Butte record., 1856-07-19
California DELEGATION.

We notice with feelings of regret that the
California delegation to the National Con
vention, saw proper to disregard the positive
aud almost unanimous instructions of the
State Convention from which they received
their authority as delegates The doctrine
of instruction is one that has long been rec
ognized by the Democracy, and the extraor-
binary conduct Of our delegates in violating
those instructions, ard throwing the vote OF
California against Buchanan, has not only
occasioned much surprise, but will meet
with the universal regret and disaprrobation
of the democracy of the State. Buchanan
was the choice of the people of California
and the delegates were instructed to cast
the vote of the State for him, and to use all
honorable means to secure his nomination
This they failed to do.
The State Journal learns by private let
ters that the delegation held a caucus and
passed resolution that majority should
cast the vote in the Convention. What right
had "the majority" to violate their instruc-
tions3 They were sent there to represent
the State, and not to trade Off the wishes Of
the people to secure their own advancement.
If they could not comply with the instruc-
tions of the convention, they should have
declined serving in the capacity Of ofdolegates.
We hope they may he able to explain the
matter in manner satisfactory TO them
selves; but cannot see how they can do 50
Had their candidate been successful, the
delegation would have been all right, and
they could have laughed at the instructions
of the people. But the man, to oppose whom
they violated the positive instructions Of the
convention, has received the nomination, and
hence the necessity for explanation. TIE
excuse given by Col. Inge, that Pennsylvania
opposed Calfornia's portion of the platform,
is entirely without weight, because the res
olution was only opposed by the Peunsylva-
MIA delegation because Of its introduction
cut of order. This Col must have known.
Besides the caucus Of the delegates, and the
resolution adopted by them to permit a ma
jority to cast the vote of the delegation, ex-
hibits a previous design in the delegtion to
90 contrary to their instructions.
A letter from the Hon. ?. c Rust, to the
Editor of the State Journal, says that he,
Mr.. Dawley, and Mr.. Hill Of Sonoma, were
entrapped by the majority resolution, and
that they will issue an address to the democ
racy on the subject. Poor fellows! En-
trapped" were they3 They shonld never
own it, if they rcall! were entrapped, be-
cause the instructions were given them for
the purpose of keeping them out Of traps,
and it appears to us that the instructions
should have been more binding than the
majority resolution. An acknowledgement
that they were ''entrapped," is equal to an
admission that they had undertaken duty
which they were not capable Of performing
But, pshaw All the excuses that can be
put forth by the delegation, and all the ad-
dresses that they can publish, will not sue
ceed in convincing single intelligent man
that the delegation were actuated by de-
sire to vote in accordance with their instruc
tons. Should they succeed in setting them
selves right before Epeople of California, we
shall take great pleasure in mentioning the
& Foo