Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/661

Rh "Gentlemen of the jury," said he. "I appear before you as my own counsel, a man of like passions and habiliaments with you, supported by the righteousness of my cause, and by an implicit confidence in your sense of justice. My opponent has summoned to his aid a lawyer, attired in a Shangha coat, and pitted him against an humble but honest miner. Gentlemen of the jury, is this proper; is it right? I have always been led to believe that the honest and intelligent miners of Calaveras would resist to the death the introduction of Shangha coats, and narrow-legged pantaloons. What then do I see ? What is my surprise to behold in this community of hard-working, bearded, and woolen-shirted men, fastened upon us like a black sheep, the thing they call a gentleman; a learned man, a lawyer, a shyster, one who | reeds broils, who lives by his wits, a shaved man, a soft-handed man; a monkey arrayed in patent-leather boots, white shirt, stand up collar, and black coat and pants. Fellow citizens we want no gentlemen or lawyers here. We are honest miners, hard-working miners, and capable of taking care of our own affairs, of making our own laws, of conducting our own trials, and of doing our own hanging. Are there among us any cut-throats, this man is their friend; are there here any thieves, or murderers, or claim -jumpers, this person will be to them as a brother—for a consideration. He it is who befriends the wicked, who assists those who will not work, those who live like himself by their wits. And as for my opponent, think you any man with a just cause would employ such assistance? No my fellow-citizens; such a course impeaches your intelligence, and brands him a renegade, an outlaw, and places him without the pale of the rights of humanity. I don't mean to appeal to your prejudices, but I can and will prove my prior possession to the claim in question."

Plaintiff. "That's a lie!"