Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-12-21
Letter from the Capital.
SACRAMENTO, Dec. 10, 1867.

tion of officers and the appointment of standing
committees, and is fairly ready to commence the
winters work. The organization might have
been completed as we'll on the first and second
days of the session, but STAYED off by the
dominant party in the Assembly, to gain time,
repoAt has it, to fix up their nomination for
United States Senator. The law of Congress
defining the manner of electng the Senator, re-
ouires that ballot shall be taken in each house
on the second Tuesday after the organization of
the Legislature is completed, so by postponing
the organization until Wednesday last, nearly a
week of time was gained to reconcile the con-
ficting interests in the party. report was cur
rent on the streets that bill had been intro
duced in Congress to repeal the present law, and
elect the Senator by the old method of Joint
Convention, which, if true, would leave the
Democratic majority on joint ballot entirely at
the mercy of the Union majority in the Senate.
am inclined to think the report was without
foundation, and so far as l am concerned, hope
that it was. l believe the law to be correct and
Just and would not like to see it repealed SIM
ply because it happened to work injuriously to
the party of which | am a member. At the
same time it would be good joke on the DEM
ocratic majority in the House, through whose
refusal to organize there would have been
ample time to have the law repealed, and the
old style of electing Senator 60 into operation
again.
Sacramento, at present. should be styled the
HCity of Mud" The streets, cut up by the
constant passage of wagons, present muddy
spectacle to which denizens of the mountains do
not readily become accustomed. The street.
crossings are the spots which "try mems sotes,
there is the only place the pedestrian comes IN
actual contact with it. On the occasion of the
Inauguration, street, in front of the Capitol,
was covered with hay to afford standing room
for the multitude while Governor Haight read
the inaugural address. presume your opinion
of that precious document is about the same as
my own; it would answer very well if his Ex-
cellency was still upon the stump, seeking votes
for position, but a State paper it lacks long
way of filling the bill.
The Democratic members of the Legislature
are holding caucus in the Assembly chamber,
and the fate of their numerous aspirants for
United States Senator may be decided while
write. The "oldest man in the world" would
hardly hazard guess who may be fortunate
enough to obtain their nomination the friends
of several of the leading aspirants are equally
sanguine. Union men are beginning to moot
who shall be complimented by their votes.
Some Of Conness' friends want it for him, be-
lieving it will q strengthen his hands" have
had an opportunity to consult with members
from many parts of the State, and if Conness
does receive the compliment, | am very much
mistaken. Low and Sargent are more promin-
ent than any others the friends of the latter
most active.
The Democratic Senatorial caucus adjourned
last night without coming to any definite con-
clusion. IMPREsoR.
AMENDMENTS TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION
posed of Humboldt, Klamath and Del Norte, in
troduced two resolutions in that body on the
10th, proposing to adopt and agree to amend
nents to the State Constitution proposed by the
asst Legislature The first (Senate Concurrent
Resolution, No. lO,) is follows:
Resolved by Senate, the Assembly concurring That
Legislature the State of California its Seventeenth
esson commencing day of December A. D.
hundred sixyseven adopt agree the fol-
owing additional section Article of the Constitution
which said additional section proposed adopted by
he Legislature of said State at its Sixteenth session:
SECTION o. The Legislature shall have power make
appropriation of money for any purpose Whatever for
longer period than two years.
The wisdom and justice of the above amend
nent must be perceptible to every candid mind.
We doubt whether any single instance can be
tied in the workings of the State government
n which it is proper or expedient to make appro-
riations for longer time than from the adjourn
nent to the assembling of the Legislature. The
amendment was passed by the last Legislature,
n which the Union party had majority, thus
,laciug that party fairly the record in behalf
If this reform movement. Democrats favored
he measure two years ago we hope they will
10 now. That it will be again carried in the
Senate, there is no doubt
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. IL, intro
duced by Mr.. Murch, proposes an amendment to
Sec. of Article VI of the Constitution, which
provides that the Justices of the Supreme Court
and Superintendent of Public Instruction shall
be elected at The General Election provided by
law. The intent of this amendment is to do
away with the Special Judicial Election, which
has entirely failed to meet the purposes for which
it was enacted, besides saddling an additional
expense upon the State and counties of from one |
to two hundred thousand dollars for each elcc-
tiou so held. An amendment is also proposed
which requires the Legislature of 1s69-'7O to
divide the State into sixteen Judicial Districts,
which may be altered or increased from time to
time, by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature,
in each of which District Judge, to hold Office
for six years, shall be elected at the General
Election at which Justices of the Supreme Court
are chosen !; prouided, that the District Judgesin
Office at the time this amendment shall take eff
feet shall hold their Offices for the balance of the
term for which they were elected Sec. of
Article VI is proposed to be so amended that
County Judges shall be elected at the same time
and in the same manner as District Judges, to
hold Office for four years from the first of Janua-
ry succeeding their election. We are glad that
the attention of the Legislature has thus early
been called to these proposed amendments, and
deem it to be to the best interests of the State
that each one of them should prevail.
DISTRICT CouRr-Adjourued last Friday. The
following cases were disposed of after we went
to press Weaver, ct. al, VS. Dumphy.-Condi-
tional change of venue granted. In the case of
Norv Nermau John Newman divorc.