Year: 1863

The present Administrssion appears to be


determined to commit, or to attempt TO com.


nit, series of acts so repu-nant to established


law and usage of the country, as to place in
/ jeopardy the best interests of its citizens. Ar


bi,rary measures are the order of the day With


the Washington Dictator The recent order


from his headquarters to this side Of the world


was to the U. S. Marshal to take military
possession Of the New Almaden Quicksilver


Mine. A company OF cavalry was sent from


Benicia to the Mine, to carry out the order.


But before taking possession, the order was
countermaDded. apparently at the urgent soli-
citation of the present Republican nominee for
Governor. who saw bis doom ahead of such an
outrage. if allowed to be perpetrated before
the coming election. But countermandiug the
order does not lessen the guilt in making it,
nor does it do away with the attempt By the
Executive to usurp power cou6ded BY our
laws to the courts. Still it may be stroke
of the higher law " doctrine, preached and
applauded by the Republican party. or per-
force clear case of unaccountable military
necessity" The case of the New Almaden
Mine is still in court has never been finally
decided under the claims of the company who
have held it for eighteen years, aud litigated
for it for twelve years. No mandate ever is
sued from the u S. Supreme Court, under the
reversal OF the decision Of the L. S. District
Court for California to that Court. Neither
has the second title of the Company in posses
sion ever been rejected. They claim under
three distinct titles. First, their own grant
from the Mexican Government to the Mine
and fifty acres of land adjoining second. un-
der the Berreyesa grant, and third, under a
good equitable title from the implied license
given to all miners in California by the u S.
Government Where does the President get
his authority to order forcible ejectmcnt from
any property in our broad land. without the
Intervention of courts? He and his friends
may try to cover up the wrong and outrage OF
Executive intervention in this case, by charg-
ing upon individuals that the order was sur
reptitiously obtained from the President.
Does he not read what he signs? Is he not
lawyer enough to know that military eject
ment from lItigated property is the last resort
after the peaceabe service Of the mandate of
a judicial tribunal has been disregarded. Not
only was the old Company to be elected, but
rumor says that the property is to be given to
an adverse company which has no title, and
both Black and Stanton are believed to be in.
terested.


The Alta says that to these acts it " cannot
apply any name less offensive than outrage"
And not only is the defiance of law
outrageous, but the dishonesty is glaring"


The S. F. Journal says


"Of course. owing to tue pitful pleadings
of Federal officer Low, or some other cause.
the President concludes to bde his time
but is it safe to presume that an attempt once
made TO seIze the mines of California will not
be repeated? We doubt that the miners of
California can be bilked " by trick meant
to deceive"


This attempted dash of arbitrary and mex
cusable power, no matter how obtained, is sutii-
cient to place the miners of California upon
their guard, and not assist to place and power
those who will permit their interests and
hard earnings to be tampered with by bank
rupted party. They have sadded the mare,
and intend to ride her sooner or later.


We took occasion to say last January, that
the policy of the Administration, as indicated
by the report of the Secretary of the Treasury,
would be to sell or appropriate the mineral
lands in certain localities to create a revenue
for its extravagances and swindling contracts,
and then appealed to the people to guard well
this matter This effort now made, is only
lued for the time being. Still keep the Re
publican party in power, and there is no secu-
rity 10 the miners.