The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-24
CALIFORNIA; PRESERvER.
FREDERICK. THE FoRGorrE

FREDERICK, THE FORGOTTEN.
HIS LIFE, POLITICAL ADVENTURES, AND
TRAGIC DEATH-A DECISION UPON HIS
WILL.
Commenting upon a recent legal decis-
ion and under tho heading of "a Forgot
ten Man, the New York Times gives
sketch of the California senator who was
so famous in his day. David C. Broderick
was bonn in Washington, ID. c., and was
first known in New York as as good stone
mason and a leader among the somewhat
unruly firemen who made this city
turbulent place twenty-five years
ago. Gifted with a certain rude force,
he won the affections and esteem OF
the volunteer firemen and roughs who were
such powerful element in New York in
the old days. The men whom he controlled
| were rougber than he, but among them he
was beloved, feared and implicitly trusted.
| His personal courage and magnetism were
marvellous, and there was no storm so yio-
lent that he could not ride upon it, no eXi-
gency 50 trying that ne could not cope with
| it. He rose to be chief engineer in the days
when that office gave its incumbent abso-
| Lutte sway over great mass of wilful and
almost lawless men. He had natural turn
| for politics, and, fascinated by his success
while supported. by the suffrages of the
fremen of New York, he ran for
Congress in 1916, and was defeated.
Soon after this disappointment the
California gold fever broke out, and ne
sailed for the new FL Dorado of the Pacific,
where, in the wild struggle for place and
power be made himself felt. In wild, un-
easy California was his congenial element.
! Broderick, warm, generous, brave. bold
and indomitable, led manfully in that
unique battle of life. Broderick WAS
elected senator to the first legislature, and
| his hand was often heavy on the lawiess
men who again and again attempted 20
bring chaos into the state. In 1886 ne vas
elected to the United States senate. His
instincts were all against slavery, and he
became the open foe of his colleague. VIII
| liam NJ. Gwin, then the pro slavery senator
fIom California. During the
| MYSTERIOUS AND PLOTTING DAYS
of Buchansn's administration, Broderick
was the bold and fearless champion of free
dom in the territories. He was the trusted
friend and supporter of stephen A. Doug
las, and when the so-called Lecompton issue
| came up in congress, not even Douglas hin .
| self was more emphatic and scornful in his
| denunciatiOn of the Kansas-Nebraskai in
| fanny than Broderick. He was prescribed
by the "Dou ghfaces" of the North as well as
nous patronage OF the young state
of California was given to GwiD,
received the dukedom of Sonora
from Maximillian, was in favor of Jetfer-
| son Davis, and was finally captured and
immured in fort Lafayette. A dangerous
man to the pro-slavery democracy, idolized
| by the liberty loving masses of California,
| BrodericK was to be got rid OF. 1t was
said that caucus of his political enemies
was held in San Francisco TO decide who
should challenge him TO fight duel. One
1 1iGh cd LIST
from a Southern state, and state
Judge, was selected. and Broderick,
who was neither swordsman nor
shot, was challenged to deadly
combat. "The Code" ruled in California II
those days. Frederick was proud, sensiIive
and tenacious of his manly dignity. He
went out to the field in the gray OF the morn
ing, with the fixed Consciousness that be
was going to his execution. He fell NOR
tally wounded-murdered with deliberation,
one may say. His dying words were, "They
have killed me for opposing the extension
| of slavery" One year later these words
were inscribed on the banners that bore his
figure during the Lincoln campaign IN the
city where he died. over
THE BIER OF FREDERICK,
exposed in one of the open squares of San
Francisco, Edward ID. Baker, the friend OF
Lincoln. and afterward Senator and General
and who died on the field of battle, pro-
nounced one of the most marvellous funeral
orations of modern times. In his eulOgy
on Broderick in the Senate, Seward said that
| impartial history would rank the dead SEN
ator with Winthrop, Villiers, Raleigh, Balti-
more, Penn, and Oglethorpe-tbe organizers
of our states. Then and there the tide turned
| Disunion in California was impossible after
the death OF Broderick. His slayer war
brought before the courts. But the courts
were pro-slavery. There was change of
venue, long delays, and a final trial ia a
rural town, reached by water from San Fran
cisco. Sail boats with legal functionaries
and witnesses were delayed, clocks were put
forward by accommodating creatures, ana
the case was finally allowed to 60 by default.
Terry lived long enough to disappear into
the Confederacy during the late rebellion.
Broderick lett no children nor other heir
bearing his name. During his lifetime
there was none to claim kinship TO hin. and
when he d d there was not one to demand
his handsome estate by right OF Inheritance.
A will devising his property to certain per-
J sonal friends, was produced after death.
This, 1t was claimed, was forged. AS lega-
were John A. McGlyn, George Wilkes, A j.
Butler and others. The will was soon cor :
tested by certain persons who came into the
country from Australia, claiming to be the
I descendants of the sister OF Broderick, and,
} therefore, heirs-at-law. The senator died in
, 1859; the Supreme Court has just decided
against the Australian claimants; and so the
, long struggle over the personal remainder
of Broderick terminates at last. His career
was strange and eventual; his tragical deatt
sent shock throughout the entire Union
and the strange drama of mis- life IL no " oni,
recalled by legal decision.
General Grant was not drunk at Shi
lob, ," says General Sherman )" I have neve
u