Year: 1866

our brethren of the press maintain most
rigid reticiency on tn important subject of
calling an extra session of the Legislature
this Winter. Although it must be generally
known that efforts have been, and are being
made to induce Governor Low to ACT in the
subjects of the gravest Importance to the
people of California will be brought before
the Legislature, should it be convened. the
press seems to entirely ignore the question.
and with the exception of the Stockton Inde-
pendent and the CHRONICLE. not paper has
expressed an opinion on the subject. The
the Constitution were first proposed. armly
advocated calling an extra session for the
purpose of ratifying them, has undergone
change of sentiment, and. in recent leader,
says:


The pretext for an extra session is the rat
ification of the Constitutional Amendment !;
the real motive Is something else. 1t will cost
the State not less than two hundred or two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars if the
Legislature meets this Winter. for we may be
sure that there will be no adjournment until
the lapse of the one hundred and twenty pay
days to which the constitution limits a ses-
sion. Does the pretext justify this expendi-
ture, considering the present financial condi-
tion of the State: We think not.


We do not coincide with the views of the
Independent. There is no necessity that the
II c.,1, l. Co. ~tIo
full period of one hundred and twenty days
in order to transact the business which the
interests of the people of this State impera-
lively demand, and we have sufficient faith
in their honesty and integrity, to believe that
they would not. unnecessarily. protract the
session, should the Governor see fit to call
very economical. and opposes an extra ses-
sion for the reason that it would cost the
State "two hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars" While we do not believe that the ex-
pense of convening the Legislature would
amount to one half that sum, we should be
in favor Of it if we knew it would cost double
the amount. In comparison to the momen-
tous issues which would be decided in man.
ner satisfactory to the loyal masses which
compose the Union party. the expenditure
incident to an extra session, be it what it
may, is too insignificant to be worthy of
moments consideration. The ratification of
the Amendments to the Constitution propos-
ed by Congress during its last session, is, in
our opinion, alone sufficient to justify the
Governor in convening the Legislature. Be-
fore these Amendments can be incorporated
into the Constitution, and become part of
our fundamental law, they must be ratified
by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the
States. 1t requires the sanction of every one
of the originally free States. in addition to
two of the seeded ones, in order to make up
the requisite number-twenty-sev viii
the loyal State of California be backward in
giving her support to this important measure:
We hope not. The Union party has now
the two o-thirds majority. in both branches of
our Legislature, necessary TO secure the pas
sage of the Amendments; Is there any GER
tainty that the elections next Fall will not
change the political character of the Assem-
blys Is there not possibility, if not prob
ability. that the Democrats may succeed in
electing a sufficient number of Representa-
tives to defeat the adoption of the Amend
mentss Stranger circumstances have occur
red. The gain of very few votes in addi-
ton to those they now possess, will place the
power in their hands to prevent the ratifca-
ton of the Amendments. Ought we to take
the chancess We think not. Situated at
distance from the stage upon which the most
bloody drama in the history of the world has
been recently enacted. we were, comparative
ly speaking. mere spectators of the strife. In
reality we know nothing of the horrors of
warfare. We escaped all of its ravaging,
desolating visitations. None of our towns
and cities were burned and plundered, and
our citizens were not forced to fly from their
homes and take refuge in holes and caves in
the mountains. We even avoided the draft.
While our brethren in the Atlantic States
were nobly struggling to preserve our nation
al existence, and enriching hundreds of hard
fought battle-felds with their blood, we were
sitting quietly by our comfortable firesides.
watching the progress of events. and reading
the intelligence from the seat of war. The
contest is ended. Freedom is triumphant.
In order to secure forever the fruits of their
hard-esrned victory, the battle-scarred vet
Grams of the war for the preservation of the
Union appeal to us to assist them in amend
ing the Constitution of the United States, SO
that all may enjoy the blessings of liberty
and equality. What reply will the richest
State in the Union make to their request ;
Is ir possible their answer will be: 1--WE
cannot afford to aid you's We think not.
California is too loyal. and her sons too pat
riotic to ever allow such niggardly economy
to interfere with the performance of the duty
they owe to their country. In addition to
the ratification of the Amendments, there
are severel other measures which require i'm
mediate legislative action. The Specific
Contract Act should be repealed, and the
national currency become our circulating
medium. Eastern capital would then flow
in upon us. develop our mines. build up man.
ufacturies, and give life and vigor to all
branches of industry. Rates of interest
would be so reduced that men could borrow W
money with which to transact a legitimate
business. without the certainty of bankruptcy
staring them in the face. Although the two
per cent. Shylocks of San Francisco may net
relish the change. the interests Of the people
demand, and should obtain, its repeal. Will
the Governor regard the wishes of his con-
stituents, and call an extra session this Win
ter?