Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-08-08

the people OF that State to regulate
their own domestic concerns, he was
still found with the administration.
The result was their report was adopt
ed and the people Of Arkansas adopted
their new constitution by 10000 ma
jority. They elected conservative
State officers by q majority ranging
from 5000 to 10000, aud the officers
took their places peaceably. Though
the country previously vas brought to
the verge of civil war, yet they were
allowed to settle their affairs them
selves, the officers took their seats and
today property and life are safe, and
the state Is As prosperous as our own
glorious State of California, and yet in
all its wrong dOings the Administra-
tioniwas backed by Mr.. Houghton. In
this action he did not represent the
sentiment of the people who elected
him. In his speech here he failed to
| remember his action on the Civil
| Rights bill, and did not mention it.
As Democrat with the majority of the
party, l accept the Constitution with
| all its amendments. We did not be-
| lieve in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments,b but accept them in good
faith, as much as the first article TO
| that instrument. That 1t was good
policy to pas. the Civil Rights bill, 1
will not now discuss. Mr.. Cessna's
| amendment was violation of the law
of the land, compelling the children,
white and black 10 mix in the public
schools, and affixing penalty of one
thousand dollars to any violation of 1t
| by white or black. The penalty WIS
! SO great that even the very wealthy
dared not oppose it, with it's option OF
fine OR imprisonment. Mr.. Houghton
supported it, but the Administ ration
could not get votes enough to make it
| law; yet 1t was not the fault of our
member. In doing this he did not
represent the VIII te or colored citizens
of this Districr, the bill being an in-
suit and an injury to the colOred and
white. One other thing: 1t was found
that the Adminisi ration had not
money enough to run the machine
until the next Congress met, and it
was proposed to increase the tax on
distilled liquors. believe in taxing
luxuries rather than necessaries, but
when Mr.. Houghton voted for this in
creased tax, he overlooked the yine-
growers, wine makers aud brandy
makers of Southern California. The
time is coming when Southern Cali
fOrnia will make more wine and
brandy than France, Italy and Ger
many, and will make it as good This
interest should be encouraged, aud
when the question came up to increase
the tax on distilled liquors, it was his
duty to present the case of Southern
California. He should have tried to
except Southern California, but in
stead voted to increase the tax from 65
cents to 81 per gallon. When he did
it he struck severe blow against
Southern California. Had he paid
more attention to our interests and
less to railroad matters, he would
have been of more service.
There is one fixed principle of this
government-that is the right of petit
ton. The people have the right to petit
tion, have theirpetition respected, con-
sidered and presented. ! charge Mr..
Houghton with having refused the
right of peti ion to 5000 of his con-
stituents-n0t Of Los Angeles, but of
San Benito, Tulare, Fresno and ad-
joining sections. He denied that he
had refused any petition from this
county, but he cannot deny refus-
ing petition from the counties /
have Just .panass,,;;, He He refused
the people, and Mr.. Luttrell, repre-
senting anothe District presented it.
The Railroad Company offered all the
people asked. A Conference Commit
tee was desired, and owing to the late
ness of the session the desired action
could not be taken, and the case
stands now as it did before.
He blocked the building of the Pa
cific Railroad in this direction from
SOledad south. But for his action it
would have been built with the same
energy as from Caliente to San Fer
nandO. In these matters he did not
represent the people who sent him to
Congress. In his speech here he for
got his action on the Force bill or
Bayonet bill as it was called, by which
the military power Of the United
States should govern several States.
BY this act the writ of habeas corpus
was suspended and the people could
he tried by the military power. The
Executive had the power to appoint
inspectors of elections, who were to
count the vote in the Congressional
districts. This Was the most outrage
Gus feature Of the bill, and in this
mat ter Mr.. Houghton was found on
the side of the Administrator.
Fortunately, Notwithstanding Re.
publican majority, the attempt failed.
This was the first step In G ,esarism,
the first step OF Grant to become dcta-
tor. 1t was sent out as feeler to see
what the people would stand. On this
bill he voted on the 25th of February,
and when motion to strike out the
Objectionable features was made Mr.
HOughtOn voted against striking
them out. When he voted for the
Force bill he did not represent the
people of this district.
But now come to the most difficult
aud mixed question - 1t is the matter
of railroads The San Francisco But
letin-the mother of the Independent
party, which never told lie. but al
ways the truth, which elected Haight
ami then heat him with BoOth-says
that Mr.. II. belonged to the Central
Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads
for years. have heard myself quot
ed as railroad candidate. brand
the statement as a lie out of whole
cloth. defy anyone to show an iota
of truth in such a statement. stand
unpledged, except as Democrat. l
have given no pledge except to the
! Democratic party. l have acted as
attorney for the Southern Pacific
Railroad in the San Joaquin valley.
have also defended men for murder
and horse stealing, but trust no one
will brand me as murderer and
thief, owing to that connection.
| haua merely acted aS attorney for the