The Shasta courier., 1865-06-10
SHASTA COURIER
E.Open Letter from Senator Conness.

propose to say in this letter is addressed to
you, because you are one of the oldest rep
resentatives of the Republicans, who make
up large part of the Union party of Califor-
MIA. | write because of what | read IN the
California press from time to time, concern-
ing myself and my relations to the Union
party. and because | would like to be bet
ter understood by ALL
l was a Democrat, will say, by nature,
by instinct, and by reason OF the differences
which existed between the old Wing and
Democratic parties, as | understood thenl.
1t was alleged against the Democratic party
that they .-ilol and a0etteL. 70 tic eneF0aeh-
ments by the South, to strengthen and ex
tend slavery. / have no doubt, now, hav-
ing the whole past before me, that the allie
cation was true; although it may be truly
said that all parties did that by turns, and
whenever and wherever they could strength
en- themselves by doing so.
Thus the Wing party in California was
pro-slavery, and led by Henry A. Crabbe,
the ablest Southern man, as a leader. that
California had within its limits. The Know
Nothings or American party became pro
slavery at once, and in our State very nearly
elected Henry S. Foote to the United States
Senate
The Democratic party. though pro slavery,
on the other hand, in California, initiated IN
the State Convention of 1853 an amendment
to the State Constitution, which was COM
pleted and adopted in 1856, providing for the
submission of any revised Constitution that
might be subsequently made to a vote OF the
people, thus substantially disposing of a
Constitutional Convention, which had been
~ m IN
California for the purpose Of introducing
slavery there.
When the Republican party was formed,
in 1856, the question of restricting slavery
to the States in which it existed was the issue
upon which it was built. That remained
the issue until 1860, when MIR. Lincoln was
first nominated for the Presidency, and until
after the war begun. Anti-Lecompton,
Douglas, Broderick,1 or Union Democrat,
as they were respectively called, believed
that the question of slavery in the Terrific
ries was perfectly safe if left to a fair vote
with the people, and when the vote was not
fair, as in the case of Kansas, they opposed
their own party administration on that ISSUE
They never wavered, if we except a few,
the like of whom every party contains, who
have no doctrine worth living or dying for,
and whose sole attachment to party consists
of a desire to get Office through and by its
means.
1t must always be conceded that after
Mr.. LincOln's election, and from the mo-
ment at which the South undertook to deny
his -ight to govern where the people had
invested him with the power. the great
body OF the Union Democracy Of California
were true and steady to the Union and the
law.
When, at later period, the Republicans.
as such, abandoned their organization as
party, and invited such citizens of our State
to join them as would stand by the Union
and the Administration, the great body of
.he Union Democracy joined with them
for, when few of them subsequently un-
dertook to keep up the Union Democratic
organization by name, they had no follow
ers and but few leaders.
Some Republicans there who have been
prone to parade the vote cast for Governor
in 1861 as an evidence of the relative proper
ton Of Democrats and Republicans the Union
party contained; and they have claimed
that Gov. Stanford had Sc, 900 votes, while |
had but 3l.000. If they were more candid
they would not forget that within the last two
weeks of the canvass then made, at least
10000 votes changed from our side to theirs,
to make certain that Mcconnell should not
be elected. Those were not in any sense Re-
publican votes, and they were not then
claimed as such. But the question of which
gaze most to the Union party is OF little
consequence. The Union party has saved
California, and | shall always believe that
peace in California has saved the Union.
No man can tell what the consequences to
the national Cause would have been had the
peace of California been broken, and the
product of precious metals been stopped, and
that great support Of the public credit cut
off 1t was not the power of the General
Government that kept the peace in Califor
mia, but the overwhelming patriotic senti
ment of the people, acting together, with the
aid, / think it ought to. be said, of sound
and devoted Union press.
Now, if there be credit in this, whoever
did any part of it is entitled to credit, and
in proportion TO what they did. / do not
think that it is wise contending as to who did
most trust, as l am willing to believe,
that each did all he could.
At later period, there was an election of
a United States Senator. After an arduous
contest between the competitors, was elec-
ted. Neither |, nor any one acting for me,
did any mean nor corrupt act to promote that
election. No human being had promise of
office or favor in case of my election. Every
base proposition that was made to me, pend
ing the contest, was instantly repelled and
rejected. My worst enemies said that | had
adopted honesty as policy. 'Twere better
if all should adopt it. | defy cotradiction of
these things If any know to the contrary,
let him testify.
NV senatorial duties had not yet begun
when there was canvass for an entire new
State Government, owing to the changes
which had been made in the Constitution.
The terms Of Office were heightened. Five
new Supreme Court Judges with ten-year
terms, and State officers with four-year
terms were to be chosen. This was, to a
State which had been badly governed, an
important crisis in its affairs. Had | a
right to voice in ithe choice of those off
GERS? l suppose l had. l think | had
All but one Of the candidates for Governor,
who were not nominated, thought had, for
they solicited my aid. Governor Low did
not come to me-I went to him. | had no
previous acquaintance with him. but, from
the evidence had from others, who knew
him well, it appeared to ME that he would
make good Governor. | now think they
were right. 1t is sometimes said that had