ial election involves the State in an unneces-
sary expense, while we cannot see how its
continuance can in any possible manner prove
beneficial. The second amendment propos-
ed, provides for the election of a State Super
intendent of Public Instruction at the general
election to be held in 1869, this officer having
heretofore been chosen at the judicial elec-
ton. Should this amendment be adopted,
the person elected this Fall will hold the Of
flee two years instead of four. but his success
sors will be chosen for the full time rrescrib-
ed by law. The third amendment proposed
is one which we fear will not be regarded
with favor by the people, although none can
deny its business. 1t makes the payment of
the poll-tax prerequisite to the exercise of
the elective franchise, and fixes the tax at
not less than two or more than five dollars
per annum. Statistics prove that few, COM
pared with the number of voters in the State
pay their annual poll-tax, and it is much
more easily evaded by those who have no
property, and consequently contribute moth
ing towards supporting the Government,
than by those who have other taxes to pay.
Taxation, in most of the counties in this
State, is extremely onerous, becoming more
so each year, and all classes of our citizens
should be willing to bear their portion of its
burdens. While the tax is so light that none
need lose their votes on account of inability
to meet it, its collection would largely in
crease our revenue, and materially assist in
reducing our indebtedness. Those who op-
pose the measure, will do so from purely sell
fish motives, actuated by a spirit which.
while it prompts them to demand and receive
all the immunities and privileges which our
Government guarantees to its citizens, incites
them to refuse to assist in its maintenance.
Our opinion is that person who does not
consider the privilege of voting of sufficient
Importance to pay his poll-tax to obtain it,
is unfit to exercise the elective franchise. The
fourth amendment limits the power of the
Legislature, in making appropriations of
money for any purpose whatever, to the pc
riod of two years. Should this become a
part of the Constitution, it will defeat the
schemes of the hordes of hungry monopoiists
who throng the lobbies during every session
of the Legislature, endeavoring to obtain the
passage of appropriations to aid them in car
rying out their enterprises. Taken as whole,
we think the amendments proposed are emf
nently proper, and if the people consult their
interests they will rat;fy them.
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neer's oldest recollections, and must inevita-
bly, be allied with that of the choicest brands
of tobacco and Cigars, most of which they
have been for many years the sole agents
for. With the opening anew of the Virginia
Tobacco trade and the increase of business
facilities at Havana, Messrs. B. C. Horn &
Co. come again proudly before the public
with full columned catalogue of old Vir-
ginia and Havanas best roductions-known