Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-14
A LIVING PETITION.
Four Hundred and Fifty Colusaites Pay
Their Reepects to the Governor.

, ana lftv men from COluSa county. Inc
cars were packed completely full, scores Of
the men having to stand up during the en-
tire trip.
Arriving at the depot, they marched in a
body two abreast to the State Capitol, max
| ing procession over four blocks in length
They were mostly farmers, an intelligent
| looking body of men, and attracted much
attention along the line of march. Every
one was curious to know who they were
and what was their mission, and hundreds
| followed them TO the Capitol.
Arriving at the Capitol they marched
directly to the Governors office. Senator
Boggs marched IN at the head of the eel.
umn. and addressing the Executive, said
Governor, here is body of men from
Colusa county that have called to pay their
respects. They are mostly from the north.
ern portion of Colusa, that part of which il
| is proposed to make the county of Glenn
| The Governor replied: am glad to
meet them. Invite Them in.
Senator Boggs-'s This room will admit
but a small portion of the delegation
They fill the corridors of the Capitol from
the door of your Office TO the main entrance
OF the building"
| The delegation then pressed into the
Office and some two hundred, by standing
as close as possible. stood in the main office
and snte-room. Rev. r. G. Handsough,
an aged and gray-headed divine of Ger
mantown, was asked by the Governor to
| take the latter's chair, and the two dis
cussed the great benefit to result from the
| copious dowppour of rain, while the dele
CATION crowded into the room.
Assemblyman Campbell, of Colusa, stood
at the right of the Governor and intro.
duced to the latter some of the more prom
inent members of the delegation.
APPEALING FOR A VETO.
Richard Bayne. after quiet had been re.
stored, said they had not come to speak
about Colusa, but simply to empha-
size the fact that a vast msiority of that
county were opposed to division. A ma.
jority of those present were resident tax
payers of the northern portion Of the
county, that portion which it was proposed
to detach and form into a new county.
They represented what was an overwhelm-
ing majority against the division, and
they came to personally enter their protest
The county of Colusa, except in
and around the town of Willows,
is almost unanimous against the division.
Our Senator and our Representative have
opposed the bill calling for the division,
with all their ability, and this people have
flooded the Legislature with their protests.
We asked that the question of division
should be submitted to the people, but this
request was denied. Our Senator and As
semblyman were elected pledged on that
issue. We claim that it is wrong and IN
American that we are not permitted to
have anything to say, when we are the
parties most interested. Why members OF
the Legislature from all other portions OF
the State express so much interest in our
affairs we are at a loss to know. There
is no public interest involved; nc
other section of the State is interested, and
the arguments of those sent here to repre-
sent US in the halls of legislation are ig-
nored. If the question was left to our own
people to decide by vote, it would be
| overwhelmingly defeated. 1t would be 8
violation of the Constitution to leave the
old county without an organization. The
Constitution provides that no appointed
| commission can be intrusted with munich
| pal matters. They could not make town.
ships from precincts and appoint Boards o.
Election. This whole matter is contrary
| to our form of government it cannot be
done without an expression and the con-
sent of the people most concerned. We
come here in body to ask his Excellency
to interpose his right TO protect US in oul
| rights. The delegation consists, not of idle
men, but farmers, merchants, mechanic:
ard laborers, representative citizens, anG
we desire you to examine them in any way
you Think best.
| TIE GOVERNORS ADDRESS.
| Governor Waterman-This is what yor
might call living petition. Applause
| don't have to read long list of names
but can see in your upturned faces tina
you are in earnest. [Applause.l feel as
you do. You remember our old time
troubles grew out of taxation without rep
resentation. l feel that you should be
treated fairly. [Cheersl If they had
granted you the privilege of settling the
matter at the ballot-box | should not inter.
fere. l have lived in California for many
years. and l desire for every section the
best and most economical government pos
sible. My home is in San BernsrdinC
county, the biggest county in the United
States, not so rich in agriculture. bu
Astounding in mineral wealth, and | tel
you l would fight before they should evel
take off section. loud and prolonged
cheersl In this matter, whichever way
decide, shall hurt someone's feelings.
few days ago | had to appoint two judge
for southern county. There were ten ap
plicants. all men learned in the legal pro
fession and fully competent to dscharg,
the duties of the Office. However, l coule
appoint only two. The result was tina
eight of them think l showed very pool
Judgment indeed, in my selections What
ever | do, however l may decide this ques
ton you bring before me, i will do my duty
Applause l am farmer and mine
myself. I've been there, and am the equa
TO the best of you. | can turn the soil
prune the vine or swing the pick, and
think that mining is my best hold. NJ,
sympathies are with my people, and
believe the majority should rule. lap
plause.] And that division should b
left TO vote of the people. [ProlongeC
applause and cheers
Senator Boggs-They have called, Gov
erno,, to show themselves and let you Sc
the character of men who are opposed t
having their rights usurped.
Governor Waterman-This is what cal
living petition.
Senator Boggs-They are mostly SINAI
! farmers and taxpayers, men OF families
the bone and sinew of Colusa county, an,
they have called to-day to pay their re:
poets to the Governor of the State, who ha
it in his power to right their wrongs.
The Governor-Have you asked the Les
islature to submit this question of div
sion 10 voter
Senator Boggs-Yes, sir; aud our reque:
was voted down. Everything that W
asked that was fair, proper and right We
voted down by men who never were in ID
county, aud who personally know nothin
of our varied interests or requirements.
Assemblyman Campbell-Governor, W
first asked that it be submitted to vote
the people and let a two-third vote decid
| it. That was voted down. We then O
fered to submit it to a majority vote, an
even that was denied US.
Senator Boggs-We ask for no pledge
Governor. but simply for you to do as 20
think best. This delegation knows the
have been wronged, and their presence t,
day is simply TO give emphasis to the
: protest.
The GOVERNOR guess you folks are
earnest.
Assemblyman Campbell--Of the fy
Supervisors of the county, four are with u
8 One of the delegates. whose name e
capped the reporter, said that three-fourtf
e of those present were from the propose
/. county. This was not free train, bl
every man paid his own fare. 1t was
matter that interested them all. 1t was
S question of usurping their rights as fire.
] men, which went home and found a r
$ sponsiye echo in every patriotic hear
Some of these delegates rode miles yeste
day through the pelting lain to make til
train and many of them SWAN Stony cree