Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-01-29
Sacramento correspondence.
SACRAMENTO, Janusay, 21th, 1870

SAcRANESTo Janusay, 9th, 1870.
EDIroR JOURNAL The principal business done
in the Legislature during the past week has
been the passage of relief bills and talk. few
more attaches appointed, of course, but that
having become q portion of the general business
of the body, not much has been thought of it.
When the amount of salaries paid out Of the
treasury is made public, however if it ever is,
imagine that considerable wonder will be ex-
pressed in regard to the number of clerks, por-
tiers, pages, etc. required to constitute the Leg
islature.
The Senate has not done much, from the fact
that not much is to do. A Senator told me last
evening that the Assembly were so backward in
the transaction of their business that it left the
Senate no choice but to hold the short sessions
they are now doing.
Betge's bill for the amendment of the Sunday
law passed the Senate. This amendment per-
mits the opening of theatres and other places of
amusement on Sunday, with the proviso that
they do not sell liquors. 1t practically repeals
the Sunday law. No rational man can for mo-
ment advance the idea that liquors will not be
dispensed at these places. The operation of liq-
uor laws in various Eastern States shows con-
clusively that no law, however stringent, can
prevent people from obtaining liquor whenever
| they desire it, The proprietors OF such places
of amusement may not sell their liquors, but they
can and will arrange their prices of admission so
as to include the peculiarly Californian necess-
ity-drinks. This is forgone certainty. The
Legislature might just as well repeal the law at
once. By taking this roundabout way they will
acquire just as much odium as though they des-
troyed the old Sunday act entirely
A resolution passed the Assembly on Friday
last which reminds me forcibly of the celebrated
congra tulatory dispatch of the " Governor elect
to the Captain-General of Cuba. 1 refer to the
one ''approving the action of Tennessee in re-
jicting the fifteenth amendment" which was an
unnecessary and entirely uncalled for piece OF
buncombe. The Legislature had better attend
to its own legitimate business and work for the
welfare of California, and let Tennessee and all
other States take care Of their own affairs-un-
less, indeed, their Legislature are of no higher
order of talent than our Assembly, in which
case little outside help would be of great ben
eht.
The representative from yonr county presented
a petition, on Monday, from his constituents,
praying for the repeal of the registry law. An
entirely unnecessary proceeding on the part of
the Democrats of Trinity, as the Legislature is
u
votes which this law has of late deprived them
of and for the benefit of your Democratic read
ers will say that the law is almost sure to be
repealed, during the present session, and proba-
bly, will be, soon Offices are created for the
more particular friends of the present law max
ers.
The Governors message on the fifteenth
amendment came up in the House on Tuesday,
and was argued by Finney, of San Mateo, on the
Rem ali Henley
Ryan, of San Francisco, on the part of the De-
mocracy. Finney's speech was the most able
and argumentatiye one that has been delivered
in the Assembly this session, and his assertions
and explanations of the amendment and its con-
stitutiOnality were so conclusive that no reply
was handy ut the time, and the question was
postponed until Tuesday next to give the oppos-
ers of the amendment opportunity to hatch
up some reply. Ryan (Dem.) bombarded his
own camp by disagreeing with the Governors
vagaries regarding the amendment, and declar-
ing that it constitutional and must be bowed
to if ratified. His speech was a noble one, and
one might look upon him as a true representa-
tive of the Southern Chivalry we read SO much
of but so seldom see.
An act to expunge from the journal the judge
ment of the Senate in the Hardy impeachment
trial was made the special order for Wednesday
next.
To-day the Governors message transmitting
the proposed amendment came up in the Senate
as the special order, having been postponed
from Friday last to give other Senators OPP
portunity TO reply to the arguments advanced by
Senator Lewis, of Tehama, and Gwin, of CAL
veras. At ten minutes past one the resolution
rejecting the proposed amendment was put upon
its passage, and Senator Tweed, of Placer, rose
to reply to the Senators above named. In a fine
actually brilliant speech of upwards of two hours
duration, he thoroughly annhiliated the two
honorable gentlemen, and held up to the scorn
and derision it deserves, the mass of sophistries
put forth by the Executive in the message. 1t
was brilliant effort, and the President was sew
eral times obliged to que the rising symptoms
of applause. Senator Pendegast, of Napa, was
the next speaker, and pushed through the old
Democratic hackneyed stump speech, about the
constitution, and Jefferson knowing more than
anybody else, and not wanting anything better
than the country as it was under Democratic
rule-of course he don't 1t was the same old
rehash. Pendegast worked himself into
foam, and his long uncouth anatomy swayed to
and fro like /" long slim sapling in gale of
wind He talked until he exhausted both him.
self and the Senate when he gave place to Tom
kins, of Almeda, who sputterd awhile, advising
the Democracy what to do and assuring them
that if they did as he wished, why he Tomkns.
of Alameda, was with them otherwise, he
didn't say where he could be found if wanted
After Tomkins bad eased himself little the SEN
ate made the message the special order for Tues
day next, and adjourned. The gallery was
crowded during the debate, while one could
hardly force his way through the lobby, and
large number of ladies occupied seats on the
floor of the Senate.
WANTS OF THs DEMoCRATIc PARTY. - Brick
Pomeroy gives the following as the status of the
Democratic party;
The Democratic party of the United States is