Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-09-14
An Extra Session.

The worst feature of the result of the re-
cent election is the placing of both branches
of the Legislature in the hands of the Cop
perheads. However great a calamity the
election of MIR. Haight and the entire Demo-
cratic State ticket may be considered. and so
much as such decision by the people is to
be deprecated by loyal men. in comparison
with the disastrous effect which Democrat
ic Legislature will exert upon the policy of
the Union party. both National and State.
it is insignificant. Aside from the fact that
United States Senator, to succeed John
Conness, is to be chosen this session, several
amendments to the National Constitution,
which contain in a nutshell the principles
! of the Union party and the reconstruction
measures OF Congress, are to be submitted to
the legislature for ratification or rejection.
| When it is understood that California holds
the balance of power in her hands; that her
vote, if cast in the affirmative, will settle the
questions which are proving fire brand of
discord between the North and South, in
favor of justice and equal rights that if, on
the contrary, she refuses to ratify them the,
cannot become part of our organic l.. and
that the disfranchising Of fading traitors
the adoption OF just oasis of representation
ana Inc securing of the fruits of the war
must necessarily be defeated, then, perhaps,
lie people will discover the magnitude of
their error. We do not accept the result of
the election as fair expression of the wishes
of the people in all respects. To US it seems
absolutely incredible that majority of the
citizens of this State endorse Johnson's
policy and are opposed to that of Congress.
lniour opinion the causes which led to the
defeat of the Union Legislative tickets in the
different counties are two-fold: First, that
in consequence of the dissatisfaction in re-
lation to some of the nominees on the ticket,
Union men became apathetic, careless and
Indifferent, and forgetting the vital impor-
tance of the issues 10 be decided, did not 90
to the,polls on election Gay; secondly, that
the bitter hostility engendered against the
head of the ticket by the action of the So
called "independent" press, had a tenden cy
to and did materially injure the unobjection-
able portion Off. In addition to these reasons
many people were not aware that the voice
of California alone, is wanting to ratify the
amendments. Democratic stump speakers
avoided the discussion of the principles and
measures embodied in them, making their
fight upon questions foreign to the issues
really before the people, relying for success
upon Misrepresentation, falsehood and dis
satisfaction in the Union ranks. Taking all
these circumstances into consideration, we
think that Governor Low would not only be
justified in Immediately conveniDg the Legis-
lature, but that it is his duty to do So
Every loyal man in the State is anxious that
the amendments should be ratified and the
only method by which it can be accomplish
ed is the calling of an extra session. That
Democratic journals will howl against it on
the ground that such course was in "op-
position to the expressed will of the people. :"
is to be expected but when we reflect that
the matter entered but slightly into the recent
contest. and that therefore the result of the
election is no criterion by which to judge the
temper of the people upon this important
question, an argument of that character
urged by an opposing party, will have but
little weight with the Governor. Further
than this, it should be recollec,ed that the
amendments were passed by Congress i'll
1866; and we maintain that it is the right
and duty of the men who were then and are
now Members of the Legislature of this State,
to decide upon their ratification or rejection,
and that the Legislature elect is not entitled
to voice in the matter. Governor Low
was strongly importuned to call an extra
session of the Legislature last Winter, but
refused, and rightly enough too, on the score
of economy. The following, in regard to
his sentiments expressed at that time, we ex-
tract from recent issue of the Sacramento
Bee:
His Oow's) declarations on this subject
were uniform, and as We learned at the time
amounted to something like this:
81 will call the members together when
ever it Is necessary that these amendments
shall be adopted, but there Is no need of an
extra session now, and it would be un::ise
to incur any unnecessary expense" But"
said some, IF the Democracy carry the next
Legislature" Then" replied the Governor,
Il will call it Immediately after the election -
And this remembrance of the Governor S
position then, is confirmed by the following
declaration made IN San Francisco by J. W.
Owen IN his speech on the I'd instant:
MANY men assert that unless Gorham is
elected the Constitutional Amendments in
this State will be defeated. He knew better
Gov. Low had told him that if Haight should
be elected he (Low) would call an extra
session of the L. gislature at once. and thus
secure their adoption, and he has the courage
to do it,
VIII the Governor now stand by his
promise: Union men are anxiously awaiting
his reply.
IHE Democrats, notwithstanding all their
hilarity., have not much to brag of in the coun
ty. The nigh of election. when the returns be-
gan to come in, one would have thought by
their actions that they had carried every
State in the Union. The greater portion of
the Union County ticket is elected. The
Democrats have only one State Senator,
Sheriff. one Assemblyman and Coroner. We
have Clerk, Treasurer, District Attorney.
Superintendent of Schools, Administrator,
Surveyor. and two Members of Assembly,