The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-17
SENATOR BRopERIcKs LETTER.


wishes Of an esteemed correspondent by laying be-
fore the readers of the Union the subjoined letter
from Senator Broderick in reply to certain nterrog
atories proponnded by Geaeral Redngton, chairman
of the democratic central committee of California and
Hon. j. p. Dyer, mayor of Sacramento city:
SAX Francisco June G, 1861
GENTLEMEN. Hitherto have RETAINED from entering
into newspaper defence against the cumnies and mis-
representations of my adversaries have always been
willing to stand fall according my acts and BY them
alone still desire to be judged. Having heretofore
avoided public controversies through the press with my
traducers do not propose to engage in them but
the subject of your inquiries is of nature not merely
personal to myself consider due to my friends
and to the confidence they have reposed in In add
ton to your request, have been imporuned by Others
personally and by letters to correct the charge that
seek to establish an ant-administration party in this
State They regard it act of justice to themselves
that should make my denial public Having been tr-
umphanty elected to the Senate for six years it cannot
now be said that am acttiaed by an interested on self
ish motive in allowing myself to be drawn into the col
umns of newspaper reply, then, emphacally, that
did not return to this State TO make upon the ad
mnsraton of President Buchanan neither do intend
to oppose it in Washington elsewhere, have
declared any such intention. The assertions mentioned
by you being circulated in this regard macously
false, and their authors whether high low know them
to be false when they utter them.
Many of the men now engaged in propagating these
ISLANDERS the who at the last election cospiring
with know nothngs republicans and lawless organiza
ton then existing in San Francisco defeated twenty dem
ocrac candidates for the legislature in counties where
my openly avowed friends had been regularly nominated
and elected republicans and in their stead
enumerate them: San Francisco, III members; Santa
Clara, Sacramento 3 Yuba, Sierra, total, 20.
This gave the republicans their entire strength in the
Legislature The democratic majorities for President in
the counties mentioned at the election prove that
my friends defeated by trcachery.
Your letter refers to rmor which you say Is still in
circulation relative to the late election Of United States
senator's and which, you add is generally discredtcd by
my friends. So far my election is concerned,
declare it to have been effected by the free choice Of my
friends in the legislature without bargain contract a
ance, combination, or understanding with any one
chosen combined opposition of which Mr..
Gwin the head and front After my election lac
sought my aid to secure his He stated that he
about to become the victim Of the teaccry Of those who
had been placed in power through his aid and exctions
and that without my assistance he would be sacrificed
Regarding him the acknowledged leader of the other
wing Of the party believed his election would heal dis
sensons and effect reunion He had been my foe but
for the sake Of the party was willing to forcgo per
sonal resentmens With this object in view gave him
my support, and he elected But between Mi Gwin
and myself there was no condition whatsoever in regard
to the distribution of patronage learned subsequently,
however that he had agreed with others to take part
in the recommendation Of single federal officer and the
card he published to the people of the State after his cleo
ton led to suppose that his resolve unalteable in
this regard refer to the closing remarks of Mr. OWNS
address which arc as follows:
'.From patronage then, and the curse it entails
shall gladly in future turn and my sole labor and abi
ton from hcnccfot shall be to deserve well Of the State
and to justify the choice of the legislature in honorng
second time representative of its interests.
have limited above at aid other than that received from
those whom had regarded fricnds-I refer to the
timely assistance accorded to by Mr. Brodeck and
his friends. Although at time rival, and recogns
ing in him fierce but manly opponent do not
hesitate to acknowledge In this public manner his forget
funes of all grounds of dsseson and hostility in what
he conceived to be step necessary to aay the stTes
and dscords which have distracted the party and the
State To him. and to the attachment of his friends to
him. conceive in great degree my election is due and
feel bound to him and them in efforts to unite
and heal where the result heretofore has been to break
down and destroy =
In view Of these facts am 10th to believe that your
information is correct in respect to his claiming that he
controlled the recent federal appointments In this State
or that in the face Of his published declarations he his
friends would boast that he had violated his public
pledges Surely the combination at Washington of the
late and present members of the lower house OF Congress
from this State Of the senator whose term had just ex
PRED of the three presidential electors and throng or
active supporters well pactised in the trade of soliciting
Offices oil against me, would seem to be enough without
the personal interference of my colleague lnthe abb
sence Of positive evidence, must therefore, regard the
report of which you speak mistake
Referring to the continued calumnies which 1 have
long permitted to pass in silence, and which shall not
review take this occasion to say that was member
of the State senate during the first three sessions of the
legislature leaving it in 1882 supposed with some
reputation In the latter year of the two prom
ncnt candidates for the United States Senate and, al
though the holly contested my opponents at
that time thought to mpugn my conduct as leg
islator citizen. FROM my deeat for the Senate in
1852 up to the time of my election in january last
took active part in the conventions OF the party
shared its labors and contributed to its trumphs In
pcrsstently assailed by the inventive malice
of those who did not hesitate to subsdze portion OF the
press for the purpose by Illicit distractions from the pub
lie treasury Some of thoee presses still survive and still
continue their abuse but their daily fasehoods have
never drawn into public denial shall at this
late period dignity them by special notice.
have been charged with controlling conventions and
procuring nominations by trickery But challenge my
enemies to produce within the length and breadth
of the State whom deceived to whom ever fall
siied my word l bring that challenge down to the
present hour, and make it embrace my whole political
1t has been alleged that seek to create disaection
in the party because my friends have failed to
offices through my My friends not the spoils
men of the State Oice-holdeS and oficehunters have
never been among my supporters During the last adj
minisation not friend of mine held Office under the
government yet they always remained true to the party
and reliable in every emergency OF these were the men
who in the State convention of March, 1856, though
ercely opposed by federal ctanes instructed their del
egaes TO the Cincinnati Convention to cast the vote OF
this State for James buchanan.
not here to distract the party, to control its
nominations Among those regarded suitable candi-
dates for high Offices have heard the names of several
reliable democrats who friends Of mine. But shall
not seek to foesta the action of the convention,
Others would do buteave the selection of candidates to
the discrimination Of the party.
have thus stated my position upon the subjects refer
To in your letter lelgth dcsgn this TO be