The Placer herald., 1859-07-23
Speech of Gen. Denver at Nevada.

was largely attended. After an organization
had been effected, the General came forward
and said
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW C1TIzENs:-
After an absence of more than three years
it affords me great pleasure to meet you
again, and consult with you on public af-
fairs could not forget the people Of Cal
ifornia, to whom l am so much indebted,
nor could at any time be insensible to their
interests. If everything was not accomplish
cd that was desired during the time | had
the honor in part to represent you in the
halls of Congress, it must be attributed to
those unavoidable circumstances which some
times arise, and set at naught the most
strenuous efforts. But much was accom-
plished. Large appropriations were made
for the benefit of our State, among which
were appropriations for fortifyng the har-
Dor of San Francisco-the construction of
the Navy Yard at Mare Island-the opening
or improvement Of Wagon Roads across the
Plains, and the establishment of the Over
land Mail service. These were all of tine
greatest Importance to our security and pros
perity. Our Legislature had, year after year,
memoraized Congress to erect Notifications
to protect our coast, and the people had, al
most en- masse, petitioned for Wagon Road
across the Plains. The disturbances at
Panama had shown the necessity for Over
land Mail communications, and hence the
establishment of that service by which we
now receive news from the Atlantic States
three times a week.
There was also another subject of para
mount Importance which then presented it.
self for the first time in tangible form to
the consideration of Congress. That was
the question to the land titles and the right
to the minerals. 1t so happened that my
colleague and myself differed in our views
on these questions. Ny opinion was made
up after long and laborious research. 1t
was subject Of the utmost difficulty, and,
to our State, of such magnitude and delica
cy, involving as it did, directly or indirectly,
the interests of every one Of our citizens
that any one might we'll pause before COM
mitting himself for or against it. Had I
consulted my own feelings, | would not have
interfered at all; for | could at first see no
way to avoid doing great injury TO some
one large class Of my constituents. But
that was not the way to discharge the du-
ties entrusted to me, and | resolved to 60
into thorough investigation, and act accord
ing to my convictions of right, taking the
consequences, whatever they might be. The
result was the defeat of the bill then pending,
and it is a great satisfaction to me to
know, that my efforts on that occasion
have done much to direct public attention
to this subject Some of the most stupend-
Gus frauds have been detected and exposed,
and others viii be. The wrongs inflicted on
the bona jfde settlers on the public lands,
and the injuries done to the real owners of
private lands, are beginning to be pretty
generally understood, and while the blood is
made to boil at the recollection of the at
tempted frauds, no fair minded man can
help but regret that any one should have
been interfered with in the possession of
lands to which he was justly entitled. All
parties have suffered by these things, and
but few have been benefited The right to
tie minerals is no longer a mooted question.
All now concede the fact that under the
Spanish and Mexican laws the mines of pre-
cious metals were not granted along with
the lands, but reserved to the Government;
and the only question now in dispute is,
wether they belong to the State, or to the
United States. A thorough investigation
will most undoubtedly show that they belong
to the State, being as they are part OF the
eminent domain over which the Federal
Government has no control.
On the accession of Mr.. Buchanan to the
Presidency he offered me the position OF
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and believ-
ing that could there still render efficient
service to the State, accepted it. From that
l was sent to Kansas, where the condition OF
affairs was such as to alarm every lover of
the Union. After residing there nearly
year, had the good fortune to see the end
of the troubles in that distracted Territory,
and returned to Washington, where l was
astonished to find one at least OF our dele
CATION in Congress, not only deserting the
party which placed him in office, but turn
ing traitor to the State he was sent to rep
resent. had long known the character of
the man, but l was not prepared to see him
turn round and make war on the State that
had placed him in high and responsible
position, and to whom he owed everything.
Neither was l prepared to see him at Wash
ington abandon the Democratic party, and
then come back here and claim still to belong
to the Democracy-such condnct on his
part is poor compliment to the intelligence
of the people of California. 1t is a most
bare faced and brazen attempt to deceive
At Washington, he acts with the Republicans,
but here claims to be a Democrat. Why is
this? The reason is obvious TO 60 over at
once and identify himself with the RepubIl,.
cans, would be to undeceive very many OF
his deluded followers and deprive him OF his
power and influence, but by holding on and
protesting to be Democrat, he hopes by
slow degrees to take tie great mass OF those