The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-10-21


innovation; when it was escaping from one
condition Of existence into another, he soon
became an active participant in'politics, and,
by his energy and his courage soon acquired
place in the front rank of the remarkable
race of men ten years ago attracted to the
shores of the Pacific. In such community
no ordinary talent could succeed. The emf.
grafton from the older States was composed
not only of intellect Of the highest order,
but Of fiery valor and daring ambition. In
the eager contest for promotion, in the strife
for the lead the weak and the corrupt had to
give way to the brave and the bold and
although Mr.. Broderck, in achieving the
Senate of the United States, after repeated
failures, (having, at least at one trial been
deprived of his seat in that body by the
most Lnblushipg fraud,) when be did reach
it there was not stain upon his character,
aud not friend who did not feel proud of
him.
He came into the Senate as James
Buchanan came into the Presidency. The
ballot-box which gave the one the electoral
vote of California, created the Legislature
which elected theSother to the United
States Senate. Broderick had been to
Buchanan in the contest for delegates to the
Cincinnati Convention heroic and self
sacrificing friend. At the time this contest
took place, no man welded larger share of
power, honestly acquired, than Broderick;
and this power he turned like torrent into
the Buchanan movement, thus contributing
to the success of the Buchanan delegates to
the Convention, while such men as Senator
VIM. NJ. Gwin, Benjamin F. Washington,
the collector at San Francisco, and even
Milton S. Latham, the Governor elect,
stood off, either Indifferent or hostile.
On the arrival of Mr.. Broderck at Wash
ington, he soon found that his foes had got
between him and the President of his choice !;
and that Mr.. Buchanan, with that fatal IA
cility so peculiar to himself since be has
grasped the sceptre, had begun to listen to
infuencesEagainst which an ordinarily CRATE
full man would have Indignantly and her
medically sealed his bosom. The very as
pirants whom Broderick himself, when he
held the Legislature of California in his
hands, had carried into place, and who had
voluntarily proffered to him the whole con-
troll of the patronage of his State, in return
for his generous magnanimity, usurped this
patronage with the assistance of the Presi-
dent, and attempted to degrade their bene-
factor. Separated from his friends by thou.
sands of miles-many of whom relied upon
him to care for their interests in the new
dispensation of affairs-asking nothing for
himself and having attained his place in the
Senate by no unmanly means, an ordinary
organization would have qualed under such
blow. But Broderick wrote back to Cal.
ifornia to tell the gallant men who had stood
by him, that be found himself poweress at
the Federal capital and that they mus. bide
their time.
Too proud to make this deliberate per-
sonal slight the basis of a war upon the Ad-
ministration, no man in Washington was
more capable Or willing to give disinter-
ested and effective support to the President.
No man more gladly responded to his pro-
mise of fair play to the people of Kansas
for no man had seen the great principle of
Popular Sovereignty more triumphant, es-
pecially in its results in the organization of
the State of California. But Mr.. Buchan-
an, almost in a night, turned his back upon
the right, denied his pledges to princip pie,
written as they are, and were, all over the
campaign of 1856, and in nearly every pub
lie document up to certain period in 1858,
and when he attempted to make his own
metamorphoss test upon his party, Mr..
Broderick was found among the protestants.
He raised his voice against this guilty act,
and declared his resolution never to yield up
his own honor at the bidding of the Execu-
tive.
Then began crusade upon this man un-
exampled, as we have said, in political annals.
The word was given to all the organs of the
Administration to show no mercy to the
resolute "rebel." He was singled out for
disgrace and decapitation. His name was
held up before the people as Kissing and
scorn. The kennels were raked for epthets
against him. The most offensive fabrica-
tions were published tc discrelit him. Every
personal attribute was denied to him. The
fact that he had begun life without the ad-
vantages Of education was flung into his
teeth, coupled with inconceivabe insult and
ignominy. Upstairs tainted him with his
Glow birth and iron fortune" He was in
sort of social quarantine. He was pointed
at by the miniOns of Office as traitor, and
more than once threats Of personal violence
were made, the fulflment of which was only
prevented by the fact that those making
them knew they had to deal with a spirit as
intrepid as the principle he Eeld in his hands
was Irresistible. The departments were shut
upon him. Although Senator from
sovereign State, having rights which could
neither lie limited nor lessened by party lines,
he was as steadily excluded from all partici
patton 10 the affairs of the Administration
as if be had sat in the French Assembly.
Nor was his own course in this crisis marked
by violence or passion. 1t is to his credit,
that, while conscious that be stood almost
isolated in the Senate, he preserved Won
derful equanimity and moderation of deport-
ment. No man would have more heartily
rejoiced if the Administration had retraced
its first false step and regretted its continu-
ance in the path of wrong.
Before the close of the last Congress,
however, THE MAN had made his mark, even
upon many who had doubted him at the
start and when he left Washington, there
were not wanting Southern, as we'll as
Northern men, who voluntarily did credit
to his integrity, his sincerity, and unyieldipg
devotion to principle, as he understood 1t,
and his unfaltering opposition to all schemes
of plumber. He returned to California, in
company with Mr.. McKibbin, only to find
that the way had been prepared for him by
his adversaries, and that the long arm of
Federal power had been stretched out, hold
Al b l.. 4.