The Placer herald., 1857-08-01
ECH
OF THE
HON. JOHN B. WELLER.

Delivered at the Democratic Mass Meeting,
held in the city of Sacramento on Saturday eve
ming, July 25th, 1857.
| FELLOW CIrIzENs You are doubtless aware
that my name has been presented by the Demo-
cratic party as candidate for Governor during
the coming election. certainly need not say to
my personal frends-those with whom am in
the habit Of consulting-that occupy this posi-
tion with great reluctance. Upon my return from
| the States few months since, it was my honest
determination to remain in private life, and if
had desired to be candidate for any Office the
office of Governor was not the one. There are
reasons, my friends, why should not have desr-
ed this Office There is feverish state of feeling
here in California-a state of public morals which
l fear will render it almost impossible for any
man, no matter how honest his motives may be,
to administer the government satisfactorily to the
great body of the people. But can say this, my
friends, that if l am elevated to that position,
shall do all in my power to correct those old
abuses which have brought disgrace and dishonor
upon our State. [Applause.] 1t shall be my
constant aim to instil into the administration of
public affairs in California that degree of moral
integrity which especially conduces to the pros
perity and happiness of any community. But
do not propose to make tonight what is styled in
common parance stump speech; for once, for
the first time in my lfe propose to occupy con-
siderable portion ofmy time in speaking ofmyself
l have found, during the course of a somewhat
eventful public life, that it not profitable to
reply to the charges that are made from day by
corrupt press and profigate politicians | have
found that it was better to leave it to the inteli-
gent people to discover the truth for themselves
and | believed that if mans conduct was found
upon investigation, to be governed by right prn-
ciples he would be sustained by the people, lap
plause.1 Besides have found that these polit-
cal, anonymous attackers, have such fertile inge-
nuity in the coming of falsehoods that they can
manufacture half dozen lies whilst | am cor
recting one of them. Then, upon this principle,
permitted my adversaries to say what they pleas
ed without interruption or denial No doubt
have often suffered in consequence of the charges
of corrupt politicians; but here l am tonight on
the opening of the campaign and for this, if for
no other reason, | propose to answer some, at
least, of the charges which have been brought
against me here in this State There has been an
extraordinary effort to arr y a portion of our
adopted citizens against me- | say, sir, poti-
clans in this State have endeavored to array the
prejudices of the Irish and others against me,
Why? They say that am an associate of one
who murdered an Irishman in cold blood in the
city of Washington. l allude to the Herbert ai-
fair. Now, what was my connection with that?
| was one of the Senators in Congress-, and col
league of mine, a Representative from the State
of California, had become involved in an unfortu-
nate affair. He had killed man, and popular
clamor had been raised against him. There was
Mr. Herbert, six thousand miles from home and
friends. He came to me indorsed as gentleman.
knew him to be representative of the State of
California. Was to allow him to be swept out
of existence without endeavOrng to procure for
him a fair and impartial trial? What would any
of you here have asked of me under the circum-
stances? Suppose you had been in the city of
Washington six thousand miles from home, among
strangers. knowing no one and unknown? Would
you not have asked me to see that you had fair
and impartial trial? l have said before, that with
Mr.. Herbert had no acquaintance only knew
him as the representative of California, and when
he became involved in difficulty, took care to
use my influence to secure for him exactly what
would have secured for you-a fair and impartial
trial. [Great applause.] never attempted to
defend him. | only pursued that course towards
him that would have pursued towards any other
Californian who might have become involved in
an unfortunate affair. [Applause.] There isa
newspaper published in this city which charges
that many years ago was partner of Mr.. Her
man until he came to Washington as your repre-
sentative. never had any money transactions
with Mr.. Herbert except on one occasion, when |
loaned him two hundred dollars to pay his ex-
penses to New York which sum he refunded to me
in two weeks afterwards. l never was in gam
bling house in Washington in all my life. nev-
er saw Mr. Herbert gamble there or elsewhere to
the amount of dollar. And yet l am charged
in the columns of a newspaper with being gam
bier, and as having Mr. Herbert for my gambling
partner. Now would any man of sense, having
regard for truth and justice, make such charge.
The dirty fellow who made that charge had no
foundation for it whatsoever. This my friends,
is the character of the charges made against me
in hopes of arraying against me certain class in
community. If had gone any farther than |
did in regard to the affair of Mr.. Herbert's,
might have been subject to just censure; if had
failed to go as far as did, I should have lost my
own selfrespect and had rather preserve that
than have your respect. Prolonged applause.
Whilst am a freeman, / intend to live as a
freeman. No popular clamor-no attack upon
me- here or elsewhere, shall induce me to sacrifice
what l consider to be the principles of gentle
man and man of honor Loud and prolonged
applause.] Now, the next charge that is mad
against me is that am in favor of the prOscrip-
tion of Catholics. The entire ,harge grew out of
this transaction: When the Fope's Nuncio. Mon
seur Bedini, came to the United States as Legate,
there was great excitement in many of the large
cities of the United States, which arose from the
fact that, civil Governor of one of the Italian
States, he was charged by his countrymen with
being instrumental in having one of the patriots
who desired freedom for that country, skinned
alive. Public meetings were held in various por
tions of the country by the countrymen of Bedini,
for the purpose of expressing adherence for that
awful deed, AT this time, Gen. Cass introduced
resolution calling upon the President for infOr-
nation touching the character of this officer and
thereupon he took occasion to express his opinion
in regard to the public meetings to which have
alluded. Several other Senators expressed their
sentiments upon the subject. 1t seemed that the
source of the whole matter was simply this, and
regret to be obliged to relate it. The son Of Gen.
Cass had heard the displeasure Of the Pope, and
in order to remove the difficulty, the resolution
calling for the information in regard to the officer
was presented, and upon its Introduction this de-
bate sprung up, for my participation in which
am charged with being in favor of prescription.
| took occasion to say, as whenever have an op-
portunity shall say, that the American people
had right to ssenlble and express their opinion
in regard to any man, be be the Pope's Nuncio or
anybody else. prolonged applause 1t was my
who are called Settlers, assembled in this city
few years ago and burnt nae in efigy. never
thought of quarreling with them about that trans
action; it's a matter of taste. [Great laughter