Mountain Democrat

California Legislature—Ninth Session.

Monday, Jan. 4, 1858.

SENATE.—At 12 o'clock M. the Senate was called to order by Mr. Evans, Secretary to the Senate during the last session. Lieut. Gov. Anderson in the chair.

Upon a call of the roll, the following Senators answered to their names:

Messrs. Bell, Chase, Godwin, Johnson of Sacramento, Johnson, of El Dorado, Merritt, Malony. Soule, Sullivan, Taliaferro, Anderson, Baker, Berry, Burch, Benton, Coulter, Dickenson, Carter, Grant, Gregory, Griffith, Hamm, Hart, Holden, Ketchum, Lewis, Pacheco, Phelps, Rodgers, Thom and Ferguson, of Sacramento.

The following were the absentees:

Messrs. Carpenter, Ferguson, of Sierra, Mesick, and Hart.

The following Senators came forward and were sworn, Judge Barbour, of Yuba, administering the oath of office:

Messrs. Thom, Pacheco, Gregory; Holden, Rodgers, Griffith, Ferguson, of Sacramento, Coulter, Carter, Allen, Baker, Anderson, Hamm, Dickenson. Ketchum, Burch, Burton, Grant and Phelps.

Mr. Merritt offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

Resolved, That the Senate rules of the last Senate be adopted by this Senate until further orders and that a committee of three be appointed by the President of the Senate to report suitable rules for the Government of this body.

The President appointed as such committee. Messers. Merritt. Burton and Melony.

ASSEMBLY.—The House was called to order by the Clerk of the last Session. Mr. Campbell; and upon motion, Harvey Lee, of El Dorado, was invited to take the chair.

On mounting the Speaker's platform, he said:

Gentlemen of the Assembly—I return you my thanks for the honor conferred on me in calling me to preside over you during your organization

The meeting of the Legislature of this State is always an important event, and one fraught with no little interest to the people; and, I presume, there is no time in our history when that period was looked forward to with greater interest than the present. The principles of the Democratic party triumphed in the recent election, and whatever of good or of bad may flow from our action, this winter, will stand to the credit or injury of that party. At the head of our Government the people have placed a man of ripe years, of matured judgment, and of great experience in the science of government. If his past history is to be a foreshadowing of his future course, then, indeed, may we hope that a brighter day is dawning on our young State. His talents, his honesty of purpose and his untiring energy in the Senate of the United States in behalf of the best interests of this State, has won for him a reputation of no ordinary character and placed him first in the hearts of our people. No man in this State has ever gone into office with the wreath of approbation clustering around his brow. and bidding him God speed in his mission. to the extent of that which now clings to John B. Weller. In every portion of our State the best wishes of the people are with him.

But, gentlemen, with all these advantages, he can do but little unless he is supported and sustained by the Legislative branch of our government. On us devolves the important duty of shaping the policy of the government. Unwise legislation on our part, will place it beyond his power to meet with the expectations of the people. On the other hand, if we are prudent, cautious and industrious, we may hope to attain for our State a degree of prosperity hitherto unknown to our people.

On all sides of us, are the most encouraging signs. The various departments of industry are making rapid strides to rival those of the elder States of this confederacy. Agriculture and horticulture are rapidly advancing to perfection—manufactures are fast springing into existence—great improvements are being made in mining, and our commerce is extending its white winged messengers to the various shores of the civilized world. There is no other State in this Union where labor is so happily diversified—each branch supporting and sustaining the others—and this may be said to be the great secret of a people's prosperity.

California is opening for herself and the nation a bright future. All that can stimulate the hardy and industrious, or allure the wise and the learned, are here. Here are new scenes, new fields of enterprise hitherto unknown to our people, and, over all, a climate congenial to health and a vigorous constitution. We have a soil yielding to the husbandman with a bounty hitherto unknown: inexhaustible fields of gold-bearing earth, filling the coffers not only of men but of nations; and a people taken from the more intelligent classes of the nations of the earth,—all contributing to stimulate in the bosom of our people the brightest hopes for the future. If we will but perform our trust with fidelity and energy, we need have but little fears from the other branches of the Government. I again return you my thanks.