The Empire County argus., 1854-01-28
Coloma: saturday, January 2s, 1854.
SENATORIAL ELECTION.

successors to act upon. So far we have taken no
part through our columns, relative to the matter,
although our procliyities were well known to be fa-
vorable to that measure; preferring to be specta-
tors of the melee, rather than mix in it but the
time for inaction has passed and we readily throw
what little influence possess into the scale ofthe
parties wishing to dispose, immediately of the
question.
All must admit the necessity of disposing of a
question so likely to cause discord in the party at
the earliest practical period as it is fact attcstcd
by all political experience that where breach is
made in q party by keeping open any question
which cxcites partisanship personal strife tends
to the sundering of harmonious action and the
breaking of those ties by which they were united.
The Senatorial question is one of these, and from
the peculiar phases which at times assumes, it be-
hooves the Legislature to remove it, soon as pos
sibe, from the arena of politics, by selecting the
person who is to fill the place
AS regards the expediency and policy of this
measure, so far this county is concerned, are
entirely willing TO trust to the wisdom and discre
ton of immediate representatives believing, as
we do that they know the views and wishes of
their constituents, and arc fully capat.c and quail
iicd for the performance Of all the duties which
may come before them.
There is another thing which should have weight
with the Legislature-and its Importance can be
readily seen by all who are not wilfully blind. The
election this winter will remove the principal agent
of discord which otherwise will enter into the po-
litcal campaign next fall, and save the party from
falling into the error they have in some of
the other states--that of division and defeat
Were it for no other purpose than to heal the al
ready widening breach in the ranks of our party it
would be good and sufficient for entering an
election this winter, and thus quiet the angry spir-
it which at times betrays itself in various quar-
ters.
1t may be urged that the question has not been
submitted to the people, and that they have right
to be consulted on all matters pertaining to them,
&c To this we would reply the democratic mass
of this country are well aware of the RESPONSE
blity which rests upon hcm and select their agents
with view to this end, always promising that their
representatives are men--not toolshencc they are
always prepared to act on all subjects of interest to
their constituents and the State It is Z poor
plimen to the people of our State to say they
not prepared through their representatives to Sc
lcct Senator. 1t is an insult to members, and
through them to the democratic party to insinuatc
that they have not authority to act for the people
in any and all matters that may come before them.
The representatives from county We're selected in
open convention, with full delegation from the va
rious precincts, and We're chosen from the people,
being of them and with them, and from the votes
they received at the polls it is presumable that the
people-the laboring--thc thinking people fully
ratified the choice of the convention. How then
can it be said that they are not competent to decide
from their ignorance of the wants of their constitu-
ents. upon the proper person to bcstow Senatorial
honors.
Let us lock upon this matter dispassionately. 1t
sproposed to remove of the principal incentives
to discord by electng U. S. Senator; but inter-
ested individuals and presses endcayor to stave it
off by telling us that our representatives have not
sufficient discretion to make the selection This
is really cool and insulting. Then again we are
told if the act is consummaed the party will it
ought to, be broke asuhdcr, and the opposite party
succeed to power. Would this be so? Experience
tells us that the longer you suffer an evil the great
er it grows SO will it be in this case The dis
sensions which have been growing up in the demo-
cratic party if the be not removed, will con-
tinue to widen until it will be rent asunder in con-
sequence of the acts of those very men who now
50 Jealous to stavc off the election.
But will the election cause disruption of the
party! There is no principle involved in it save
cxpediency and question of time, there being no
constitutional provision Legislative enactment to
prevent the act. In our opinion policy the exigcn-
cy OF the case, and the interests of the democratic
party require that this question should be settled
speedily. We arc told this will break up the
party. viii it do so? The democratic party are
composed of men of nerye-hard working indlstri-
Gus men who have reflected on all the duties de-
volving upon and from their associations they arc
as capable Of judging of what they want, and as
trustworthy and honest as those who are endeayor-
ing to rule them, by widening the schism already
existing in their ranks.
1t must be recollected that this State sprung into
existence full grown without infancy or childhood
and that her population is composed of the choicest
spirits OF the older states men who know and ap-
preciate political and moral integrity--men learned
in the sciences and deep read in the lore of the lit
erarary and scientific world whose integrity has
never been questioned. These men may, some of
them, wear the garb of the miner or mechanic vet
they men nevertheless who have the interests of
the State at heart far better than those who are
striving to rule ruin the party for their own ad-
yancement even though they NAV be officers under