The hydraulic press., 1861-01-26
UNITED STATES SENATOR.


Very properly, the Legislature seems determ-
ined to act with deliberation in its choice of a
United States Senator. 1t has refused to fix
day as yet, for the holding of joint Convention.
1t would be useless for the independent press
to make any suggestions with hope of having
them regarded by the politicians, who are entire
ly welded to their party, and will follow out
whatever scheme may be dictated by its drill
One State Senator has already gone so far as to
declare, that even on grave question as the
disruption of the American Union, he will take
that side which is espoused by his party.
A dozen names have been suggested for Uni
ted States Senator, the largest number of which
are lawyers, and gentlemen office-seekers by pro-
fession. Now, why Should California confer, her
honors upon such men, to the exclusion of all
others? Is lawyer gentleman of leisure
supposed to know about the demands of
commerce, of agriculture, of mechanics, of labor
in its thousand departments, than the merchant,
the farmer, the mechanic, or the educated miner?
Has he greater interest in the soil, larger
stake in internal improvements, in the prosperity
of the State generally? Weithink not.
The man who announces himself a candidate
wines, certainly does not, thereby, advance an
argument favorable to his pretensions. Nor be-
cause man once held prominent position, is it
reason why he should do so again. 1t is the rec
ord which he ought to be able to exhibit Those
who hare record, need no such expedients to
win popular favor. The record, where it exists,
shows and speaks for itself. It is those who
have no record to exhibit, and, consequently,
little merit, who are most industrious in their
efforts to foist themselves upon the Legislature
and the State.
We have all had reason to deplore the manner
in which California has been misrepresented at
Washington Let etnone of those men be trusted,
then, WHO have already been tried and found de-
fcient. We want man taken from the work.
shop, the sluice-box, orethe plow-and who, when
his term of service has ended, is not too proud
to return to it again. There are thousands of
such in the State, intelligent educated close
reasoning, far-seeing, Industrious men, much
better qualified from modes of thought, mental
training, and sound Judgment, to fill the Office of
Ouitcu OtleS SENATOR WIFI ul01lty 10 themselves,
and profit to the State, than the other class
named. The mere politician. at this junrture
in the national affairs, of all men, is the one that
should be most avoided.
Eminent forensic talents are not required in
Senator. (For that matter, if they were, most
of the self-nominated candidates would be found
terribly defcient.) Weight of character is some
thing. Do any of our prominent aspirants pos
sess an extraordinary amount of this ingredient?
If So where has it been exhibited? What has
it accomplished? Who is aware of it? Habits
of industry a requirement in point Has Ell
ther of them, since he became politician, con-
tributed anything by his labor to the common
wealth? To be good at calculating, would serve
useful purpose. What table of statistics has
one of them ever presented to the public? Upon
what do they base their pretensions, except that
by some fortuitous circumstance they have come
to be recognized as party leaders2-of all quail
fcations, as we have already intimated, the most
to be avoided and stunned.
Oh, that for once, the Legislature would es-
chew politics, and give us man for Senator in
whom all classes and conditions of people could
repose confidence!