The Placer herald., 1867-07-13
WHATELY ARISTOTLE SELKIKK.

Mr.. Editor This distinguished indi,id-
ual, believe is the reputed Editor OF
the Great Mopgrel Organ Of Placer County
Now Mr.. Editor, it is not my wish or inten'
lion to enter into newspaper controversy
with this monster, " ho has digested IVhately,
swallowed aristotle, and bolted johnson. 1
acknowledge my inability Considering my
very limited knowledge fgrammar,) to cope
With SO much learning, sarcasm and wit
Therefore what shall have to say to
this Fallstatf of the quill, shall he as plain and
consisive as possible. In speaking of remarks
on the Registry Law, he asks: "ln what
respect does the. Register Law discriminate
between the rich and poor
| answer, in this respect. The rich man
who has both time and money at his dispo
sal, if be Is over looked by the ASSESSOR or
Judge in their rounds Of Reg is,raton, can 60
to Auburn, and have his name placed upon
the Great Register, even il it should cost
BIN One Hundred Dollars. While on the
other hand, tue poor man who Isbo's by the
day, aud has family dependent ur"n bis
labor for their support, can lily afford to
loose two or three days time and len or BIZ
teen dollars in money, to make trip 10 the
County Seat, for the purpose of Registration,
and to become legal voter. Is this not
making diiferedce between the poor and
rich man Here is where the 'sneI" comes
10. This term is entirely SeIkrkian 10 its
origin, and ask pardon for its use in this
articles
Again Solon says: I'm what respect
does the requirement, that man should sub
NIT proof and enroll himself as legal voter
if properly qualified, conflict with the genius
and spirit Of Republcanism.
l answer, in this respect: Suppose for in-
stance a German or lrshmen became cit
izen of the United States through the Courts,
aud has certificate Of citizenship issued to
him, which confers all the rights and Privi-
eges upon him, enjoyed by the native clti,
zen, is he not to all inten's aud purposes a
citizen Well, now, suppose he by some ac-
cideut should loose his papers, and that
there is no two persons by which he can
prove that he has been a resident of the
country for five years at hand, and that be
is far away from the Court which made him
citizen. Does not the Register Law make
a distinction between him and the Native
Citizen, allowing one to voe while 1t dis
franchises the other. While the National
law says he is a citizen, your contemplate,
Ito ace llawos Law says he is not. Now
ask hicb is he best authority Old Horace
lIawes or the Naturalization laws Of the coun-
TRY? Here, in one case the government has
declared him to be citizen, he has taken the
oath OF allegiance, and has probably borne
arms III defence of the government, and You
come up and say that he is not a Citizen
because he has lost his papers, or has pot
two acqnaiutances of five years standing
TO testify in his behalf. Yet this sweet
scented sprig of negro worstiper, has the
presumption to come up and tell the people
that this Registry Law does not discriminate
between men that it imposes no hardships
upon any one, bu, protects every man in his
legal right to vote. Yes, it offers the same
protection TO the poor man and foreigner,
that the highwayman does to bis victim, ii
robs and despoils him Of everything.
Is this anything like the good old Dem
ocratic DAYS, when mems oaths were taken
at The polls, as to whether they were citizens
or not? Now the thing is changed, this
.yrtnous party won't take your oaths, and
7IdsfrancLises you il you bave been so unfor-
tupate as to loose your papers. let this
law wolks no bardshps to any one! do
net wish to bamboos!e any one rs Selklk
charges, and | believe that there is moi
foreigner 10 Placer county who understands
!be nnYyiislry law, but what believes il WAS
made on purpose to dsfrauchise them, and
that it is a swindle and cheat. For further
information in regard to this enactsi1eht,
would refer to the celebrated hand book so
often and favorabIy spoken of by The immor-
tai Hawes. For its practical workings, next
September will tell, as Selkirk will find
when he sees the almost unanimous foreign
vote cast for liberty. right, and Democracy.
The learned gentleman. next takes me to
task about my grammar. Now thought
Sekirk was well enough acquainted with the
Democracy, to know that we have no use for
grammar, that it is not principle in oui
creed to be too learned. 1t is said hat
"ll;le learning is a dangerous thing and
we have avoided treading its treacherons
quck-sands, and | do not believe am any
exception to the great masses OF my party,
and hardly know as much as the lowlest
member that marches in its invincible and
unleryiied ranks. am hardly an average
Yet, it seems my circular has created a
commotoh. What would you do if some
of our big guns should fire shot at you!--
There is one thing very strange, Mr.. SelkiIk,
| may have used bad grammar, and 'mur'
dered the Kings English, but you, see, un-
dersand it; it has worked its way into your
skull and any idea or language that finds
its way into as unexplored and barren spot
as your Uranium, must be sharp indeed, and
other ordinary morlaIs will have no trouble
at all in accommodating it to their UNDER
standing. There is an old couplet, Selkrk,
that slightly touches your case. 1t runs
thus:
Puppies! who though ON idiotsm's dark brink,
Because they've heads, dare fancy they can think
think your days of puppydom must be