Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-08-03
A Delegate Defends Himself.

ARcArA, HUMBOLDT Co, July Is, 1867.
EDrroR JouRSAL In your issue of July 9th
appears the following:
"s Klamath county was represented by proxy
in the Union State Convention by man named
Deming, Of Humboldt county, with instructions
to 60 for Bidwell and Oulton, and instead of do
ing SO he cast his vote for the Gorham crowd
Exchange.
I" Yes, Byron Demins is the name of the gen.
tleman captured by the Gorhamites, contrary to
his instructions. journal.
am somewhat surprised that so gross fabri-
cation should find its way into respectable
paper as the Journal - as any one can see by
reading the proceedings of the Convention as
repor,ed in full for the Sacramento Union, that
the statement is without foundation. The in
structions from Klamath county were-lst, that
the vote must be for none but sound Union men
I'd for Bdwell for Governor; Sd, for Oul.on for
Controller. The vote was cast for Bidwell.
Oultons name was not before the Convention.
Had it been, he would have received the kla-
matn vote and the Humboldt vote as we'll. The
instructions from Klamath were strictly follow
ed In:speakng with Mr.. Gorham in relation to
the Klamath county vote, told him the nstruc-
tious were to cast it for Bidwell. His reply was
TO cast the vote strictly in accordance with in
structions that under no circumstances would
he solicit vote which, rs in this case, was in
structed against him. The klamath proxy vas
given to the Humboldt delegation. My colleague
in the Convention, W. J. Sweasey, was equally
responsible with me for the faithful performance
Of the trust from Klamath, and We consulted to-
gether on every vote taken, save the prelm-
mary organization. Mr.. Sweasey was not pres
ent at the time, and | cast the vote without his
advice, for temporary chairman. The ONLY
question involved was as to which of the Sacra-
mento delegations should be admitted TO seats.
! had taken much pains to inform myself as to
hn re nf fha hot
delegations in Sacramento City, and became sat-
sfed that the delegates elected under the call
Of the regular County Committee were entitled
TO their seats in the Convention that the con-
testing delegation had not in their claim a shad
dow of foundation. l could extend my invest-
cation in this matter to great length, but will
be AS brief as possible. ! conversed with sew
eral Of the boilers, and each and every One of
them said that they were in the ma jority in the
primaries, and that they would defeat the regu-
lar ticket for county Offices. Now admitting all
TO be true that has been said in relation to call
ing the primaries in Sacramento, and the neglect
or refusal Of the County Committee to apply a
suitable test still contend, on the showing of
the boilers themselves that the delegates elected
At those primaries were the only legal represent
a,ives of Sacramento to the State Convention.
They all contended they were in the majority,
and such being the had they stood up for
the right, and not deserted the primary meetings,
they could, according to their own showing,
have elected a regular ticket of their own select
ing, and no contest would have occurred. My
motto is to scrutinzc with distrust all bolters,
under whatever name they may appear, or how
soever we'll they may be disguised, and had cast
the Klamath vote otherwise than it was cast rel
alive to the Sacramento delegation. it would
have been dono under the full conviction that
was violating the instructions and confidence re-
posed in me by the citizens Of klamath county,
as interpreted those instructions to vote for
Union men only to mean we'll to vote for only
Union prineipies Had the paragraph above re-
ferred to only met the eyes of those with whom
am acquainted, should have taken no notice of
1t whatever, but as it will meet the eyes of, and
be read by, many who are entire strangers to
me, it is but just that you should give the fore
going like publicity. respectfully yours,
BYRON DEMING.