The Sierra citizen., 1854-08-19
Whig and Democratic Meeting.

ACCORDING to announcement the Wings
and Democrats of Downieville assembled
at Craycrofts Saloon last Sunday eve
ming, to listen to discussion of the merits
of both political parties by the respective
candidates for congressional honors,
Major Bowie and General Denver. The
meeting was organized in caucus, during
the day, by the appointment of Col. Taylor
(whig) and Ii. B. Cossitt (dem. presi-
dents. At the appointed hour, eight
o'clock, the two presidents took the stand,
Mr.. Cossitt rising and announcing the
object Of the meeting briefly, and then in
Producing the first speaker, Hon. }. w.
Denver, who opened the debate in an easy
off-hand style, but as he warmed up with
the subject, he threw more life into his
gestures, soon collecting large crowd,
who listened with the utmost interest
throughout the meeting. After defining
the Democratic platform, and stating, re-
gretfully, the cause Of the breach in the
Democratic ranks, which he hoped would
be repaired before election day, he touched
upon the points which separated the two
great political parties-a tariff for revenue
and protective tariff-the exploded o..
S. Bank system, and the present sub-treas-
ury also internal improvements, declar-
ing in favor Of the Pacific Railroad; and
gave his views on the Nebraska bill. He
then read extracts from the Georgia Sen
tinel, charging the Wing party as body
with abolitionism, and from the Albany
Register, declaring great proportion OF
the Wings as opposed to the Nebraska
Bill; closing his speech of forty minutes
duration, by saying, as there were several
gentlemen to succeed him, it had been
agreed upon that he should not occupy
the stand more than half an hour.
Col. Taylor then rose aud introduced
to the meeting Maj. G. W. Bowie, who
spoke for an hour an half in most grace
full and eloquent manner, arguing all the
points adduced by his opponent, who had
just preceded him, and demonstrating Ito
some) that the pet doctrines Of politicians
q few years ago had no bearing or appli-
cability on the California politics of the
present day. The Pacific Railroad he
avowed himself an uncompromising friend
of-he was proud of it, as being in strict
accordance with whig policy, not only in
California but in the Atlantic States;
whereas his opponents only advocated it
from motives of convenience and selfish
ness; and that if elected he would devote
his whole energy to the consummation of
this cherished object of every Californian.
He promised, Also, in case of election, to
use his utmost endeavors to procure the
passage of bill granting homestead to
every American citizen. The present in
debtedness of the State of California he
attributed to maladministration on the
part of the present governmental rulers and
their predecessors and said, though he did
not expect the people to cast aside alto
gether their political preferences, yet he
hoped at the ensuing election they would
r
of California paramount to all others
men in whose promises reliance conld be
placed; and that all he and his party de-
sired was trial, to prove that what they
promised would be performed. He advo-
Gated reduction of salaries of State Of
GERS, and expressed himself in favor of va (
rious other methods Of curtailins the ex'