Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-05-24
MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE:

Mr.. TIKHIN's PosITION.-We find tie
following letter from Hon. w. j. Tinnin
In the San Francisco Chronicle of May
20:
To the Editor of the Chronicle-SIR: ]
fully concur in the idea that the friends
of the new Constitution should see that
that instrument was put in form by those
favorable to it. We cannot expect that
those who charged that it contained every
known evil TO join in the proper construc-
tion; in fact they would belle themselves
did they not enforce double and treble tax
alton under it, and also, through it, try to
destroy the public school system, ms they
all charged during the canvass. All we
ask is fair trial, and under it the new
Constitution will take care Of itself. All
my labors will be to have the instrument
put in force and handled by its friends,
Tor unfriendly legislation, or uEfriendly
State or judicial administration might
entirely destroy and msrepresent all its
virtues. w. J. TINNJN.
Weavervllle, Trinity Co., May 18Th.
Mr.. Tinnin in the past has been n re-
preventative man of Trinity county. lie
served three times in the Legislature.
and received an almost unanimous vote
for delegate to the Constitutional Conven-
tion. His opinions are, therefore public
property TO certain extent, especially
when he places them in journal Of wide
circulation. IL will be seen by the above
that he places himself square on the re-
cord as being in favor Of prescribing all
who voted against the new constitution.
Whether he proposes TO do this as
Democrat. or as member of the new
constitution party does not clearly appear
from the letter, though from the fact that
the letter is printed in the same columns
with number Of others of like import,
under the general head OF "The New
Party" it is evident that the Chronicle
places him in its ranks. But in any
event we d:aw the following conclusions
from the letter:
That the new Constitution must be
put in form by those favorable to IT,
That unless the instrument is handled
by its Fl iiends," the Others may "enforce
double and treble taxation under it,"
That its opponents would "try to dos.
troy the public school system" And
that all his " labors will be to have the
instrument put in force and handled by
its friends, for unfriendly legislation, or
unfrendly State or judicial administra,
tion might entirely destroy and misrep>
resent its virtues"
First, as to putting it in form by lis
friends, who are its friends ? Every man
who takes an office under the Constitu.
ton will take an oath TO support the in.
strument. Ifa legislator, to legislate so
ms to give effect to its provisions. If
judicial officer, to construe it, as 10 its in
tent and meaning; if MS an executive Of
iicer, to execute the laws passed in pur-
tuance of its provisions. Mr.. Tinnin
certainly will not say that of the promi-
nent men of his own party in this county;
men who have aided him in all his DO
litical aspirations, such for instance, as
DIR. Montague, or Messrs. Barn ickel,
Vollmers, Griffin, Irwin, Williams, Cliff
ford, Squire Brown, Alex Love, Smiley,
Bates, Guptill, and scores Of others in
the county, equally reliable both as citi.
zens and as Democrats, are not to be
trusted in conducting the affairs of the
State, simply because they voted against
the new constitution. Yet such is the only
construction tnat can be placed upon his
language.
So double and treble taxation can be
enforced, after all But who are most
likely to enforce il, the men VINO own
capital and pay taxes, or the crowd that
clamored for change in order to 'cnch'
capital Every business interest in the
State except the agricultural, opposed the
adoption. Men do not generally care to
punish themselves for the sake of punish
ing others.
The change in the school system was
ttreng point against the instru ment, for
men with children to educate generally
Oeileve that the constitution has already
destroyed the efficiency of our school sys-
TEN. The objections were chiefly found
ed on Section 7 Of the Educational Arti>
Gle, which Mr.. Tinnin, in his speech at
this Place did not attempt to defend.
Ii Mr.. Tinnin is correct in the last con-
clusion we have drawn, then we mast
keep none but friends of the new consti-
autlon" in the legislative, executive and
judicial branches of the State governs
:nent. until the present generation is
gathered to its fathers. The fight to get
friends of the instrument elected must
be renewed tho next election, and the
next, and so on ud infnitum. Some one
has said "oh, that mine enemy would
write a book" Wiley j., you had bet
ter net have written that letter.
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