Daily national Democrat., 1861-07-09
,1aiIu 9latlOnalQrmo
:-occb of Hon. John COnness, in the
state Convention, Previous TO MS Nom-
iuntiOn,

inatiOh'
Mr. Conness came upon the platform, and
"a received with tumultuous applause.
NWr'in,, Wa been introduced by the President, he
1Il;5"Nr President and gentlemen of the
%9anycn,ion: 9,', | have been called before you
~, vour kindness, on being presented as "a
99naidate for the office of Governor of this
Stote You have called upon me- presume,
.hat Won might ascertain in the most direct
and nositive manner, what my views are in
lard to the platform and resolutions that
Won have adopted, and in regard to my re-
iations to the party you represent here so
fnllv and | migh say so nobly, to-day and
shall be very brief in what shall say
in response to the call you have made
mon me. In regard to nay political
oninions, | take it there is not man
in California, who has had access to the pub
lie press, who is connected in the slightest
dedree with public affairs, that can have any
doubt as to where stand, what opinions 1
renresent, what measures have favored, or
what measures have antagonized, or would
antagonze if placed in power by the people
of this State. Applause. 1t is in accord
ance with my native instincts, as with my
pride of character, as also with the justice
with which L would always deal with the
public that no concealmeut should be made
connection with tie legislation of the State,
dating back to 1858, is patent among the re-
cords in the public archives of the State. l
point, with kttle pride, at least, TO the ma
ior portion of that record. Nay, to-day, ]
am willing to stand up to it all, applause
each act Of mine being understood as | in
tended it, and not as represented by those
who antagonize and oppose me. Applause
Upon the public questions of national char
acter that are now before the country, | ask
every man, no matter whether he is my
friend or foe, whether he agrees with me in
my opinions or is opposed to them, | ask him
if be is at loss to know whether lack feal-
ty to our Government? NO. and ap-
Yause Whether, under any class Of circum-
stlnces | could be unfaithful to it? TAp
plause.
Gentlemen, while sat here convenient to
your action few minutes ago, there was
resolution introduced concerning special leg
islation, involving an issue upon what is
called the bulkhead question. 1t is due to
myself gentlemen, as You have called upon
me, and as much has been said on the subject
N this State, and some little in this canvass,
to say few words upon it. InstiuctiveIy and
by nature, [ have always opposed all special
legislation Applause The sharpest and
most desperate antagonsm of my life has
been made and grown out of my anthgonism
80 special measures Of legislation. Applause.
My motives, my objects have been miscon-
strued in regard to vote given by me in
1860 for what was called the bu!khcad meas.
ure of that year. do not propose now to
1etain you, gentlemen, nor t. enter upon any
defense of that vote | gave the reasons for
it before | voted. never had identity with
the measure. | regretted its iatroducton
No man connected with it ever had the as
suiance from me that it could have my sup
port, direct or Indirect. Applause. | had,
from the beginning Of that session until the
end, when that measure was forced on the
House of which ] was a member for a vote
had by every means in nay power endcav-
ored to advance the cause of public education
IN the State. Applause. 1t was no newborn
love OF mlae. 1t had always been my favor
ite project; and in measure after measure, as
the records of that session will show, from its
beginning down to the time at which we
ucted on the Uulkhead question, my action
affirmative and positive in endeavoring
to increase the public school moneys OF your
State Applause When discovered-and
pretend to be good Judge of such matters
that the bulkhead bill had positive ma
jority in the Housepf which was a member
one that could not possibly he affected by
any effort | could make, the bill having pass
ed the other body turaed my attention not
to making a compromise with II, but TO the
exaction from it OF Il portion of its proceeds
for the benefit of the children of the state
Applause and "Gocd " | know that in this
matter my motives have been misconstruel
misunderstood perhaps had better say.
II was said that the amendment which had
obtained to that measure, and which, accord
ing to the estimates of the men who opposed
the measure, would have placed $4,000 an
nually in the School Fund of the State, it
was said of it that that was the eildcd pill to
recommend it TO the people Of the State. 1t
may have been capable OF that construction
but my course both prior to that time and
subsequently, in the last Legislature-that OF
lS6l-in connection with the schools of our
country, sufficiently, think to every candid
man, should establish the fact that had but
one object and one purpose in view, and that
was to DO service to the pubic. [Applause
l said then that knew | was about to cast an
unpopular vote. No man must say to me
that could not estimate fully the effect of
}hat vote upon me personally and politically.
lApplause profess again to be good
ladse of those matters; but | took the re
srou'bllity, and felt it was not in the power
OF man to tasten upon me the brand of in
famous or corrupt legislation. Applause,
AVID | come down to the present time, and
say to you, gentlemen and | say it not for
Vie purpose Of recommending myself to you
for this office, for no man will 90 away from
this body more cheerfully than should with
ont nomination for the high Office of Gov-
ernor-l say that do not say these things to
recommend myself to you, but because it is
due to you, the great representative body of
party in the State in which | occupy some
prominence; it is due also tc myself, that
should make this exposition upon measure
IN regard to which have been most cruelty
aud fouly misrepresented or misunderstood.
Applause. Suffice it to say that notwith-
standing YOU have laid that resolution on the
table, if | should obtain power 10y the par
tlaIity of the people, that measure and all
other measures will be TO NE strangers, as if
they had never been heard of, Iapplausel |;
and that every measure that may be pre-
sented for my oflirmance will be considered
solely and entirely with referenceto the pub.
lie interests. | would sooner pass down to
death to day, and take proud name to my
grave with me, than take all the Offices the
people could give, than allow a taint to pass
upon that name. [Appause.
Gentlemen, | will come to the resolutions in
'amoment if you will excuse this There is
one other subject upon which it is due to N.Y.
self and to others that should say word
tits myconnection with an important mea-
sure that came before the past Legislature
in reference to which'a resolution has also
been INTRODUCED here and laid upon the table
" hen | went iuto this contest, as | acknowl.
edged did, to obtain this nomination for the