The Empire County argus., 1854-08-05
Adarcss Oe slAs Democrats a.o.e Central cosll-
lsi1ttec.

Minority DcnQcrAUc ct3'D CCGVcnlljl the mo-
cratic State Central Committee deem il necessary
to lay few facts before the Democratic electors Of
California.
The late State CONVENTION 4; Sacramento was as
usual called to. order by the Chairman Of the state
Central Committee. After the chairman had de-
clarod himself ready to hear nominations made for
temporary officers, the first delegate be recognized
as addressing him. was Mr.. Nerneur, Of Santa
Clara Mr. Vermeule nominated as temporary
President, MIR. MCGOWAN, OF San Francisco. The
Chairman of the Central Committee put the nonli-
nation of Mr.. Verneule to the Convention. and de-
olared it carried In the meantime Mr. O'Aieara
who claimed to be delegate from San Francisco
exclaimed, in loud tone and without addressing
the Chairman of the Committee, 81 nominate John
McDougal" While tic Chairman of the State
Committee was putting ,he vote on Mr.. Tcrmcu'es
nomination, somebody pat the vote on 1jr Ohiear s.
and declared il carried at about the same time the
Chairman Of the Central Committee declared Mr..
MCGOWAN temporary President Of the State Con-
vention. Mr.. McDougal aud Glr. Mc(1owan reach
ed the stand At the same moment.
Here then, were apparently two temporary Or
ganzations of the Democratic State Convention
Which Of these was the Legitimate organization!
On this question, to great extent, turns the decls-
ion rs to who constituted the true and legitimate
State Convention at Sacramento.
According to the laws aud usages OF the party,
not only in this State but elsewhere the Chairman
cal the Convention to order. II is true the Minor
itv Democratic State Convention declares in its Adj
dress such action ''unwarrantable" but this same
body recognizes the right in positive resolution it
passed authorizing the Chairman Of the Central
Committee hereafter to call the State Convention to
order The usage had been observed previously;
nnd any one who doubts it will find by referring to
the proceedings of the Beneca Convention Of 1858.
that it was called to order in the same manner as
the Sacramento Convention Of 1854
If the Chairman of the Central Committee was
the proper person to call the Convention to order all
nominations should have been made by addressing
him, in accordance with parliamentary usage: and,
Of course all nominations were by him to be put
to the State Convention. In accordance with these
rules, Mr.. Mctfowan was properly the temporary
President Of the Convention, and Mr.. McDougal
was merely put forward by factious delegates for
the purpose of creating confusion and disoTganiza-
ton.
In addition to these facts, it may here be stated
that Mr. McDougal who thus factioysy put
forward to contest the rights OF MIR. McGowan
declared in open Convention that he voted against
John Bigler, the Democratic nominee for Governor
at the last general election at time like the
present, when the party is threatened with disor
ganization and the authority of conventions and
caucuses is openly repudiated by many who style
themselves Democrats, it highly improper to
attempt to thrust Mr.. MoDouga into the chair
Such an act was virtually reputation Of conven-
tions and as 1t was attempted by those who refused
tn abide the action Of Democratic caucus of the
last Legislature, it was antamount to declaration
that the supporters of Mr. hlcDougal would not
abide the action even Of the State Convention.
Here, then were law, usage, custom, propriety
and party policy all agreeing in the fact that A!r.
MoGowan was temporary President Of the STATE
Convention All, however were rot sufficient to
divert the McUougal delegates from thcir factions
echemos and after disturbing and attempting to
Al 4l,, tGr-,
retired and affected an organization Of their own
In its Address the Minority Democratic State
Convention attempts to prove that large majority
Of uncontested delegates assisted in its proceedings
For this purpose they make tabular exhibit re-
plete with uniairness and mstHtcnents.
In the first place they put down eleven votes
from Placer county, and twenty from San Francisco
as among the contested seats. But it is notorious
that the Placer delegates who attended at Musical
lisll-where this Convention met--had not tue
least show Of right to seats in the State Convention
IL is likewise notorious that the contests in San
Francisco were trumped M for the mere purpose of
excluding the delegates Of lie Democracy from var
trick is transparent for any one ct all ac-
Quaned with the facts, to bc in the least deceived
by it.
But is not only in placing among the contested
seats those which were really not contcsted-or Of
which the contest Was mere fiction and farce
counties that the Minority Address mi,aads the
public mind. 1t is stated in the table contained in
the Address that Caiaveras was entitled to fifteen
votes and Amaaor to none.
Now the old county Of Calaycras was cnti-
tied to fifteen votes tho existing county Of Calave-
entitled to only ten. Delegates had been
elected from Amador by the Democracy Of that
county. and they were entitled to at Least five
the Musical Hall delegates have virtually admit
ted the rights of Amador in their table separating
the representation of Butte and Flumas formerly
constituting county. They practically. how
over, deny the Auador Democracy the right to
be represented and place the power to appoint dele
gates for that portion Of the party in the D2mocra
cy of Calayeras. Ii this be Democratic, we do not
understand the principles practices Of party.
If then we make the corrections justice demands,
the convention presided over by MIR. MCGOWAN had
not only law usage and propriety on its side, but
also majority of the delegates properly elected to
the State Convention From the statement Of the
Minority Address it appears there were present at
Sacramento two hundred and ffy-four delegates.
OF these proper corrections being made, there
were two hundred and twelve uncontcstel the
delegations from Alameda, san Luis Obispo Fl
Dorado and Sierra, being those having show Of
justice in their contests
II is truo the Minority Address does not put tho
Sierra delegation among those contested. But it is
notorious that the two sets Of delegates elected
sumed to settle their own contest, and to take away
from the Convention the right to decide the matter