The Placer herald., 1861-03-23
SACRAMENTO CORRESPONDENCE.
March %, 1861

cannot introduce this letter with better and
more Important subject than
The UNION.
| 1t cannot be known at this time what course Of
policy the revolutonizing States will pursue,
neither can it be decided, rs yet whether the
border Slave States will support the revolution
or remain in the Union. The action of the lat
| ter will probably be governed by the policy OF
the Administration and the former States more
or less by the action of the latter The impress
sion prevails at the Capital that The people of
the extreme Southern States have gone beyond
the point of retrogatiOn. and cannot honorably
return into the Union, however strongly they
night. in the exercise of the "second sober
thought" desire to do The only mode of re-
traction would seem to he for the people to re-
pudate the action of their leaders by electing
a new set of men to administer and control these
various State governments. Such decided ac-
ton by the people of these States would OF
course lead to reiracy the prominent secession
leaders nd at the same time relieve them OF the
responsibility they have assumed. Every Union
man md well wisher of his country cannot but
pray that the rupture may be amlcably heald, ana
justice done TO the south. In the event or II
compromise there is at least promise of the
end of the turmoil and strife on the subject OF
slavery. 1t seems equally rs essential to one Sec
tion Of the Union as the other that the slavery
ag tation should cease, and | cannot but trust.
if settlement Of the present difficulties be Ell
iected at all the slavery agitation will cease.
unless the South can receive an adjustment winch
shall be ettecua and perpetual and beyond
resuscitating, then there can be no great induce
ment to accept Il compromise. To settle on an
| intangible and insecure compromise would be OF
no Importance to the South and it is reasonable
| to presume that the six or seven seeding States
will reject all compromises which can be expect
ed from the North and the Administration at this
time. Ifso then what? A ''masterly nactiv-
! ity,' or II war of coercion? Let us all hope for
! the best
A SENATOR ELECTED.
The past week has been one of peculiar excite
ment on the Senatorial question. and which was
finally terminated hy the election OF Gen. james
A. McDougall. While all may well rejoice at the
termination Of this vexed question, still the de
mocracy may repine that man so incompetent
to represent them should be the successful candi-
date The election of McDougall was brought
about by no ordinary causes. 1t was an uncoH-
MOI instance of success considering the small
number of his caucus supporters. He was eec-
ted because his opponent John Nugent was in
danger of receiving majority vote But your
readers will at once inquire. "how is it that MI
gent in any event contributed to the election of
NcDougall?" Why, simply. from the fact that
he was Douglas man and had made himself ac-
ceptable by Il speech. with the Democrats Of the
Legislatures.
1t will be recollccted that Denver McDougall
and Nugent, in the first Douglas Caucus, entered
as candidates pledging themselves to abide its
results After IA few ballots. and when it was APP
paren' that McDougall had IA minority. De"ver
and Nugent withdrew from the caucus, and were
subsequently, taken up by another caucus of mem
bcrs who were opposed to McDougal This eau
Gus met on Monday and Tuesday evening last.
and on the latter meeting Gen. Denver's friends.
disguised wi h Nugents Importers. (nine in num-
Der originality declined further lavors and Nu-
gent was unanimously nominated! Nugent so
| Iplo o. wi he n
five votes. went immediately before the caucus
and made speech which was well known to be
inconsistent with his antecedents In this speech.
language was used. expressed or implied, which
was bid for votes. in number to the forty-ive,
to give him an election in the Joint Convention.
Contrary to Nugents expectations the speech
failed to bring the required eleven or twelve
votes. but gave twenty-nine to McDougall's TWEEN
seven and elected HIM Nugcnt had overdone his
work, and instead Of electing himself had ac
compshcd for McDougall more than bis most ar
dent friends could hope to do. Strange results
for one brief speech of the minutest duration!
As Nugent could not have the honor of repre-
sentng the State of California in the Sen te OF
the United States. he should have the honor justly
due him the honor and credit of efecting a
Senator at the present Session Of the Legisla-
| tire in the person of Jim a. .HcDOugdU
After Nugents' speech on Tuesday evening.
the public mind here WIS convicted that either
Nugent or Med ougall was to be elected Senator.
Which. it was impossible to tell, from the fact it
could not be determined whether several promi-
nent Breckenridge Democrats, not pal anticipating
| in the Denver Nngent Caucus, would vote for
Nugent: and negatively. whether the speech was
sufficiently charged to CONCEAL the opposition in
| favor of McDoug gall. But the balotings on We'd
ne day settled all doubts. Nugent gained two
more votes in COnventiOn-but these votes with
others sent to McDougal six Democratic and
twenty-three Republican votes! The full Repub-
lcan vote with the exception of Chas. Crockcr.
one of the Representatives Of this city and
county. Crocker, like that old war-horse of the
Democracy Zack Montgomiry, could not stand
John Nugent. While Montsomcry's course is ap-
proved by the Democracy Of this State, Mr..
CrOckers will be condemned by the Republicans
They were both, politically speaking in strict.
sense. consistent positions How Montgommery
ct al and Laspyre. Thornton ct al will reconcile
the respective contra positions OF this Senatori-
III muddle. | leave with them. 1t strikes your
correspondent that those Democrats who refused
their support to Nugent consistent, and
these who mixed themselves with the boiling
Douglas nominee are heartily ashamed OF them
selves.
Two other prominent Democrats were most
thoroughly disgustcd with its effects. Joe Nc
Corkle and John Conness iuing erpecfantiy.
were killed by the same stroke of political thun-
der. But for the speech of John Nugent
McCorkle would have undermined the Nc
ougall and received the nomination. John
CONFESS too. was also waiting his turn after or
before McCork lie. Nugent. McCorkle and CONFESS
the Senatorial trio, can most consistently sym
pathise together. and each exclaim in the Ian
guage of the psalmist, ''save me from my friends"
How the mig ghty have allen and how great was
the fall thereof! 7e DUN.
RESIDENT PHYSICIAN.
Yesterday afternoon, the Legislature met again
in joint convention, for the purpose of electng
Physicians and Trustees OF the State Insane Asy-
lum. There were four candidates before the body
viz: Drs. Aylette, Ellis. Thomas and Tilden.-
Tilden is the only bancut or political nominee
the three other named gentlemen running Oh