Year: 1861

THE ExPUNGING SCHEME.


We see by the reports of the proceedings


of the Assembly, published in the Sacra-


mcnto Union, that honorable body of Sol


ons has passed the resolution to haul the


legislative record of the proceedings Of


their predecessors before them and proceed


to rectify the things according 10 the mod


ern notion. 1t will afford considerable


pleasure to a large body of partizans
throughout the State to learn that favor


lite scheme is in fair way of being execu-


ted, if indeed all Californians who are anx-


ious for the good name of their Sta.e are


not delighted that the disgraceful part Of


our history is to be blotted out and remem-


bered no more forever. The reformer will


witness with a smile of joy the wonderful


progress of the race of legislators in wis


dom patriotism and a sense of shame-wis-


dom, to know that the Constitution and


common sense gives to the Legislature OF
to-day the right to rectify the written and
true record Of their predecessors, patriotism
to leave nothing in the written history OF
their country which shall not rebound to
her credit, and sense of shame TO blush
for the acts of their predecessors, if not for
their own.


But there are, we fear, some difficulties still
ahead which will come near thwarting the
patriotic, well disposed individuals who have
assumed the virtue and power to pass upon
the right of their predecessors to keep rec
ord of their own proceedings as they really
transpir-d. The Senate is yet to confirm the
chance the Senate shall have progressed to
such point as to concur with the other
branch of the Legislature, there is still
another obstacle to be overcome. The
Secretary of State is made the custodian of
the Journals and is prohibited by law from
allowing them to pass cut of his hands or
the hands of his deputy on any pretense
whatever, and he is under penal bonds of
ten thousand dollars to do his duty accord
ing to the law. Suppose the Senate shall
concur with the Assembly. How will the
two houses obtain possession of the Jour
mails of 1859 in order to deface or blacken
any portion of them, if the Secretary of
State shall plead his rights and duties and
refuse to surrender them? Can the legis-
lature obtain them by resolution? Can
resolution of The Legislature of 1861 abro-
gate law of the Legislature and Execu-
tive of 1851 There should be no stumb-
lingblock in the way of the car of pro-
gress, and We would enjoin it upon some
wise one in the Assembly to proceed with
all haste to introduce bill to change the
law concerning the Office of Secretary of
State, so that the Legislature can obtain
possession of the documents in that Office
and blot and scratch them at will, and as
the wisdom of the present and future shall
deem necessary and proper.


1t has been matter of deep regret that
the Legislatures of California have left
such record of themselves as they have.
Here and there at frequent intervals stand
the sad memorials, tomb-stones recording
the shame, disgrace and political death of
infatuated law-givers who, in attempting to
';wing out" have met with an Icarian fall
and ignobly perished The monuments
stand all along the pathway of the Legis
lator. They should warn the aspiring So
Ion to beware; not excite in him the spirit
of desecratiou. He should leave the tomb
stone of his enemy without adding another
stain upon it. Let him be mindful of his
own history and take warning from his
predecessors fate.