The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-10-11
WASHINGTON, d. c..
Correspondence of tbe Gta.
POLITICAL AFFAIRS IN CALIFOR-
NIA-THE PEOPLES PARTY.
SACRAMENTO. Sept. 4, 1855.

SACRAMENTO, Sept. 4, 1855.
To the Editor Of the National Era:
Since last wrote you, the State Know Moth
ing Convention met in this city, and adjourned.
after nominating a full State ticket. The re-
suit is, that very large portion of the Order
are disguised with the nominations, and ii is
now very doubtful whether they will be able to
elect their ticket.
Ever since we became State, we have been
troubled with two things: /. The Southern
Chivalry have been continually working to Sc
cure power to themselves, and break down
every man with the least faint of free princi-
pies, and in this they have been but too sue
cessful 2. We have had a horde of office
seekers and public plunderers, who have con-
troled the old Wing and Democratic parties,
so that none but their confederates had the
least hope of obtaining Office. The Chivalry
and the ofhce-seekers have generally worked
together, and thus succeeded. The first i'm
portant check they received was in the refusal
10 elect DIR. Gwin u. S. Senator.
Some of the best men in our State Joined the
Secret Order, expecting they would be able to
keep 1T clear of these political traders but the
proceedings of the State Convention show that
the South had everything their own way. In
fact, it seemed to be made up Of the very worst
politicians from the Wing and Democratic par
ties. Men who had been repudiated by these
old parties, for their political prohigacy, were
here found working into each others hands, and
controlling the Convention. Men of the worst
private as well as public characters were Sc
lected to fill the highest offices. The moral
and conscientious portion of the Order feel in
suited by some of the nominations, and hun
dreds are leaving it. These men are not salts
fed with the Democratic ticket; and in order
TO do something to arrest this tendency to put
forward immoral men for office, a Convention
was called, and met in this city on the 22d
instant and nominated new and Independent
candidates for Supreme Judges, they being the
most Objectionable candidates on the other
tickets. We had no time to make platform,
nor did We deem it necessary; but our Eastern
friends can rest assured that we have at last
an organization in California free from South
ern 6re-eaters and who stand ready to coope-
rate with the Republican party. We have laid
the foundation, and we think that the time has
arrived when the friends of Freedom can act
with some effect.
The political papers of this State, with very
few exceptions, are most bitter against us. But
the religious papers are bold and earnest in ad-
vocating Anti-Slavery truth, and they are exert
ing great influence. The organization of the
"People's Party" has spread CONSERVATION
through the ranks of the politicians. They
can haruiy pele'e IL possible thaI any man Cal
he found bold enough to speak up for "mo-
rality, religion, and temperance" in politics.
But the truth is, that Notwithstanding the char
acter our State has acquired abroad, our popu-
latiOn Is made up of many of the most moral
and intelligent class and the bloody riots and
ARRAYS which so disgrace US, confined to a
small class; who seem bent on killing each
other of. The thinking portion of the people
have lost all party feeling, and they generally
stand ready to do anything to break up this
spirit of blood and rowdyisn which the South
ern Chivalry have imported into the State. l
can assure you, there is hope yet for California
Our election takes place tomorrow, and the
result is waited for with deep anxiety. We in
tend to have organization so far perfected
by the next political campaign, that we can
cast at least respectable vote for the Repub-
hcan candidates. BRYANT