Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-16
CALIFORNIA POLITICS.
SAN FRANolsco, Nov. 80, 1858,

DAN rhANClSCO, NOO. oO, 1000.
To TIE Editor of the National Era:
The political wants and condition of CaIifof-
MIA are somewhat peculiar, and think not I'M
derstood by the people Of the Atlantic States.
As Congress at its approaching session will be
called upon to act on matters pertaining to
our interests ! deem it important that that
body as well as the people, be advised Of our
true condition; and know OF no paper 30 well
adapted to communion with those whose dis
position it is and whose duty it will be to act
ia our behalf as the National Era
Hitherto the politics Of California have been
an enigma As far ms parties we're concerned,
most Of the leaders seem to have had no other
object than to render them subservent to self
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Neither party presented a
well-defined system of political economy. Their
platforms consisted OF general resolutions,
meaning nothing IL was o common remark
Of candidates on tho stump, that they had
nothing to contend about Both parties were,
of course, in favor of California interests OF
developing the resources Of the State and
Of " high prices for labor But by what means
these desirable ends were to DO attained, nei-
ther party ventured to suggest. These were only
to be found in the bills presented to the Legis-
lature. These were the work of one or q few
individuals, and he who could devise the most
ingenious scheme of plumber had the most fol-
lowers. These he forced in both parties. Hence,
neither party was responsible, nor could be
held answcrable to the people. Among the
measures devised for developing the resources
of the State, and clevating the dignity Of labor
by high prices. were bill to monopolizc the
school lands, one to dispose of the overAowed
lands by the leagne or larger quantity, and
two, lone by a Wing, the other by a Democrat,
to introduce Coolie labor ut four to five dollars
per month.
Another project was the revision OF the
Constitution by Convention. The end to be
attained by a Convention was, the division Of
the State and the exclusion from the new Con-
stitution Of the clause which prohibits the
granting Of exclusive privileges to corporate
bodies, and that which prohibits Slavery. The
exclusion of the former would facilitate the
monopoly ofthe mineral lands of water courses
and water power in the mineral and lumber
districts and of plank, turnpike, and railroads
to those districts. The exclusion of the latter
was intended, perhaps s to promote the dignity
of laboru It will be seen that these several
measures constitute an ingenious, though most
miscellaneous, system Of political economy. They
all look to the same end-monopoly. The
thought can hardly fail to- occur, that they
originated with men accustomed to contem-
plate the operations Of labor on large planta-
tions yet to unity in the system, or co-opera-
ton among its authors they were introduced
by men Of all parties and from all sections Of
tho Union.
By judicious interminglng with both
parties the monopolists managed for three
years to prevent any declaration of principles,
to control the nominations and consequently
o1I. IL k1a,, ohav,n Eo.,
w adumbrated in the Governors message
A single newspaper in the mountains in
reviewing that message, exposed the scheme
more fully. The conspirators alarmed to find
themselves 30 we'll understood, abandoned their
project for that session. Until after the next
election, Won could scarcely find man who
was in favor of dividing the State, yet at that
same election majority OF monopolists were
returned to the Legislature. In the session of
1852, the four bills above mentioned were in.
troduced. A venal press suffered them to pass
through the routine Of Legislation, without once
giving the alarm. With ono or two excep
TONS the press was like the prophets Of a Ger
tain period" dumb dogs, that would not
bark" The people Of Sacramento, where the
Legislature was in session, saw what was in
progress They held meeting, and denounced
the obnoxious measures. "A Senator from the
mountains wrote to his constituents and was
very soon responded TO by series of resolutions,
condemning in strong terms the same measures
But the School Land bill had passed The
Coolie bill had passed the House. and suffi-
cient number had been counted for it in the
Senate The resolutions of these two meetings.
changed votes enough in the Senate to defeat,
not only that bill, but the other branches Of
the same scheme. The work accomplished,
the danger over, the press not only became
loud, but foul mouthed, in it's denunciation of
Co0lieism
True Democrats felt the necessity of dee.
laration Of principles At their next State
Convention they sought to obtain one; but
the monopolists in their own ranks were too
strong. They next sought denuncia.ion Of
Coolieyism but even this was not allowed
them. AS compromise, they obtained rcso.
luton condemnihg "Tingleys Coolie bill'
Tngley being Wing, they could condemn
his bill without condemning the system. Moth
ing was said against Convention on the div
sion Of the State, and il was agreed that can.
didates should not be Intercepted on the SUBJ
ject. Such was the power Of the monopolists
in the Democratic party in the summer Of
1852, and again they sent majority to the
Legislature.
Inc programme " tnt lnpuOpOiisbs Tor sos
contained nothing but tho Tple Land bill, and
the Convention bill. The former was intro
duced early in the session. IL was the same,
in substance, Oh that Of the previous session.
OF oil tho reporters in the Legislature, one
only yentured to condemn it. He gave sy-
nopsis of it when il was first reported, and
subsequently showed its object and operation
That was sufficient The bill was permitted
to sleep the sleep Of death. All that re-
NAMED Of their system was included in the
Convention bill, and could be obtained only
through that measure and upon this all the
energies Of the monopolists were concentrated
They had q majority, but to carry that meas.
ore required two.thrds vote Of each House.
In casting about for recruits they saw tho Wing
party PROSTATE, and its leaders ready TO unto
with any clique that could raise 1t to power.
A secret circular, signed by every Wing mem
Der Of the Legislature, except ono, was sent to
the Wing editors throughout the State. A
new organization, under tho name OF the Cali