The Empire County argus., 1854-02-25
NUMBER Is,


to play concealed hands. This is in ITSELF the
greatest insult that could be offered to you for it
presupposes against you both ignorance and weak
ness, ana 1t is merely man0uvre to cloak your
eyes while lance is flung into your shoulder
1t has been charged against us also, that we
nave endeaVored to dragon the minority into our
views by getting up a caucus: and on this word.
We, as your agents here, perceived bv numerous
indications, that crisis of opinion was anproachinp
among the Democratic members of the LEGISLATURE.
which threatened the most serious consequences TO
our party welfare To check this feeling to con-
ciilate prejudice, to compare views and make COM
promises with liberal spirit, we proposed to cur
colleagues that we should enter together into coun-
Gil, and OF course, be bound by whatever line of
action the majority should in your name adopt
his IS course which has been sanctioned bv
Democratic custom since the days of Jefferson and
i'll addition to that license, it bears the paramount
warrant of being the only mode in which parties
can efficiently protect themselves in cases of unfre-
seen and vital peril This proper measure this
time-honorcd custom" was fatty refused by thirty
eight OF our number, who, after having dictated
usage to California; which, as a sovereign, is not
amcnable to usage" ignored this law of usage
themselves, who were merely agents, and gave rein
TO their instincts by bolting the caucus Their
main prctencc Of opposition was, that the time of
fixing the Senatorial election involved the discus
sion of prjac'ple which did not come within tho
scope Of caucus, and by way Of giving this some
to decide the Priac,ple that caucus had nothing
to 90 with principle at all A consistent conclusion
for such convention and quite agreeable in logic
with the Address which came from it. at its partu-
rition and especially worthy of its derner resort,
that ''maloriJies are sometimes wrong
1t is true. maioritics are sometimes ,rr0nr but
mlnortics must bear in mind, that they are in dan
GER of becoming criminal, according to the law Of
party, in not abiding by their yerdicts-right or
wronr
The rules Of the opposition in this matter is the
way by which small offenders bolt against the law,
but their minority argument in favor of doing as
thcy please against the majority of society, gener-
ally ay0i,5 them very little before an upright jury
who have been in the habit of respecting the laws
et the majority themselves.
/ IN the case before us, the minority had no cause
to protest. much less to rebel The question Of time,
was purely Il caucus question There prin-
cple to be considered that lad been established
by the State and National Constitutions, clenched
by the usage Of the country and the only point for
deberation was the trjag Of day. The caucus
was called, therefore, to deliberate upon an act
purely Of party policy, to settle an cxrelient, and
not to decide principle and those who refused to
recognise Its action and rCspCctts docrccs whether
party organs or party men, deliberately renquishcd
all claims TO democratic favor; all right to future
notice.
One word more before we close as TO the charge
that m election, by us, Of q United States Senator
this winter, will disfranchisc the people of their
rights of expression and to present this properly
We must examine, with more care than we have yet
done, what extent of privilege the people have de-
sired to reserve to themselves on this subject.
By wise arrangement in our plan of govern
ment |, 5. Senators ore in the words of Mr. Mad
son. mot g much the representatives of the people
as the representatives Of the sovereignty Of the
states The people cannot have a direct voice in
thclr election. and therefore properly relinquish the
! whole subject to their representatives. Until fun
damental change Of our Constitution be made, this
must continue to be tho case and but little rcffcc-
ton will show that the rule works with peculiar
" wholesome effect on the example now before us.
Should the Senatorial election, which is due this
winter. be unhap;ly postponed The next campaign,
instead OF being one Of party principle, would be
strictly one of and in the strife of passion and
conending private interests or majority would be
distributed upon The gale and our measures would
be shipwrcckcl. we ask YOU, fellow citizens if such
turbulent canvass this, set on foot and agitated
hy such passions as you already see at work, is an
ordeal as safe and proper the one to which the
Constitution and your own calm iud dgment when
undisturbed by violent appeals, has regularly con-
tGed it. Dangers like this had hecn forcsoen by
Jefferson and to that foresight do we owe his max
i'm, that 'wheneyer the Democratic party forgot its
measures and entered the political field simply for
men, it was no longer party, but z congregation
Of factions,
But one task now remains; and thai Is to rebuko
the interference CT The agents OF the Federal mower
and patronage with our domestic politics, and to
characterize that interference with the terms which
it desorvesa duty that rising indignation warns us
mnSt be done with watch upon our temper
The National Governments rs compared with the
States, is bat subordinate agent in short clerk
appointed by the general partnership to collect and
apply portion Of their rents, and perform such
other tasks the great soyereigntics cannot without
some Inconvenience and contusOn, perform for
themselves 1t is the victorious Democracy which
constitutes central administration, just as the
supreme States constitute Il central power, and we
have a right to express Indignation when that agent
frgcts its subordinate capacity, looscs sight of its
Obligations and purse proud with fees and incomes,
attempts to govern actions, and perform the
part ol master Yet such IS the state of things be-
tween the Administration and the Democracy Of
California; and we feel that it has reached point
which demands from us proper anger, and per-
haps at IL future time u due resentment.
The true Democracy of California like the chiy-
airy Of old, arc without fear and without re-
proach y none have higher standing in the coun-
try, or are more free from bemish. That Democ-
racy cotrbuted with its own heart to constitute
the present administration, by its action in the Bal
tmore Convention and in the electoral college it
cast the four bridal votes Of California in the
direction Lo, the response, The administration
thus complmentcd names for its first officer in Cal
itornia, person who owes his entire prominence
before tie world of politics to the occupancy of his
place. It's agents opposed the victorious Democracy
1,nu, fia ll,o,o