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

off the Office holders of the Federal Govern.
ment-the despotic control of the office
holders in the States of Oregon and Califor.
mia, and in the Territory of Washington.
The millions appropriated by Congress, in
almost every conceivable and uncomfortable
shape, under various pretexts, and expended
under the eye of Mr.. Buchanan and his
satellites, are building up on the Pacific
border an OvershadOwing official oligarchy,
which, penetrating everywhere, is enabled
to crush out independent opinion, and
to dOmineer over independent men. When
the vast sums involved in the various mail
routes-overland, isthmean and oceanic
the hundreds and thousands expended
in the surveys of public lands, returning
scarcely dollar to the public treasury the
management of the various Indian tribes
the Notifications of the coast, the navy
yard, the docks, the public stores, the Gus.
tom house, the mint, the postofice depart
ment, the contracts for supplies of all kinds,
naval and military-not to speak of the ex-
travagant hopes engendered by the conflicts
between the applicants for invaluable mines
of gold, silver, and quicksilver, and the
enormous war-debt of Oregon and Washing
ton; when we reflect on all these things,
we may readily calculate the chances of
success of those men, who-however fearless
and sincere and however strong in the cause
they advOcate--bave no wealth to oppose
to such an array Of patronage, and no
offices to proffer to a community in great
degree dependent upon the bounties of the
Administration.
In proportion as these immunites were
conferred upon the representatives of the
Administration in California, so did their
sense of impunity increase. They felt that
not only had Mr.. Buchanan clothed them
with imperial prerogatives and placed in
their hands almost incalculable treasure,
but that, no matter how they might outrage
public sentiment and PROSTATE sacred prin-
ciples-so that all was done in the name of
the Administration-they should be pro-
tected from punishment and responsibility.
Hence, when Mr. Broderick placed himself
under the flag of Popular Sovereignty and
resistance to Executive dictation-which
flag he found flying on his arrival, ably sup
ported by some of the first intelects 10 Cal
ifornia-the cry was raised that he must
forfeited all claim to position in the ranks of
the Democratic party, but that his life aDas
forfeited. In the fulfllment of this purpose,
their first attempt was to engage him in a
personal quarrel, at the beginning of the
campaign. He declined the challenge in
frank and explicit letter, leaving it to be
inferred that he would fight the battle for
the right bravey to the end and then would
be able to act without compromising others.
What transpired in this campaign is also
a matter of history. That Mr.. Broderick
should speak plainly was to have been ex-
pected after all that had taken place in
Washington and in California. But it was
evident that he was marked man. Any
one who has paid attention to the California
newspapers will remember how frequently
it was predicted that he would be shot
down in the streets.
We have noticed, during all the campaign
which terminated in September in Cali
fOrnia, number of articles, in Administra-
ton journals, threatening the contingency
which has at last arrived, and in one news
paper an individual was referred to 1--WE ctn
not say whether Judge Terry or another
person. as having been designated as the
executioner of David G. Broderick. In
this connection it may be well to add that
the Mr.. Perley who challenged Mr.. Broder-
lex at the beginning of the canvass (which
challenge he declned) had been the former
law partner of Chief Justice Terry. The
reader will perceive from the whole history
of the last two years, that, so far as MIR.
BrOderick was concerned, it was foregone
conclusion of the Administration that he
should be sacrificed. Their purpose in this
respect, unhappily for them, has not been
concealed The manner in which they at
tempted to involve Stephen A. Douglas in
personal quarrel at the Federal Capital is
familiar to all men. Their outrages upon
all independent men in the House, who re-
fused to acquiesce in their abandoned be-
trayal of principle, are equally notorious.
During all of MIR. Broderick's participation
in the movement against the Administration
on the Territorial question, his friends felt
that his life was in constant jeopardy, and
when he left for California be seemed to be
impressed with the fact that be never would
see them again.
Many years ago the American people
were profoundly excited by the Cilley duel.
A young Representative in Congress, for
certain words spoken in debate, was en-
trapped into a conflict which he was too in
trepid to refuse, and went out upon tie field
and was slaughtered. But Jonathan Cilley
fell for an Administration, and in person
al dificulty-David G. Broderick has
yielded up his life for sacred principle. 1t
is only because he refused to compromise
the truth, and to abandon his solemn
pledges, that we are now called upon to
mourn his untimely death. Thus has closed
pure, beautiful, and stainless life! Thus
has fallen the first great martyr to the poll
teal principles of the campaign of 1856 !!
We ask the arch traitor to those principles
if, in his old age, and in the sunset of his
life, he can feel that his hands are clear of
the hearts blood of David G. Broderick?