Butte record., 1854-02-11
Correspondence.


4 this time, when the ipse dirit of King David
appears to be something more sacred than
law in the minds of his followers, and when,
any one doubling the inspiration of his high
ness, is doomed to personal and political dam
nation; to look over some of the antecedents
of this same potentate, and see if his man
dates are fairly entitled to be deemed infalli-
bic.
The Legislature Of 1851, should have elected
a Senator to fl the vacancy of Mr.. Fremont
whose term would expire on the Sd March Of
that year To perform this duty, the legisla-
ture assembled in joint convention on the 18th
February Journals of 2nd Leg. page ll6D.
The Hon D. C. Broderick was then President
of the Senate
There were several candidates for the Office
of Senator, and for the purpose of canvassing
their several claims, and of deciding upon one
on whom all should unite; caucus was called
for in accordance with Democratic usage We
should suppose that from the present anxiety
of Mr. Broderick and his friends to uphold the
caucus system; from their present dreadtm
denuucation of those who refuse to go into
caucus at tlfs time, and for that same pur-
pose, that Mr.. BrodcriclS would have been the
first one to have joined, and would have been
most earnest in bringing in those over whom
he had influence.
But strange to relate, that gentleman, then
absolutely refused to 90 into caucus, and re-
/ fused to be governed by the action of eau
Gus. And Furthermore, by his Influence over
some of the tools around hin, actually pre-
vented the holding of a caucus. Where then
was the immaculate democracy of that gentle
man now SO loudly proclaimed by his terrified
clique of the party Where then was that
gentle1nan's boasted devotion TO his party ara
| its principles and usages Where then were
the fears of the terrJ5ed clique, that the next
/ legislature might possibly be wing, and eloct
whig Senator? Where then was the fear that
there might be an interregnum in the office of,
Senator, for few days, or even a month on
! two? That gentleman had not then learned
these fears, and for the best reason in the.
| world at least to him, it did not then conduce'
to his own selfish ambitioeso feel them.
4 For the reason that no caucus could be held,
bn account of Mr. Broderick ''5olting' from
jthe usages of the party. all the candidates
were before the convention, and as might be
expected no election was had After one hun
dred and forty two ballotings, without success,
Mr., Moore Of the Assembly, on the 9th Feb,
| moved that the convention adjourn until the
! first day of January next, (1852l and on that
motion Mr. Broderick voted in the affirmative,
l(Journal 81, page 1287). And yet the term
Iof Mr. Fremont would expire in just four
Hays after that adjournment, and there would
be an interregnum in the Office of Senator for,
Zen months.
| Mr.. Broderick was not candidate for U. SS
| Sat that time. As he appears to be a stan
! ding candidate, we cannot imagine why he did
not them commence Perhaps his speculations
ih water lots had not then been sufficiently
extensive to enable him to enter into a Sena-
| t3rial contest, or perhaps his arrangements
with Palmer. Cook g. Clique were not smfi-
ciently matured. But he could be ready the
next year, and consequently the election must
be put off or he would have no chance. And
bS his ''dolting" from the usages of his party,
| aHd his refusing to be governed by those usa-
g9s, the election was put off.
THE Legislature of 1852 must elect U s.
Senator or the Governor must appoint one.
Btt the arrangements with Palmer, Cooke &
Clique had been fully completed, aud Mr..
Bfoderick was candidate, armed and equip
pF in a manner peculiar to himself He could
ncF submit to the usages of the party and go
intp caucus, and as might be expected, when
Aosed to man like Mr.. Weller, on fair
iela, got most beautifully beaten
TAe tactics of putting off the election be-
yond}he proper time having failed, they must
be changed, and the election must now be
brought on before the proper time
''The\State may be wing next year, and to
be safewe must elect now,' cry the terrified
Then the legislature consisted of As members
and it required % to elect Was it not more
probable that the legislature of 81 would be
whig than the legislature of 80. The legs-
lature Of 80 would have upon the new appor-
tionment an increase Of forty-t two members in
the two houses, and it would require forty six
to elect instead Of twenty-five. The whole
Federal patronage was in the hands Of the
Wings. The party lines were not closely
drawn, except in the larger towns Of the State,