The Empire County argus., 1854-03-18
OutINuuVHI


Senate wait until your Senator rcshps! No. sir he may
study navigation if he pease upon the sea- but the SEN
ale viii not wait him. He may talk politics the
line but his vote will not be heard.
Irepeat Mr. President, that true policy state is
to elect earlier other states But sir what have
to with other states In the exercise of her soveregny
state of this Union absolute as the Gar of Russia
Are sovereign powers led by the preeedens of other pow
es! De the precedens of Russia have much effect upon
the Ottoman Porte? Are Austrian precedents at this
time pleasant remincenceto the SWISS Cantons But let
us home. Do any of the states of the Union
follow any thing done in other states unless it suits
their interests? They have different laws in different
states why not all alike! They have laws Nantucket
% the OYSTER catcher Of Key West and the Florida Ree
But sir the precedents of other states having
FORCE upon state any mans mind they safe guides
as rules of action! They nearly all differ among them
selves as the time fixed by law for the election of
tors Some elect in the winter and the spring. and
some in the summer. What to do? We meet once
year, upon the first Monday in January by the constu
on and that is too late for this country We must then
risks of all kinds. have always been taught that it was
the part of wisdom in Legislature to guard against all
accident But, before get through with this
matter of precedent wish to quote ideas of very
hinkcra of great observation to the springs of
human action-and man (whatcver the storms he has
passed through of firm and Gnshakon faith in the Demo-
cratic party aludc to Thomas Hart Benton. Sir this
man. grown grey in the service of his country in the
bate upon the of Potter Robbins used the follow
ING language Gle (Benon) had little regard for prece-
dents no man in fact despised them more than himself
He enG@ h hs haf % ny fB9 & Of m this county, as
more of the time of the senate in discussing a question
which appears idle. The "Ifmes and IranScri' has
styled precedent in this matter, the political common law
of the states.'
This is handsome phrase but does not apply common
law or CUSTOM binds in the absence of express laws But
here the by virtue of complete sovereignty
the subject matter 1t is the power that the
law, and its act in filling vacancy is the express law
ITSELF
But sir, having spoken longer than intended, upon
ters my mind plain, permit to turn for few
thn lnGf hinh oL
breath has been expended
the people should vote for members of the egs-
lare with direct reference to filing any vacancy which
may in the 1t true that the people should
always be consulted by their Representatives upon every
important matter of legislation such has been the case
to this question, far would ever be practicable at
any time Our Legislative government based upon this
superstition and we are each of us acting agents for
constituents to the best Of our judgments and ability.
But sir how cam we improve upon it, by putting this cleo
tion of to me unsuited to state, and which we
would be compelled to alter hereafter.
REPRESENT sir nearly six thousand voting constituents
differing among themselves individual preferences for
the vacancy, occurring.
Suppose they attempt to elect next fall members of tho
Legislature, with direct reference to this question:" how
will they go about it! VIII there not be many factions
in party there that candidates for the va
cancy who may have friends ia the county!
Is this not always the when we have nothing but
NAMES ard MEN to bind parties together! If the county
convention off without storm where is the end of
the bickerng and heart burning during the eleconl |
have lately sir ne0y destroyed by deserters
from his own party where The prize much less than that
of U. S. senator. Would any person elected amid such
confusion be able to represent ALL of the various prefer
ences in his county for different candidates for the
Cancy!
Would he not have to do in the end, as the majority
have done in this nsanceasceran as far as he can the
will of his constituents and then consult with his party as
to the best to take Suppose his county to be unan
imous for the yucncy (no slposable case)
and he comes here and votes for his choice and he finds
shat his candidate has no Chance to be elected where does
he then go! Would he have to wait to hear from his con-
sttuents again! No. he would have exercise his own
best Judgment in the matter, which il precisely what
sttnents send men here for. Sir, have heard of
1flit itian1 pf
would terminate 1t would. sir, in this state distract
and divide the Democratic party.
California is democratic to-day by eleven thousand votes:
and sir do not hesitate in saying that Wing has no
business in representing this state in The of the Uni
of the victories they have achieved and their motto of
''PRINcPrEs not men, which has heretofore kept them
together and linked their name with much of the glory of
Who will deny that it of right belongs to US? Then sir.
it belongs to us why not secure it Are the objections
other motives behind! majority of the Democratic partv
have met in caucus and decided upon this election and
ask of Democrats in this Legislature their snrnort
The constitution sanctions it, and both state policy and
party policy DEMAND But, sir, have heard that gen.
temen have scruples about caucus, and call the dpo
est times Of the Republic great and important MEASURES
have been decided upon in ''caucus'
The war of 1872 decided in caucus." And sir by
the last steamer FROM the Atlantic we have news of u
caucus, OF stnpendoTs importance ''caucus" upon
caucus OF Wings and Democrats at which both of your
California Senators attendeda Caucus the object of
which was to devise to get BIZ through for the Or
Ganization of the Nebraska territory, and also to
the Union that the compromise of 1850 abroga-
ted and annued the provisions Of the Missouri compromise
of 1920. ''caucus the effect of which will be to revive
the agitation of the slavery question: and destroy the effect
OF those great and patriotic measures defended by the no.
bles men in the Union, both north and south A sscau-
Gus III which northern dolgh-faces. led by western
political chGatan, 60 farther than the south desires and
raise fanatic excitement throughout the Union in order
chat the vote of the south may be bad certain way for
the next Presidency Here is of importance
to every lover of the Union, u9 here is caucs' upon
it, Sir Mr. Gwin, certainly il no we're here could not
orposea caucus for the filing of the place Of one senator
from this state, after being in such 'caucus" as that No
sir there is no objection to caucus. 1t is principle
Of every party to caucushey could unite without it,
Now sir, is it not better for the Democratic party as
mere measure of policy for ITSELF to bring this election
and be done with it! DO risk what is more than
men, the ascendency Of principles in this state and in
the Union, by throwing this rebrand into the next eec-
ton! Did party, when it knew it was right hesi-
tate about such thing before! hope sir to see the mi
nouty OF Democrats come back and longer remain
with political enemies, union with whom can ony
breed ruin to the great Democratic party that has nursed
them-put down our principles for time, and assist in
checking the spread of that Republican element which is
the principle glory of tho age in which we live
ARRIVAL OF THE CoLUMBUs.-The u. S. steamer
COlumbus lent Com Rail orrvod ~, T,ooJ.-