Daily national Democrat., 1861-05-04
SENATE CHAMHEE.

SACRAMENTO, April u, 1861. {
MIR EDIroR-SlE: In your issue of April
9th, | find u long article under the head of
"FHSjon,' reviewing the action of members of
the Legislature politically and arruigning my
self amongst Others at the bar Of public opin-
ion, for our acts Knowing. sir, or at least
believing that you are fair minded and would
not willingly censure, or cause censure to fall
when uudeserved, | humbIy crave that you
will permit this reply to appear in your col
umns in order that your readers (many Of
whom are my constituency may first know
my reasons before being called upon to pass
Judgment upon my acts
was elected TO the Senate hv the so called
Admins ration party. During the last canvas
belonged to and worked for the success OF
the Breckinlidge patty, aud am now a mem-
Der of that party Now the question is, have
betrayed my feaIty to that party? Let the
record of my actions speak for themselves !
attended all the caucnses Of that party for
Senator, and on all other measures through
out the session, bowed my head in sub,nis-
sion to the dictates of that party as expressed
in caucus; as long as they remained intact and
continued to preserve their party organiza-
ton voted steadily to postpone the eec-
ton fearing the success of some men not of
struggle tone That think all will admit was
maintained 10y the Breckinridge party with
true gallantry) delay was no longer possible;
an election could no longer be postponed
and an election only of some man not mem
Der of our party, Was certain, our councils
became discordant, our array hopelessly
broken; we had to choose from the Douglas
Democracy; i'll making that choice what fair
minded Democrat will say that my party
obligations required me to vote any more for
Nugent than for McDougall; they both can
vassed for the same ticket, and stood upon
the same platform during the last canvass:
the only difference being probably that Nu-
gent contributed far more largely to the de-
feat of the Breckinrilge party last fall than
did Mr. McDougall then | was left as a rep
resentive belonging to the Breckenridge par
ty, to choose between them, and in making
choice at variance with the most of my party.
| was influenced by the following reasons:
firmly believed and still believe that General
McDougall, as a man of intellect, legislative
and legal experience, was and is far the SUI
perior of Mr. Nugent ! could perceive no
difference in their political views. bcliev-
ed that from McDougall's intimate acouaint-
ance with the President Senators Douglas,
Baker Nesmth and Trumbull, that lie would
be enabled TO obtain more advantageous egis-
lation relative to our California interests than
Mr.. Nugent could, even if he (Mr Nugen)
was equally capable as a man; | believed
from these facts that ! was serving my State
better and my party as well in making the
choice that did,-and this matter ! am will
ing to refer for judgment to an intelligent
public. You speak Of "FHSion" with just
censure; prOcjded fusion could have been
avoided, but you, sir, must be aware that in
this Legislature no one party held a political
predominance, Saficie5lt to elect any man to
any position. Fusion between parties was a
fixed necessity.
In censuring me and few others that you
mention, you forget to also include as fusion
lists many Others, indeed all others Of every
party; let the record speak All the Breck
inridge Senators with all of the Republican
Senators and four Douglas Senators fused and
elected Don Pablo de la Guerra President of
the Senate this movement met with no cen
sure from eithermy party or its press. Again,
our party and large number of the Repub-
lcans fused in endeavoring to prevent the
electoni of Senator this winter this also
was approved. Again, the fusion that cleo
ted Ferris Forman and defeated McKibbin
was composed of all three parties, and this
"'0O "GS uHFIONtu bJ Oul f''''O "lld pui
press. Again, "a fusion came near electng
Aylette as Resident Physician and did elect
Board of Trustees to the Asylum. And
this was a fusion of Breckinridge and Repub.
lican members, which was likewise approx
ed. And lastly, fusion elected Showalter
Speaker pro TEN. of the Assembly. And yet
all the gentlemen you mention with SO much
praise were each engaged as participants in
and doubtless ,gere advisors of these different
fusions equally with myself; but simply be.
cause in Que instance whea occ pere all com 70
pelied to choose from the enemy oar candidate
for certain position, I made different Sc
lection from those gentlemen you mention, you
impugn my action as un-democratic and as
violaive of my faith to my party. Now up
on this review, simply ask is this just?
ask this question of you. ask it of my con
stituency with full faith that my course is
perfectly iustifable in any light considered,