The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943, 1863-01-31


The "Puritsns and bIackIegs" Of the
Immaculate Republican party Of Califor-
mia have got into . sweet snarl, which
promises many rich developments before
it is settled aunicably. As Il is free 6ght
among brother knaves and dupes, Federal
officials on the one side and fellows who
desire to be Federal officials on the other,
and as we feel indifferent Is to the result,
having no preference for either Of the can
didatea, We shalt content ourselves by Civ
ing brief and impartial synopsis Of the
transaction. In which 20 many honorable
Republicans figure % cOOsPicuOUsly, and
% glOViSasay.
On the 18th Fl this month WatroOs, q.
s. Postal Agent, and q warm friend Of
Phelps, doubtless having good reasons for
believing that Saith, Republican member
Of the Legislature from Butte county, was
ION the sell. " generously invited him to
dine with him. Smith "smelt mice" at
s"~"- "~S t'""~;0s that WAtrOus had pO-
sition, influence aud means, readily &C.
cepted the invitation. They dined and
wined together, Watrous intent on cap
turing Smith, and Smith intent on finding
out the value Of - vote to the friends Of
Phelps. At tnIs dinner Watrous, know.
ing that Smith was an honorable man."
made certain corrupt aud degrading and
criminal proposals to Smith, which the
latter, with charming innocence, "toOk
under Amusement" Having big thing,
DOT Of which money could be made, and
being Of generous disposition, he in.
formed two Of his Senatorial friends Of the
tempting speculation, and probably init
mated that they might "gO snOOks" with
him. On the 18th, Smith invited Wat.
rOus to meet him at his (Smith's) rom for
little private talk on the subject An
hour was set for the meeting. In the
meantime Smith placed his two Senatorial
partncrs-NuCulIOugh and Gsskell-in .
wardrobe in his room, locked it, put the
key in his pocket, and impatiently await
ed the arrival Of his friend Watrou&. The
innocent, cOnfiding and unsOphisticated
U. S. Postal Agent fell into the trap 50
hOnOrabIy set for him by the ilIustrious
triumvirAtc. The Senatorial spies, with
their ears glued to the kcybole, eagerly
listened to the private conversation. A
slight noise in the wardrobe attracted the
attention and aroused the fears Of the ca.
ger briber, and he inquired Of the smiling
Smith il any one was concealed in it,
Smith sOIemnly assured him there was
not. WatrOus, still apprehensive, de.
manded the key. Smith told him the pro-
prietor Of the house had it. Watrous
then abruptly loft, and Smith unlocked
the wardrobe and released the virtuous
Senatorial eaves-droppers. Watrous, in
the hearing Of the Senators, offered Smith
$3, 1000 for three votes in the caucus for
Phelps, lone thousand down at any
hour" and 81, 900 at some other time
proposing to give Chenery, Navy Agent,
and Barstow, Secretary Republican State
Central Committee, for security. The
sum being evidently too small for the
three, and the transaction having leaked
out, they made virtue Of necessity, and
laid the whole matter before the caucus.
1t created sensation and provoked dis.
cUssiOn, in which members mildly called
each other cOnspiratOrs, liars and scOun-
drels. Park, the friend and candidate
Of Smith, Mccullough and Gsskell, gen.
erOusly informed the friends of Phelps
that if they "wOuld make him United
States Senator this thing should never bs
revealed" He was willing to conceal the
villainy, provided be prOfitsd By the eon-
cealment! The caucus is stiIl engaged in
investigating the infamous matter. The
whole proceeding is in strict accordance
With the antecedeuts, policy and practice
of the Republican party, and proves con.
clusively what the Democrats have always
charged, that from the highest to the low.
est the Republicans are cOrruptible.