Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-12
PIONEERS CONVENTION.
What Shall Be Done In Honor of Suffer,
AID to Commemorate the Pioneer Era

to the chair, who stated the object of tn
meeting. Jas. McCleery was elected Sec
rotary.
The following delegates were found to b
present:
Jackson-John A. Eagon.
San Franclsco-E. 0. F. Hastings, VIM
I. S. Massey, P. D. Cornwall.
Marysville-A J. Batchelder.
Stoekton-Dr. G. Grattap. r. c. Sargent
John Patterson.
From Territorial Pioneers, San Francisco
D. Meeker, William Winters.
Oregon Pioneers-G. W. jackson.
Sacramento-W. G. Felch, George Cad
walader John H. McKune, a. P Catlin
Responses were read from the Vallejo and
! San Jose societies, but, the delegates being
absent and the trains not in, the convention
discussed the propyiety Of adjourIiug until
evening.
A lengthy debate was entered upon as to
| the best method of beginning the work of the
/ convention, and finally committee was
/ ordered to formulate the subject and report
/ at an evening session, and the Chair APP
| pointed George Cadwalader, A. p. Catlin,
| E. 0. f. Hastings. &. j. Bachelor, DIR.
| Grattan, William Winters and John a.
| Eagon.
The convention reassembled at S P. N, and
| A. Powell, representing the Vallejo Pioneers,
took seat in the convention. There was a
! large assemblage Of Pioneers and others as
| spectators.
The Committee on Plans by George Cad
| walader, reported that while it IS more fitting
that whatever Is erected to honor the mem
| CRY Of Captsin Suffer should be placed on
/ the site Of his old fort in the city of Sacra-
mento. they are restrained from definitely
] Il h ,,y,rchaua of fha tzyo hlnpEc in
| closing it until it is known that they can be
| purchased at price reasonable in itself, as
| well as within the means at the disposal of
| the Convention They had 40 doubt that an
attempt upon the part of the owners of the
two blocks aforesaid to demand an unreason-
able price for them would result in the CON-
nittee advising them that the Capitol
Park or the Plaza Square of Sacra-
nento be used for the contemplated
memorial instead of the two blocks aforesaid.
The committee further report that on the
supposition that the site of the old fort could
be obtained at q reasonable price, that it is
hardly practicable or desirable to advise the
restoration of the old fort to its original APP
pearance. The original work was done with
adobe. and little or no permanence would
belong TO such structure. The committee
also think that a statue of Captain Suffer
erected on the site of the fort would not for
number of reasons, meet the ex-
pectation of the public. The COM
mittee incline to the opinion that a
memorial building" constructed of stone
and capable of various uses, would best
answer the leading ideas of the Convention.
But inasmuch as the cost of such structure
is unknown. and the committee as well as the
Convention are in the dark as TO the sum of
money which can be raised for such pur-
pose, the committee contents itself with adj
vising the following preliminary action 1st
That a committee be appointed TO incorpo-
rate by some proper name the Suffer Memo
rial Association, in order that it may acquire
property and take such measures as a
body as may be necessary to carry out the
objects in view. ID. That a committee
of twenty-five capable persons, who need not
personally be members Of this Convention, be
appointed finance committee to solicit con-
tIibutions for our purposes and to report to
the Convention at its adjourned meeting.
81. That this Convention reassemble here on
the -- day of February, 1881, and that
this committee have leave to further consider
the matter submitted to it, as to the site of,
and the plans for and cost of, the memorial
building aforesaid, and shall report at said
adjourned meeting.
The report was agreed to. and the blank
was filed with the words =" first Tuesday in
February"
Geo. Cadwaladsr said the land at the fort
was owned in Chicago, and would cost
s., 000 probably 81 900, while it would
take g. 600 to put the ground in order and
get good frontage on K street on the high
ground there. No one could now say what a
memorial building would cost, but probably
not less than 1000.
Mr.. Hastings said the California Pioneer
Association in New York had written to say
ba ya,,,rad md cr,ct, ,uo.i-
entered on as to guarantee good faith, that
Association will then contribute to its COM
pletion.
J. H. McKune said no positive plans
should be now agreed upon. He was not
clear as to whether memorial hall would be
best other designs may be determined upon.
But whatever it L. it ought to be State
work, nay. national work, because Sutter
saved this territory to the United States.
He was all American. His fort was the sole
obstacle TO the expulsion of all Anglo
Saxons who had settled in Northern Califor-
MIA. The Mexican Government, after the
expulsion of AIicheltorena, sought to Gust
Suffer, sought to buy him out, TO drive him
cut, but had he been instructed by the Home
Government he could not have been tirmer
in his refusal to yield. Had he yielded, it is
a question whether this territory would have
been acquired. He dwelt at length on the
republican tirmness and devotion Of Suffer,
and the gain his acts had resulted in to the
United States Government.
Mr.. Swasey IN very eloquent strain de-
scribed the heing present) the arrival of the
Mexican delegation TO urge Suffer out of the
country now he refused; how all the Amer
leans looked upon Suffers fort as their only
protecton-the only barrier against not only
expulsion but death; how General Castro
issued q proclamation ordering all Americans
from the land. and armed strong force to
march upon them, but was deferred by the
rifles behind the walls of Suffers fort, and
the brave front and stand taken by Captain
Suffer- Few realize to-day how much the
State and nation owe to Suffer. He detailed
evidences of his charity, the aid he gave freely
and without reward to emigrants, how he
protected the weak and saved the starving,
and gave Of his substance to Americans at all
times. He concluded with feeling peroTa-
ton.
Mr. Hastings said he saw Suffer just be-
fore he died. He detailed the old mans
efforts to get compensation from Congress.
How the bull for $50 coo was reported favora-
bly, on, and was on the eve of passage when
Congress adjourned, and Suffer, worn out
with years OF waiting, went to his hotel and
died Of broken heart He spoke of him as
a guleess man, of broad charity, generous
hospitality, hopeful. earnest, thoroughly
American, liberty-loving, and the savior of
California to the nation. Mr.. Hastings
doubted If Congress would do anything |
for setting up memorial for Suffer. and told |
how long 1t takes TO get personal bill through |
the houses. He favored an address and an
appeal, however, on the subject, to give the |
Finance Committee backing.
Mr. Sawsey said such an address could be |
made to disclose much unwritten and deeply
interesting history of California.
Mr.. Meeker took like view.
J. S. Miller thought the Pioneers could |
not rely on Congress in this work. He be- |
heved the practical way is TO appeal to the |
Legislature.
Mr.. Meeker said the new Constitution was |
in the way of that. 1t was moved that the |
Chair appoint five persons to prepare an ad- |
dress to the people on the subject.
J. II. McKune said the plan to be carried |
out and the sum desired ought to be arrived |
at before asking for contributions-at least |
before circulating the address.
1t was finally agreed that Messrs. Swasey |
and Mckune prepare an address and submit
1t to the next meeting, they to correspond |
with General Bidwell and Captain Weber.
Messrs. Cadwalader and Mckune were ap- |
pointed to prepare a memorial to Congress, !
asking that body to pass the Suffer relief
bill, now before Congress, the memorial to |
he signed by all the delegates of the Con- |
vention.
The constitution of the Committee on
Finances was committed to the Chair, TO be |
aided by George Cadwalader and DIR. Graf