The Placer herald., 1859-04-09

Mr.. Gwin. 1t is no exception for California;


it is general.
Mr.. Broderick. Well sir l will take it in
every way. do not care which way you present
it, am opposed to it.
Mr.. Gwn. Of course you are.
Mr.. Broderck. l am.
The Presiding Officer Senators will address
the Chair, and not each other.
Mr. Broderick. Well, sir, | will address the
Chair. hope the Senate will retain this whole
some provision; for | believe none Of the post
offices in mJ State will be closed, that one of
the postmasters will resign therefore. shall cast
my vote for the retention of this section.
Thus is presented the remarkable specta
Gle Of Senator warning upon his own peo-
pie, and protesting against measure inten-
ded for their benefit Let it be remembered
that the provision did not effect the larger
Office, but was blow aimed at remote dis
tricts, whose people are denied postal COM
munication with their friends and business
connections, except a: intervals, too frequent
ly, of great inconvenience and hardship.
lie would deprive them even of this poor
boon. In vain the members of the new
States protested against his suicidal course
With buIl-headed stupidity he persevered to
the end. In vain Senator Lane, of Oregon,
demonstrated:
Mr.. Lane. l hope that inasmuch the Sena-
tor from California (Mr. Brolcrck) wishes to
strike his own State down by his motion. he will
not strike down the offices in the Territory of
Washington and in Oregon and th refore | hope
he will strike out Oregon and Washington.
OH no. He did not care for that. Some
little mining camp Postmaster had probably
refused to cooperate with some of his stri-
kers in packing county conventions, by
means IF fraudulent votes for the benefit
of him and his menials, and whose salary,
with additional compensations was not per-
haps exceeding three or four hundred dol
lars year. This was sufficient to induce
this magnanimous man to strike a blow at
the interests of thousands Of our citizens.
But the most ridiculous and humilating
part Of the whole scene was, where Senator
Gwin made him. in presence of the whole
Senate and the galleries, acknowledge him
self an ignoramus We know of nothing
on record so overwhelming. After having
interposed all manner of frivolous objections
through running debate Of some hours he
said:
IL do not wish to be understood that l desire
the Senate to go with one Senator again three
(Gwin, Lane and Smth.) nor do | care about my
colleague making that strol 6 apl cal to the Sen
ate, lecause he acts with the majority OF this
Senate. do not. | suppose, at least, he so con-
sidcrs me- | wish to state that if there Is mo-
ney to be expended, l believe il ha better be
expended upon mail routes to California, and
not given to the postmasters."
Here Gwin arose, when the following lref
coloqny ensued:-
Mr. Gwin. wish to ask one question, will the
Senator tell me how mu( h is allowed to the pc t.
masters of California under the law?
Mr.. Broderck. do not know.
Mr.. Gwin. Therefore he mOpeS to strike out q
thing he does not hnoU anything about.
Supposing this man to have any sensibil
ty-what must Lave been his feelings on
that account! lie had been opposing
(through debate Of hours) a proposition,
on the ground that the law allowed, undcr
all circumstances, sufficient compensation to
every postmaster, and when asked what the
law did allow, he answers: II do not know."
1t may be impossible for a camel to pass
through the eye of needle, but we think it
ought to have then been demonstrated that
a jackass could pass through a gimet hole,
provided there was one in proximity, which
would have afforded him retreat. Farther
comment is unnecessary. We have other
material at hand, but for the present this
small taste shall suffice.