The Nevada journal., 1858-08-27
judge Searls-HiS Antccedents.

dents of Judge Searls?' We shall en-
deavor to answer according to the facts.
What the political or other opinions of
Judge Searls were before coming to
California we do not know, but looking
at his course here, we can shrewdly
guess. The first positive knowledge we
have Of him, he was self-nominated
candidate for Justice of the Peace a
few days after his arrival in this city
Next vender according TO the author
ity of late divine of this place, of
"yellow covered literature" on Main
street. From this the transition was
easy to the law. Then we hear of him
as an aspitant for the office of District
Attorney, which he succeeded in obtain
ing. Politically, he was known to favor
the Broderick wing as soon as or before,
split in the Democratic ranks occur
red. In 1853, late in the year, he as
sumed to edit the Young america, which
soon after became the Nevada Democrat.
For about six months tho name of Niles
Searls was displayed as Editor. During
that time he is reputed to have commit
ted himself politically but once, and
that was while the Senatorial election
was pending at Sacramento. Unim-
peached tradition has it that on that
memorable occasion he said he would be
satisfied with either Gwin, Broderick or
Hammond; that he would be equally as
uncomposed if the election came off that
year or next and he further announced
his willingness to recognize Mr.. Cren-
shaw or Mr.. Dawley as al. fait in mat
ters of Democracy.
Circumstances apart from editorial
labors showed him to be as warm a
Broderick man as his nature would ad-
NIT for so sool as he could clear him.
self of an interest in a newspaper. he
was found one of the most stirring of
the getters up and voters of the celebra-
ted "Blue Ticket" a ticket whose design
avowedly was ''to exterminate the chiv-
airy" and whose success threw the
Democratic County Convention of 1854
into the hands of Mr.. Broderick. AS a
reward for his services in the "Blue
Ticket" affair. Searls was made Chair
man of that Convention.
The want of back bone in more tenn.
porizing members of that Convention
than Searls, caused the nomination oi
two or three chivalry men. This was
not according to the card agreed upon
by the "Blue Ticket" men," and an ex.
pedient must be devisedt to destroy these
few chivalry nominees before the peo.
pie. Noislessly and secretly few
choice spirits assembled in an obscure
chamber, chief among them we are as.
sured on substantial authority, were
Judge Searls, now Lecompton candidate
for District Judge, Lansing, candidate
for the Senate on the same ticket, and
VIM. M. Stewart, of Downievillc, who is
now challenging all the world and the
rest of mankind, to meet him on the
stump, he taking the chivalry side.
Here an institution commor : known
as the "North STAR had its origin in
this county. We have no personal
knowledge of the obligations taken by
its members, but we believe it can be
substantiated on good evidence that a
binding oath not to support any south
ern man for Office was imposed upon
every member. But one thing is not
denied-the institution was sworn to
hostility against the chivalry of Nevada
county, and among the latter were many
with whom the North Star Trinity are
now cheek by jowl.
A little later and the Know Nothings
gained foot-hold among us and soon
promised to be powerful. Hundreds
focked to their councils. The North
Stars are reputed to have thrown them.
selves in body into the Know Moth.
ings to control that organization against
the chivalry. Whetherthis be so or not
Judge Searls about that time was a
prominent member of the so-called dark
lanternites, and oblivious to his implied
pledges to the Democratic Convention
over which he had recently presided
and unmindful of the claims upon his po
litical sympathy of the foreigners-the
larger half of the Democratic party
he bound himself solemnly to be thei,
political enemy.
In the election of 1854. Searls was a
Know Nothing and voted that ticket
During the session of the Legislature
which followed, he was an applicant fol