The Placer herald., 1860-10-27
The Oregon Conspiracy.


The following is extracted from the Orego n
correspondence of the Bulletin 1t furnishes
some more of the secret history of the Oregon
conspiracy:
When the legislature first convened, the plan OF
q coalition between the Douglas wing ana the
Republican party was evident to the fdr-see'ng g
of the Breckenridge members, and nence the 81
senators leaving their seats vacant ana the Sehate
without a quorum. But at the time, and during
the absence of the six Senators, it was generally
believed that no such intention was contemplated
particularly by those who are famillarly known
as the "Third House" who constitute the OUTSIDE
influence. Some of thisclass, however, pretended
to know all about this coalition; but even their
ardor was greatly cooled by the public and abso-
Lutte denial of the Douglas Democrats OF any fu-
sion with the Republicans, even of the most re-
mote character. But as the sequel will show, the
public denunciation of coalition by the Douglas
Democrats was all ruse; at the same time the
parties were playing every card conceivable to
accomplish the design; and in so doing, they
charged the Breckenridge Democrats with having
the same object in view, in order to accomplish
the defeat of Mr.. Nesmth. The charge preferred
against the Breckenridge Democrats by the Doug
las Democrats now falls to the ground, fact
| strongly indicated during the entire balloting
for Senators. The Breckenridge Democrats in
| the first Joint Convention, which occurred dur
| ing the absence of the six Senators, voted blank
on every ballot but when the Joint Convention
assembled by authority Of quorum in both Hou-
| ses, breckenridge Democrats,) nominated but
one candidate for election. and desired the DOu-
| glas Democrats to nominate another. The Doug
las democrats did not agree to that arrangement,
but nominated Nesrnith for the long term, and
Williams. Curry and Drew for the short term. In
fact the Douglas members, as body, made no
public demonstration of willingness to elect any
but Douglas democrats, and even that demonstra-
ton was useless, for they were greatly in the mi
nority of what would constitute an election Of
Senator; and during the ballotngs, with the ex-
| ceptions of Mr.. Gibbs of the House, and Messrs.
| Williams and Colby OF the Senate, the Douglas
| democrats voted for either Douglas men, or Ba-
ker, and never exhibited willingness to unite
! the two wings of the democracy.
| The Willingness OF the Breckenridge Demo
Gratis was manifest from the first to the last, by
voting on every ballot, almost without an excep-
| ton, for one Breckenridge and one Douglas dem
ocrat. The great barrier then existing between
| the two factions of the Democratic party was
| Ncsmih of the Douglas, and DelaZon Smith of
! the Breckenridge creed The Breckenridge mem.
bers were willing to throw Smith overheard but
| in no case would the Douglas men dispense with
Nesmith, for it was evident that they were deter
mined to elect Nesmith at all hazards or prevent
the election entirely of United States Senator'S
| | will state that they did not coincide with that
arrangement, but on the contrary, voted for one
| Douglas and one Brec kenrdge cand date on near
| ly very ballot.
| At the Democratic State Convention. which as
semblcd last May for the purpose of nominating
q Representative to Congress. it was urged by the
Douglas Democrats the impropriety of electing
or even nominating candidate for Congress on
the ground that there was no law authorizing
such an election; and finding themselves in the
minority in the Convention. they accordingly
| withdrew, and the breckenridge democrats pro-
ceeded and nominated G. X. Shicl, for Congress.
| This proceeding eXaspcrated the Douglas demo-
Gratis. more particularly in Marion county than in
other portions of the State. Here, then, was ma
tured the plan that had for its object the defeat of
G. X. Shiel. the election of David Logan to Con-
| gress, and Messrs Nesmith and Baker to the U.
S. Senate. This plan did not succeed to the sat-
is action of its originators, for G. X. Shiel was
elected by small majority.
The scheme does not stop with the election Of
Nesmith and Baker. There is now bill before
the Legislature which if it passes. will nnnu the
election of Shiel, for the purpose of fulfilling
more particularly the bonds of alliance between
! the Douglas democrats and the Republicans
This portion of the programme is, that the same
parties will unite and pass the BILL and then the
| Republicans will not make nomination. in con-
sideration of Bakers election, and will unite in
electing a Douglas democrat to Congress.