The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-06
FROM CALIFORNIA.
SACRAMENTO, CAL, July 30, l

OACRAMENTO, CAL, my 81, 1900.
To the Editor Of the National Era:
AS the political world, on this Pacific coast,
is now in full motion, thought / would send
you few lines, to let you know where we
stand.
You will remember that last year the Demo
cratic Party in this State divided, substantially
into a Northern and Southern faction-the for
mer under the lead of Mr. Broderick, and the
latter under that of Senator Gwin. These
two bodies, through the efforts of their central
committees, united this spring, in calling a
Convention, to nominate candidates for the
State Offices. This Convention met, and, to the
establishment of everybody, the North prevailed
and succeeded in nominating a ticket most dis
tasteful to the Southern chivalry; but the most
ultra doughface resolutions were adopted, in
hopes of retaining their support. In this, how
ever, there is signal failure. The Chivalry
want Offices, not resolutions. They have en-
joyed almost monopoly of official favors ever
since the organization of the State until they
began to think that they had acquired sort of
divine right to them. But the Tammany Dem
ocrats have as keen relish for Office as they
and thus it is Tammany Us. Chivalry, in the
great race for the spoils. Tammany for once
succeeds, and the result is, their ticket is re-
ceived with GOODNESS by some, and spurned with
contempt by others, constituting very large
body in the party, who are anxiously looking
around to see where they shall GO.
On the other hand, the Wing Party is COM
pletely merged in the Know Nothings. 1t has
no existence as party in this State. There was
considerable Northern feeling prevair, among
them, but it was pretty well kept under by a few
active Southern leaders. But the Wings were
always in hopeless minority, and their leaders
seized upon the new idea of a secret society
with avidity, hoping by its means to obtain a
share of the loaves and fishes. These, united
with many sound Democrats, who have been
compelled to leave their party by its course In
putting forward, as candidates for, office, men
of the most corrupt and immoral character,
have given the secret Order great strength.
They have proclaimed their intention of build
ing up new party, free from the control OF
the political hacks who live by plundering the
State, and who make politics trade. They
have in this way drawn in hundreds, who have
united with them for no other purpose than to
effect political reform of this kind. And such
a reform is truly needed here, for there is not
probably q State in the Union cursed with such
a corrupt band of politicians as the State of
California. They have thus rapidly grown into
a powerful political party, composed mainly of
men who desire good laws and good institutions
established. and sound, true, practical men, to
enforce and establish them. Still, there is a
numerous and active band of politicians, who
are straining every nerve to use the Order for
their own selfish ends; and, in order to insure
success in the coming contest, they are now
negotiating with the disaffected Chivalry Dem
ocrats, to bring them into the support OF tick
ct with which to defeat the Democratic Party.
To accomplish this, they are willing to make
the Order as Southern as they desire, and give
them full share of the offices. But then,
again, this plan does not meet with favor
from very large and influential portion of the
Know Nothings, who are Northern in principle,
and who deem it most ruinous to the Order to
become identified in any way with these cor
rupt factions. What the result of these things
may be, can only be known when their State
Convention meets, which it is understood will
be in about q week.
In the mean time, Governor Foote of Missis-
| sippi, of hanging notoriety, has emerged from
his private position, and has taken the field as