The Shasta courier., 1854-03-18
THE SHASTA COURIER.
Speech Of Mr.. sPr.xse sn the senatorial
0ue1tiOa.

Speech Of Mr.. SPraxse ea the Senatorial
Question.
In the Senate on the 10th inst, on resolution
to reconsider the vote by which the bill liking
the time for the election of Senator to Congress,
and the whole subject matter, was indefinitely
postponed, the following discussion occurred:
Mr. SrRAeCE said that by the hberality OF a
majority on that floor, they were allowed the
privilege of discussing this important question
Tor one hour. This was liberality distilled. He
voted consistently for the postponement OF the
bill. He should also vote against reconsider
alton. He was opposed to the bill He consul
ted with his Democratic friends, and he was op-
posed to throwing this firebrand into the present
Legislature. He cautioned the Senator from
Nevada not to do so, but it was OF no avail. Is
not that Senator responsible for all the time that
has been wasted on the subject, aud what does
he propose now! He proposes to kick his bill
out of the Senate, and have the question put as
it was before. He wishes to kick out his own
banfling, and he thinks by dong so he will
strangle every other bantling of the same kind
but warn the senator that he is mistaken. that
he can postpone nothing but his own bill, for
there is nothing else before the Senate. He pro-
posed to review the history OF this agitation. He
argued that under the Constitution States have
a sovereign right to elect senators, when, where,
and in what manner they please, and even this
is conceded in the minority address, though at
the same time they contend that custom through
out the States has regulated the matter. He
held that they could not require that this State,
as a sovereign State, should adopt particular
custom that would restrict that power. He quo
ted the section of the Constitution which divides
senators into different classes, and also section
49, article A. of the Constitution of California, viz:
"In all elections by the Legislature, the MEM
bers shall vote viue voce, and the vote shall be
entered on the Journal"
All they had in their organic law in reference
to senatorial elections, was to be found at page
344 of the Compiled Statutes. That law fixes
the manner only. This was the position OF at
fairs at the meeting of the present Legislature.
Before the assembling OF the Legislature, he
deemed ii impolitic to proceed to the election
this winter but at the same time he was OF Opi-
non that if the Legislature chose to exercise
that power no power on earth could disturb 1t.
He then proceeded to make some remarks on
the present aspect of the Democratic party He
regarded this as a question simply of expedi-
ency and party policy, because the party having
majority in both branches will be held respon-
sible for the disposal of the question. They will
have to shoulder the responsibility, no matter
whether it be defeated by the Wings or not
Though they had majority of three-hfths on
this floor, and an equal majority in the other
house, yet we are unable to carry out measure
which a majority Of the party have determined
to be expedient. The Democratic party will
have 10 bear the whole responsibility, and justly.
He also regarded himself as a partisan, and from
the hour he associated himself with the Demo-
cratic party, he felt himself bound to obey the
usages and customs of the party. These usages
and customs were essential to the organization
of the party, and it is useless for gentlemen to
say that they are Democrats, and at the same
time refuse to obey these usages. AS well might
a man say that he was christian, aud deny his
Saviour. The moment man refuses to conform
to those usages he should regard him as traitor
and no Democrat He had been taught in his
school of Democracy, that it was the duty of the
minority to yield to the will of the majority, and
regarding this simply question of party po-
licy, he agreed to go into consultation on the
subject. He was astonshed to hear a senator on
this floor declare that he refused to go into that
caucus because only one side of the question
would be taken up there. He (Mr. Sprague)
believed that it was at the suggestion Of gentle
men holding the same opinions as he did previ
ous to the meeting of the legislature gentlemen
who thought the senator from Yuba Mr.
Bryan) did, that this corral, or caucus, or tin
pan. or whatever else they pleased to call it,
was first proposed. Mr.. Sprague proceeded 10
make. some remarks upon the proceedings of the
Wings, when
MIR. CRABB SdtQ Adt TIC VHIS poIty WcCc uOt
in the habit of making automatons of their men.
Mr.. TUrrLE inquired-did the Whig party go
into caucus alone on this subjectl
Mr. CRABB-They did, sir, but with no assu-
rance that they were to be bound by the will of
the majority.A
Another Of the members inquired-did not the
Wings go into caucus with the boiling Demo-
Gratis on this question?
Mr.. CRABB.-No, sir.
.ua~rv-H,xu dooo II hopp hat tho
two are now found voting side by side, if they
had not caucussed on the question?
Nix. CRABB-I will answer the question. In
the first place, the premises are not correctly
stated for there is a Wing Senator on this floor
voting with those in favor Of the election.
Ma. LENT-Who is it?
Mr. CRABB-Mr. Kurtz. l will now answer
principle, and are not bound to men, as are a
portion Of the Democratic party in this Senate.
Mr.. SpRAGUE continued his argument and
said That if the Boilers could justify the course
they were pursuing, they were we Come to that
justification. 1t is said that this is disfran.
chisement of the people, as if the election of u
s. Senator proceeded directly from the people,
The construction to be put on this position u.s.
that the people Of each district should vote for
some man with special reference to the elec-
ton of particular person fer the s. Senator
He would ask if that was the position they
wished to occupy. If it was correct, either he
or they had greatly mistaken the principles OF
the Democratic party. If such were the case,
they would narrow down the elections to ques
tion of men; and besides, by the difference of
sentiment among men, no senator could ever be
elected for this delegation would go for this
man. and that for another. If the Wing party
do not 60 into caucus, they do worse. They sign
solemn pledges to act in a particular way.
MR. CRABB-The secret circular, to which al
lusion was made was only a private communi-
cation from certain Wings to certain Wing edi-
tors. They arrived at the conclusion on that
document, not by caucus, but spontaneously.
and they signed it. but it contained no pledges.
That was the sum and substance OF the secret |
.ircular. and the principles contained in that he
vas nroud Of 1t was marked confidential"
mt that word was omitted In the published doc