The Shasta courier., 1871-04-08

trayagauce practiced under the Ha1Sht
administration. Read and Reflect.
The ueople are we'll aware that the last
Legislature was elected upon the most
solemn pledges of retrenchment and econ.
omy, and are also equally as well aware
that it proved to be the most extravagant
and corrupt body ever convened in the
Stste Official salaries were raised inde-
scriminately and multitude of new and
needless Offices we're created to give place
to the political hunkies who go to swell
Haight's "Bread and Butter Brigade. -
To show the lamentable condition to which
the Iiaight administration has brought
our State, we will introduce no less wit
ness than Hon. james A. johnson, who,
in the course of a speech delivered in
San Francisco, April lst, said:
This is one cf the most expensive and
extravagant State Government, if not the
most extravagant in the whole Union; and
in all the mutations Of party there has been
no successful attempt made to put stop
to these wasteful expenditures The mul-
tiplication of offices, both State and Nation
al is one of the great evils of the day
The trainers of our Constitution were
practical and, | may say wise men, They
provided in the organic law that all officers
of the State should be elected by the peo-
pie, with the exception of the power to ap-
point Secretary Of State which, was
conferred upon the Governor; and at an
early day, by an amendment OF the Consti-
tuition. that power was taken from him.
The fundamental law deprived the Gov
ernor of all official patronage Has the
fundamental law in this respect been faith
fully adhered to? Twill leave you to al swer
that question after l have stated few
facts. The population of the tate does
not greatly exceed half million of people,
and Of this city. one hundred and fifty
thousand and to the number of finhabitant.
we have more Office holder, than any civil
lized country on the face of the globe
Take this city, for example, with its aImy
of State officials, municipal officials * x
their name is legion they jostle you at
every street corner; they face you at every
street crossing.
The Constitution gave the Governor
the power, to appoint one officer only-the
Secretary of State. He could not even
have private secretary and pay him out
of the State Treasury What is his pat
ronage now? 1t is imperial. Well may
the Governors official staff be called the
Bread and Butter Brigade, for we can
count its numbers by hundreds, if not by
thousands Those oifyou who had the Gu
riosity to observe the movements about
the Governors headquarters in this city,
after the adjournment Of the Legislature
nearly year ago, can testify that his
levees were imperial. The Emperor Ma
Ioleon in the heyday of his greatness and
glory was not surrounded by more obsequi
Gus courtiers, and no wonder! for no Gov
ernor ever had so many Offices to fill
Offices rich in honor, and more particularly
in profit, with perhaps the exception OF the
newly reconstructed Government in the
State of Mississippi, where the Governor
appoints all the officers, from Constable to
Chief Justice; from Major Generals down
to Leutenauts, fiom Commissioners OF
various degrees down to tide walters, he
has it mainly in his own hands. | have
been told that S180,000 are paid each
year to State and municipal officials in this
city. Look at our taxes, State and Ma
tional. I believe l can say with safety
that we are the most heavily taxed people
on the earth Is there no remedy for these
evils I think there is. Reduce the ex-
penses of the State Government; reduce
the number of the Sta employees; take
the patronage from the Governor and give
it to the people-leave him the power to
appoint only his private secretary, and let
him be paid out of the Governors own
pocket Fill every Office oy popular elec
tion where it is possible. and where not
possible, let it be done by the Legislature
And now III regard to the "Heathen
Chinee.' | would resort to every consti-
tutional means TO keep these, our "elder
brothers" and especially our elder sisters,
all constitutional means to get clear Of
those now in the State Like locusts, they
impoverish aud do not enrich the State.
In conclusion, repeat, let the people
and their representatives fill the Offices
and the Governor only the vacancies, and
we will soon be enabled to reduce the
number of officers, and briug down salaries;
and very speedily we shall have prosper
Gus and happy community, with poor
Government and rich people.
The high position heretofore conferred