San Andreas independent., 1858-04-03
From the Sacramento Union.
POLITICS OF THE DAY'-No. 3.


State in the Union to resist the binding obli-
cations of Congressional nomination of the
Democratic party. In 1912 the friends of De
Witt Clinton, the Democratic Mayor of New
York city, brought him forward as promi-
nent candidate for the Presidency. He was
the favorite candidate for the Presidency of
majority of the Democratic party of the EN-
pire State His friends and supporters did
not like the way in which Madison conducted
the administration of the Federal Government,
neither did they fancy the monopoly of power
assumed by the Virginia politicians. They ar
rayed themselves at once against what they
asserted to be the "Virginia influence, and
hoped, through the great ability and popular
ity of De Witt Clinton, to crush it out. The
New York Citizen, edited by Cheetham, Clin-
toms organ, denounced James Madison and
his Administration with great bitterness of
spirit. Though Clinton carried New York by
an immense majority, he failed to reach the
Presidency.
In 1924, Tennessee, Pennsylvania. Kentucky
and other States, "bolted" the National or
Congressional Caucus nomination for the Pre-
sdency. They professed to be governed by
principle in doing so, and made good their de-
termination by successfully carrying into exc
cution their nullifying or disorganizing tactics.
In 1892, Pennsylvania resisted the nomina-
tion of Martin Van Buren, for Vice President,
made by the National Convention at Baltimore
The Democracy of the Keystone State was dis
satisfied and disaffected towards Van Buren,,
and the Democratic Convention of the State,
assembled at Harrisburgh, after nominating
General Jackson for the Presidency, nomna-
ted William Wilkins, of Pittsburgh, for the
Vice Presidency. What reasons they had for
opposing Martin Van Buren was not sufficient
ly stated, except that embodied in the famous
distich
81 do not like thee Doctor Fell:
The reason why, do not know cannot tell
But this know, and know full well,
do not like thee Doctor Fell"
In 1886, the great consistent State of old
Virginia-the mother of Statesmen--became
pragmatic the Richmond Junta would not
swallow Colonel Richard NJ. johnson for the
Vice Presidency, although lie had been fairly
and honorably nominated at the city of Balt-
more. The f. F. VS. gave the vote of Vir-
ginia to William Smith, of South Carolina, for
the Vice Presidency. So the Democracy of
old Virginia this time bolted" the ticket and
would not sustain " regular nominations"
In 1910 there was 4" boltng' all around the
board. There was division and disaffection
almost everywhere, and the result was the en-
tire overthrow of the Democratic party
In l948, New York again " boted" the NOM
ination of General Cass, made at the National
Convention at the city of Baltimore. The rad
ical Democracy, or Van Buren, Free Soil sec
tion, would not support the nomination of
General Cass for the Presidency, because, as
frequently alleged by John Van Buren, in his
speeches during the canvass, he was not sound
on the principles of the party, and that his
nomination was not fairly obtained.
| have thus shown, in various instances,
where the Democracy of different States with
General Jackson at their head, bolted the
Irregular nominations" of party without being
read out of the political church. They doubt
less acted from sense of propriety, principle
and duty, in the course they pursued. If such
was the case then, why should men be read
out of the Democratic party now, for daring to
differ with President Buchanan on the Kansas
issue? Why should Stephen A. Douglas, and
those who follow in his lead, be regarded as
factionists or dsorganzers, for adhering with
fidelity to the principles laid down in the Gin
cnnati platform, and boldly proclaimed and
advocated at the last Presidential election ?
The attempt, therefore, to make the Kansas
question matter of party fealty, and read out
all those who oppose the Lecompton Const
tuition, is so absurd and ridiculous that it does
not require moments time to demonstrate
the folly of such a course of party policy
The position assumed by Douglas, and so sig |
nally maintained in his great speech at the
present session of Congress, it must be appa-
rent to all rejecting men, is the only tenahle |
ground upon which political party can stand. |
If they once abandon this great landmark of
Democracy-the right of the people to adopt
their own organic law, and to say under what
Constitution and institutions they will live
they at once stultify themselves, and prove re-
publican government failure. Let not the
Democratic party commit so fatal blunder
as this-a doctrine at war with common sense
and all the sacred obligations which enlight-
ened men hold dear.
Although the House of Assembly of the CAL
ifornia Legislature has passed the Kansas
resolutions, indorsing the action of President
Buchanan on the Lecompton Constitution, the
instructions are not binding in force without
the concurrence of the Senate. Look to the
Senatel" and await the action of that branch
of the Legislature. To the Senator from Sac
ramento county, the friend and admirer of the
political principles, and disciple of Stephen
A. Douglas, the Democracy of California look
for lucid explanation of the Kansas embro-
Clio. To William |. Ferguson, as the cham
pion of the great Democratic party truth
that the people shall rule; that the majority
shall govern; that fair play shall be exhibited
to all sides at n popular clecton-the people
now look with good deal of interest for an
able and eloquent exposition of the past acts
of the American Democracy, and their appli-
cation to the ruling question of the present
day.
During the administration of George NJ.
Troup. as Governor of Georgia, that dstn
guished functonary concluded treaty with
the Cherokee Indians, whereby they agreed to
dispose of, to the State, all their right, title
aud interest to all their mineral and other
lands lying and being within the jurisdiction
of Georgia That treaty was ratified, and the
Cherokees were preparing for removal west
of the Mississippi when President John Gum
cy Adams interposed the power of the Gov
ernment of the United States, contending that
the treaty was Illegal and actually sent Cen
eral Gaines, with authority to use the Federal
troops, it necessary, to resist the action of the
State Government. A clash of arms was I'M
minent, and great excitement was created in
view of the conflict impending. The spirit of
the Georgians was up. 1t was at this period
that Barney Blinn distinguished politician
among the Piney Woods planters, at militia
muster in the town of Laurens, being major of