Butte record., 1856-03-15
Democratic sta.t Convention.

Washington, Chairman OF the Democratic
State Central Committee who delivered the
following address:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CoNvENTIoN.-My
position as Chairman of the Democratic State
Central Committee devolves upon me the duty
of calling to order your body. preliminary to
organization The business which has con-
vened you here to-day from all portions of
the State, is of a spgularly interesting char
acter, it being no less than the election CT
eight suitable persons to represent the wishes
Of the California Democracy in the highest
assemblage known to the party-a National
| Convention for the nomination of candidates
for the office of Presidency and Vice Presi-
dency Of the United States. hope, there
fore, in view of the interest which attaches to
the work in hand, and the peculiar position
| which the party, for some time past, has oc-
cupied in this State, | will not be considered
| as trespassing too much on your time and pa
tence, by indulging in few remarks which
have suggested themselves to my mind as not
inappropriate to the occasion
1t is trite truism, yet one that loses none
Of its force whatever by repetition, and one
which in its bearing upon party action cannot
be brought too frequently or too forcibly home
to us, that IN UNION THERE Is STRENGTH.
Association OF every description implies a
common object to be attained, and the conccr-
ted direction of the movements and energies
of those who are combined for a given tur-
pose, is the only sure, rational, and philosol,h
ical solution to the problem OF the attainment
of that object, The Democratic party, as |
verify believe, and as | would fain hope you
all believe, Is an association Of popular intel
igenee and patriotism, having for its bret
the greatest good to the greatest numbers: or,
l. 4
which the most perfect system OF free govern
ments the world has yet known. is capable
1t is an association whose triumphs are writ
ten in the elastic strides which our country
has taken towards the fullness of its destiny,
and whose vindicati0n is to be found, not in
doubtful theories and uncertain problems but
in the recorded history Of a nations legisla-
ton. 1t is an association of which it is haz-
ardiug but little to assert that every great
measure connected with the DEVELOPMENT of
the permanent and substantial interests of
our country-whether of territorial enlarge
| ment, commercial expansion, or interior reg
ulation-owes to it its origin or chiefsupport.
1t is an association in connection with which
we are enabled to form a just estimate of the
efficacy of union and concerted action, when
directed to high and elevated ends, by brief
glance at the condition of cur country as she
was, even at period within the limited time
of three score and ten years designated as the
patriarchal life of man, and as she now is in
our own day and generation, i'll the fullness
of her pride and the strength of her demo-
cratic vigor.
| think it will be conceded gentlemen, if
there ever was period in the history of our
party when it became us to illustrate the
strength of union-to stand up in solid column
and compact rank against the tide of false
principles and pernicious isms which threaten
to inundate the country-now is the time. 1t
may even be asserted that crisis has been
reached in our affasrs which, according as it
is met firmly or falteringly, truly or treach-
erously, must result in still greater victory or
more inglorious defeat. 1t might reasonably
be suppose that the enemies of the Demo-
cratic party, seeing the fruitlessness of for
mer efforts to stay the sweeping progress of
liberal and enlightened principles, would be
induced at this day to at least moderate their
opposition. But the reverse appears rather
to be the case. Each success of our own,
whether in popular endorsement or legislative
experiment, but serves to arouse their ener-
gies, and quicken their ingenuities to the in
vention Of new expedients Not recognizing
among themselves any common, abiding and
homogeneous piatform-hying from one hobby
but to embrace another still more preposter-
Gus and absurd--appealing to the prejudices
rather than the native intellect of the masses
and looking to the success of the hour instead
of the matured approval of discriminating
popular judgment--their very existence as an
organization is based upon opposition Drive
them to common declaration of principle,
and they would fall to pieces of their very in
congruity. Hence, g 10 palsy the will of the
constituent becomes the one ruling principle
of their action, whilst in their attempts to ac-
complish this, g no imposture is too monstrous
for the popular creduhty" BY such means
the Presidential elections of 1910 and of 1913
were carried-by such means the present mot
/ ley and piebald majority attained its ascen-
dency in the popular branch Of Congress-by
such means it is expected, by general fusion
of isms, to carry the election in November
next. Prompted by no higher motive than
! deep-rooted hatred to the very name of Demo-
cracy, and stimulated to exertion by Il hungry
appetite for the spoils of office, they have en-
! barked in leagued crusade--a war of demoli-
tion-to tear down and destroy what they can
neither emulate or excel. Like the hordes of
wild barbarians that swept from the north of
Europe over Italy, destroying in their mad
career the noblest works of Roman art and
civilization, so would these political Cloths and
Nandals tear down the noblest monuments of
Democratic wisdom. Thus, standing upon the
same broad aud national platform upon which
we have so often triumphed, we see its most
cherished principles assailed with renewed
and increasing violence-its most valuable
teachings opposed by heresies the most mon
strous, while even the Constitution itself
affords no barrier to the reasonable designs
of guilty fanaticism. Gentlemen, it is to pre-
serve inviolate our platform from such as
sauts--to free the country from the preda-
tory incursions of these political destroyers,
called upon to organize and take part in a
great national struggle. Will they prove
themselves equal to the emergency viii
they present to the enemy unbroken front,
or with jealousies, heart burnings and divided
councils again go forth to encounter defeat
These inquiries particularly pertinent
at the present time, from the fact that for
i some period back in the history of our party
here there has not existed that degree OF
unanimity so essential to success. We have
seen presented the unnatural spectacle OF
Democrat arrayed against Democrat-ciques
| and factions. each asserting their own peculiar
claims to legitimacy, while in too many in
stances, as | fear, principles have been forgot
ten in the angry struggle for personal ascen-
| dencv. | do not wish to be understood, how
ever, in referring to these things, as designing
to arrign any one before the bar of this Con-
vention, for judgment. Such purpose is
neither in consonance with my feelings, nor
as conceive, a part and parcel Of my busi-
ness. | simply refer to them as facts, the
proofs Of which have melancholy existence in
the recent disastrous overthrow which ou1