The weekly Placer herald., 1854-02-11
JOHN B. MCGEE, Secretary.
ADJ Rt SIS.
To tie Democrats of the

FELLOW CITIZENS: question has
been sprung upon the Legislature that il
not only calculated to emharrass egi>la-
tive action and retard the important bust
ness of the session, hut also to threaten
seriously the harmony of the Democratic
party of this State. This question is, the
election of a United States Senator at the
present session.
Already caucus has been held, by (it
is clamed) majority of the Democratic
n nemhers of the two hon>es, to consider
the propriety of bringing on the election
Of United States Senator this winter:
and the last portion of Il written call for
q caucus contained the 70 lowing pledge
i hat each person who signed it shou d
abide by and give his support TO such
order as the majority of the emocratr
members of the LEGISLATURE may make.
We, the undersign' d Democratic mem
bers of the Senate and Assembly, differ
from many of our Fellow Democrats on
this question; and the d. ference of opinion
is source of great regret. We there
fore beg leave to sui nit some of the rea
sons which actnare Us in our opposition
to the ecton, and W hich We believe will
be sufficient to sustain ur before you.
We believe the election this winter
would he premature.
The great beauty Of our government is.
that oH political po,cer belongs 10, and
emenates from the people. Hence the Gus
tOm-hence the necessity OF bringing can
didates for political favor directly before
the gaze and scrutiny of the people.
Thus it is in the sell rton of all State,
county and township off er>. l he peo-
pie Judge of the fitness aud qualifications
for office.
In the selection, however, Of United
Here the people elect their Representa-
sives to the Legislature and they elect Il
Senator.
Was it ever intended Ivy the Trainers of
the Constitution of the United States thar
the people should have an expression of
their choice in the selection of u. :.
Senator? Assuredly so To say it would
not, would be a most foul and snrrilegiou>
slnnder upon the memories of the great
men who framed that instrument
If Il Senator were elected three years
in advance of his time, and the question
OF his election was never m0o1ed before
the people, who sent members of the Le.
islature, would this he bringing the >nb
ject before the people for an expression of
their will! II Legislature should elect
Senator two years before a vacancy
could possibly occur, here being annual
sessions,) and the members " no voted for
the eclion had never canvassed the sub
ject before their constituents, would it not
be violation Of the fundamental princi-
al nt ri
upon the rights of the people! We ans
wer, il would.
The grand object Of the builders Of this
magnificent SYSTEM Of government was,
10 bring every election, as nearly as pos
sibe, face 10 face with the people.
Wi the election this winter maintain
this principle? 1t will direct y violate It
Did the members of the present Legsla
ture canvass the subject before the peo-
pie Of the different counties in the last
election campalgn? We honestly believe
II was not discussed in a single county in
the State. Subsequently, however, to the
general election, at special one IN the
county Of San Francisco, n gentleman
was chosen who expressed himself at the
time favorable to- the c ection Of II Senator
this session: subsequently also, at II spe-
ciaI election III CAlaveras county, the gen
tlenan elected expressed hin'se against
the election Of a Senator this winter, both
in the nominating convention and before
the people at large. There has been no
general and emphatic expression of public
will on this question Ivy tie people, and
the effort to make it appear so ony
heigh.pns the outrage now attempted upon
the prerogstives of the people.
What has been the custom Of the dif-
ferent States of the Confederacy on this
question? Our references are not ns ful
and complete as we could wish, but we
find that twenty-five States ot the Union
have prescribed by law, that the Legis
loture last in session preceding the oacancy
shoH hnpH Doarer to elect