San Andreas independent., 1857-08-01
John B. Weller on the stun,,

nominee Tor GOvernOr. Inc meeting was held
in front of the Orleans HOTEL on Second street
The assemblage, says the Union, was compara-
lively small, at no time, perhaps, numbering SO
many persons as were present when Mr.. Stanly
spoke, a week previous band of music was
also in attendance The meeting was organized
at o'clock by the appointment of Vim. l. Fer
guson as Chairman, and Mr.. Butler as Secre-
tary. We take the following extracts from the
speech as reported in the Union:
Felio,c-citizens: You are doubtless aware
that my name has been presented by the DEM
ocratic party as candidate for Governor dur
ing the coming election. | certainly need not
say to my personal friends--those with whom
| am in the habit of consuting-that occupy
this position with great reluctance.
There has been an extraordinary effort to ar
| ray portion of our adopted citizens against
me- | say sir politicians in this state have
endeavored to array the prejudices of the Irish
and others against me. Why? They say that
| am associate of one who murdered an
Irishman in cold blood in the city of Washing
ton. allude to the Herbert affair Now what
was my connection with that? was one of
the Senators in Congress, and colleague of
mine, Representative from the State Of Cali
fornia, had become involved in an unfortunate
affair. lie had killed man, and n popular
clamor had been raised against him. There was
Mr.. Herbert six thousand miles from home and
friends He came TO me indorsed as gentle
man. knew him to be representative of the
State of California. Was | to allow him to be !
swept out Of existence without endcavoring to
procure for him fair and impartial trial? What /
would any of you here have asked of me under I
had 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? | have |
said before, that with Mr.. Herbert had no ac-
quaintance-l only knew him as the represen-
tative of California, and when he became in
volved in difficulty, took care to use nv infiu-
ence to secure for him exactly what | would /
have secured for you-a fair and impartial trial /
Great applause. | never attempted to defend I
him. only pursued that course towards him
that would have pursued toward any other Gail I
itornian who might have become involved in an
unfortunate affair. Applause and kissing. I t
There is newspaper published in this city
Cries for Ferguson There is newspaper
published in this city which charges that many
years ago Was partner of Mr.. Herberts in /
gambling | said that never knew the man
until he came to Washington as your represen-
tativc | never had any money transactions /
with Mr.. Herbert except on one occasion, when |
loaned him two hundred dollars to pay his t
expenses to New York. which sum he refunded |
to me two weeks afterwards. | never in a
gambling house in Washington in all my life |
never saw Mr.. Herbert gamble there or else
where to the amount of dollar. And yet am
charged in the columns of newspaper with
being gambler, and us having Mr. Herbert for |
my gambling partner. Now would any man of !
sense, and having a regard for truth and Justice
make snch charge? The dirty fellow who
wrote that charge had no foundation for it
whatsoever. This, my friends, is the character
OF charges made against me in hopes of array
ing against me a certain class in community
Had gone any.farther than did in regard to
the affair of Mr.. Herberts, | might have been
subject to just censure if had failed to go as
far as did, should have lost my self-respect
and had rather preserve that than have vour
respect. Prolonged applause. WhHst / am
freeman, intend 10 hre q freeman. No pop
ular clamor-no attack upon me. here or else
where, shall induce me to sacrifice what CON
slider to be the principles of gentleman and
man of honor Loud and prolonged applause I
Now, the next charge that is made against me
is that am in favor of the prescription of Cath
olics. The entire charge grew out of this trans
action: When the Popes Nuncio, Monsieur
Bedini, came to the United States rs Legate
there was great excitement in many of the
large cities Of the United States. which arose
from the fact that as civil Governor of ono of
the Italian States, he was charged by his coun-
trymen with being instrumental in having one
of the patriots who desired freedom for that
country, skinned alive. Public meetings were
held In various portions of the country bv the
countrymen of Bedini. for the purpose of ex-
pressing their abhorrcnce of the awful decd
At this time, Gen. Cass introduced resolution
calling upon the President for information
touching the character of this officer and there
upon he took occasion to express his opinion /
in regard to the public meetings to which I have
alluded. Several other Senators expressed their
sentiments on the subject. 1t seemed that the
source ofthe whole matter was simply this, and
regret to be obliged to relate it. The son
of General Cass had heard the displeasure of
the Pope, and in order to remove the difficulty.
the resolution calling for the information in re-
gard to the officer was presented and upon its
introduction this debate sprung up, for my par
ticipation in which am charged with being in
favor OF prescription. took occasion to say,
as whenever have an opportunity | will say,
that the American people had right to assem-
bic and express their opinion in regard to any
man, be he the Pope's Nuncio, or anybody else.
Prolonged applause.] 1t was my opinion then
1t Is my opinion now. The people who arc
called Settlers, assembled in this city few
years ago and burnt me in eftigy never
thought of quarrelng with them about that
transaction; it is matter of taste rGreat
laughter and applause l have heard it said
that the efigy was dressed in very ragged gar
ments, for the purpose of indicating that was
poor man, and not blessed with riches. They
burnt the Chief Justice and one of the Land
Commissioners at the same time. 1t was very
strong, very significant manner of expressing
tneir opinion OF me, and had no Objection
lureat iaughtcr] say now, as I.said in the
speech which made in the United States SEN
ate, when the American people see proner 10
assemble in peaceablc manner to express their
opinion of any man, in public or private life, I
they have an indisputable right under the Con-
Stltutlon to do so. A nd to show my s;ncor;t..