The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-30
The California Democratic


Convention met at Sacramento, February
29th. PHILIP MOORE was chosen Presi-
dent. A committe was appointed to draft
resolutions. The committee reported the
following, which were adopted: s.
First, endorses the principles Of the Gin
cinnati platform, as those which can alone
preserve the Union and maintain the in.
tegrity of the Democratic party.
Second, approves the bred Scott decision.
Third and fourth, favor Pacific Rail-
road and Overland Mail and Telegraphs.
Fifth, endorses Buchanan's Administration.
Sixth, approves the present and past De-
mocratic State administrations.
Seventh, declares Dickinson the first
choice of the California Democracy, but
does not instruct the delegates to support
him.
The telegraph gives the following subse-
quent proceedings of the Convention
The following delegates were then elected
to the Charleston Convention, in the order
in which their names appear, the last four
probably elected as alternates and not en-.
John Bidwell, Of Butte county; John A.
Dresbillis, of Shasta county G. w. Pat>
rick, of Tualumsee county John S. Dud~
ley, of Calaveras county; Austin E. Schmidt,
of San Francisco, Jno. Reins, D. e. Gre~
gor, and Maj. Bradley.
As these delegates are not instructed, and
are selected from different wings of the par.
ty, it is impossible to foreshadow their votes.
None of them has been known as particu-
larry hostile to Douglas.
After their election, Mr.. Greiger, posi-
tive Gwin and Weller man, offered resolu-
ton that Stephen A. Douglas be declared
the last choice of the convention.
The ayes and nays were called, and the
motion laid on the table by 284 to IS.
Humphrey Griffith, a positive Douglas
man spoke against the resolution, and Weller,
who was member of the convention, voted
for tabling it.
Both wings of the party are disposed to
make an issue on the Douglas question.
JUDGE BATES POSITION Hon. EDWARD
BATES, Of Missouri, is candidate for the
Republican nomination, and so announces
himself in letter addressed to the Missouri
delegates to the Chicago convention, in re-
ply to the interrogations propounded him
by them. The main points set forth in the
letter are as follows:
Judge Bates says he has no new opinions
on the subject of slavery-none formed with
reference to the present array of parties.
His views are coeval with the Missouri
question of 1820-he formed his opinions
then, and has not changed them since. AT
the time of the Revolution, and long after,
slavery was regarded as an evil temporary
in its nature and likely to disappear in the
course Of time, yet while it continued it was
a misfortune to the country, socially and
politically. Slavery is social relation ; a
domestic institution. 1t exists by local law
the federal government has no control
over it in the States. The territories are
subject and subordinate, not supreme like
States. The nation is supreme over them.
He is opposed to the extension of slavery,
and in his opinion the spirit and policy of
the government ought to be against its ex..
tension.
The constitution does not carry slavery
into the territories, nor anywhere else. 1t
only acts upon it where it is established by
local law. The bred Scott case only de-
cides that Scott was not a citizen. Opin>
ions of judges beyond this are extra judicial
and no authority. The questions discussed
by them were political, and not within their
cognizance, and belong and could be dis
posed of only by the political departments.
The discussion was unfortunate, as it pro.
duced dangerous conflict between o.ordi-
nate branches of the government. He favors
the colonization of free blacks in the Amer
lean tropics, the homestead bill, the imme>
date admission of Kansas, perfect equality
of rights among citizens, and the construc-
ton of the Pacific railroad under the aus
pices of the government. He is gratifed
his name has been used in a spirit of har>
mony and peace, and to prevent division
and controversy among those who ought to
be united. He has neither sought nor held
any political Office for twenty Eve years, and
is satisfied with the honors already paid him
by the public.
KANsAs.-A serious division has arisen
in the Republican party of Kansas. The
Topeka State Record, the organ of General
LANE, is very bitter upon Gov. ROBINSON,
and reads him out of the Republican party.
The reason of this onslaught was Robinson s
testimony before the Senate Investigating
Committee, in which he declared that LANE,
REDPATH, BROWN and other leading Repub-
licans were in favor of, and did keep up, a
civil war in that territory for long time,
in order to subserve their partisan purposes.
There is no doubt but what ROBINSON told
the truth. aes atF ~
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