Mariposa Democrat., 1857-08-06
COL. WELLER IN SACRAMENTO.


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COL. WELLER IN SACRAMENTO.
The State Journal of July 9th, says that
on Saturday evening last an immense gather
ing of the Democracy was held in front of the
Orleans Hotel, it having been announced that
a speech might be expected from that gallant
leader of the party, Col JoHN b. WELLER
Col. WELLER was enthusiastically received,
and after a moments delay he commenced by
referring to the position which he sustained to
the Democracy of the State, by the action of
the nominating convention. lie ably discussed
the present condition Of affairs in California ;
adverted to the difficult duties of the Office of
Governor, and said, if elected he would en-
deavor to promote the best interest of the
State and the welfare Of the people. He re-
ferred to charges made against him by the OPP
position papers; ; and his vindication of himself
gave entire satisfaction to the immense crowd.
lie took up the infamous charge against him,
that he was opposed to the Irish and the nat
uralized citizens, and read extracts from his
speeches TO show that he had ever been the
steady friend of this class Of our citizens.
The following from his speech delivered in
the Senate on the Homestead Bill, was read
by the speaker while still abiding to this
subject:
"I cannot forget the fact that in every war
in which our country has been engaged, not
only naturalized but unnaturalized foreigners
have been found standing by us. Where, ]
ask, is the evidence of their disloyalty? II
you can show me that these men are danger
Gus, that they are disturbing the peace and
tranquility of the country, that they are en-
dangering our institutions, then ! might join
in the crusade against them, but find no evil
dence of their disloyality. | undertake to af-
firm here to-day that there was not a single
regiment or corps organized during the Mexi-
can war that did not contain large number
of naturalized foreigners. Sir, you had there
the warm, ardent and impetuous lrishman and
the firm, stead(ast and unyielding German.-
In the regiment to which ! was attached dur
ing that war, there was one company compos-
cd exclusively of Germans, and the greater
portion Of them were unnaturalized, and there
was another company composed of Irishmen.
They stood shoulder to shoulder with your ma
tive born Americans in sustaining the honor
Of your flag and thousands of their country
men sacrificed their lives in the prosecution Of
that war If you could have seen these men
upon the bloody field of battle when stricken
down by the balls of the enemy cheering their
comrades on to avenge their wounds and sus-
tain the honor of your banner you would not
this day have engaged in prescribing foreign
ers. lie who has been with them on the field
and witnessed their bravery cannot be expect
ed to join in crusade against them"
In auding to the settler question: says the
Journal, the speaker assumed bold and
manly ground, and declared himself as the
warm friend of those who desire to settle upon
and cultivate our public lands. lie had no
sympathy, however, with the class known as
"politica squatters, who, while endeavoring
to jump fat office, had sought to array him
in opposition to a class Of men for whom he
had always held the highest regard, and for
whose interests he had ardently labored lie
then referred to and read from a speech deliv-
cred by him in the House of Representatives
in 1S4l, while he was representing there a
State not having foot of public lands. AT
that time Col. WELLER said
"There is another subject to which beg
leave to refer aude to the prospective
pre-emption law" which, rejoice to learn,
was passed by the Democratic party in the
Senate on yesterday, and is now in this House
for its action 1t has been denounced here as
"humbug designed to catch votes;" and
gentlemen have volunteered the assertion that
we did not desire its passage. Now, sir, what
is this bill? 1t is simply a proposition to give
the settler upon the public lands the right OF
pre-emption and differs only from the laws
heretofore passed, in the fact that it is pro-
spective in.ts operation. 1t does not propose
to gire the public domain to the settler, but to
allow him to take that portion on which he
has settled and built log cabin, at the Gov
ernment price, within limited period. 1t is
measure for the benefit Of the poor man, for
the humble tenants of the log cabins for
those who may be driven by poverty from the