The Placer herald., 1856-12-27
From the Alta CalJomia, Dee. 20.
Senator Weller.

AS journalists you exercise the right to
criticise the acts of public men. In your re-
cent remarks on Colonel Weller, prompted
by your ideas of public good, YOU do not
place, in my opinion, that Senator fairly be-
fore his people.
You admit that the othodoxy of his faith,
as Democrat, gives him, to quote some of
your own words, "a position, as a candidate
for reelection, sufficiently commanding to
place him among the first class aspirants."
1t is in order that the people of the State,
properly informed as to his deserts, may de-
eide whether he be entitled to reelection
that these remarks are made in reply to
yours.
Col. Weller, on the 18th of March, 1852,
took his seat in the Senate of the United
States. At the opening Of its session, in
consequence of the struggle of contending
factions here we were but partially represen-
ted. lie arrived, therefore, too late to OBJ
tain proper position in the various standing
committees. AT that time, the then Wing
administration viewed the interests of Cali
tornia with dlsdain. 1t was a dsappoint-
ment to them, that Mr.. Collier, or Mr. But
tier King, had not been elected as our Sen
ator. If reference to the neutral journals of
that epoch be made, it will be found that
they not only complained of the neglect Of
the interests of the State by the General
Government, but that they also murmured
against the local employment among us of
high paid federal officers, really citizens of
other States. The grievance was, that we
were treated as a conquered province. At
the commencement of his Senatorial career,
Col. Weller was practised parliamentary
tactican-tor he had served several terms in
Congress, as one of the representatives of
Ohio. He was also well known for the
frankness and energy of his character, and
for his legal ability and eloquence
lie met in the Senate Chamber many of
his old friends of the Lower House, he
met, also, many whose recent stamping
grounds had been the battle fields of Mexico
warm welcome therefore awaited him.
The year 1852 bears evidence of the indus
try of our Senator in every question requir-
ing his attention. Our State Justly claimed
the restoration of the "Ci.il Fund; y for it
had been eNacted from our people in defiance
of the organic law Of the land. That claim
he warmly urged
The condition Of the insane, not only in
our State, but in many of our older ones,
rendered necessary on the part of the Gen
eral Government some action for their relief.
A liberal grant of the public domain dedica-
ted to this object, was urged by our Senator.
In 1852, we all bitterly com planned of our
heavy losses, owing to the absence of
Branch Mint in California. Our claims on
this matter were repeatedly pressed upon
the attention of the then Wing Administra-
ton, by the Senator whom you now reproach
as being "indolent, listless and regardless of
his reputation as a statesman
In the session of 1851 and '52, nearly
half of which had elapsed before Senator
Weller took his seat, the record shows that
he performed as much hard work as the
most eNacting constituency could except from
any public servant
The importance of various foreign questions
connected with the japanese expedition
the acquisition of the Sandwich Islands,
and the settlement Of the difficulties with
Mexico, were treated by Senator Weller with
the ability which you admit he possesses, and
perhaps it was on one of these occasions,
to quote some Of your own words, ''that he
proved himselfequal to the discharge of the
highest duties" During the same session,
many local bills were advocated by our Sen
ator most zeaously, and if some failed of sue
cess we must remember the unfriendly poll
cy of the then Administration towards us.
Our relations with the Indian tribes of the
State in 1852 were very complicated. Wars
with imaginary warriors had rolled up debt
of nearly one million of dollars against the
State. To keep up the friendly relations of
imaginary Red friends, the U. S. Indian
Commissioners had incurred a debt of nearly
one million of dollars for beef Col. Weller
advocated on this question the proper policy.
Indian fighters no longer frequent the State
Capitol, and there is very small amount of
cattle paid for for the use of the reserva
tlons.
In the same session, the prompt erection
Of light houses on the Pacific coast, the estab-
lishment OF military posts at all exposed
points in the interior, the construction of
Dry Dock at Mare Island, and bill for the
security of lives Of passengers on steamboats,,
received the effective advocacy of Col. Weller.
And these measures, as important as they
may be deemed, comprised not all his labors
From friendly relations with members Of
the Committees, where the hard work of
legislation is mostly performed, he was equal
ly successful in accomplishing measures, local
and general, desired by his constituents.
After thus passing in hasty review the re-
suit Of Col. Weller's first few months of
Senatorial labor, ! beg leave to state that
your opinion of his indolnce is not well
founded.
But an accusation Of such a character, in
a neutral journal, has much Importance.
The people of California are active, industr-
GUS and enterprising. Among them, to be
indolent, is to be unworthy of their support;
and your admission that Col. Weller has