Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-17
LIEUTENANT-G0yER DAGGETT
He Explains His Attitude and that of the
Other " Read

>. r.
Editor Morning COU In your paper of
Saturday last You alluded to my expression
made to your legislative correspondent that
| would not, as a Democrat give to the
Republicans Craftsmanship of a commit
tee, or even a page and declared it ex-
treme partizanShip." II you understood the
situation in which | am placed you would
draw q different inference from my ex-
preston, Us the influences against which I
am contending, backed by the press at their
command, are sedulously endeavoring TO
convince my polititsskriend that | am in
cooperation with Republicans, and any ap-
pointments Of that nature would be her
aided as an evidence of u bargain, If given
by me only through courtesy.
Your position in regard to the cus'
maiorites in legislative bodies-and
served through six sessions OF the Cah.
MA Legislature-is not in accordance va.
my experience. The majority, let it b.,
! Democratic or Republican, is always veIt
prodigal with its cOurtesies, but generally
hangs on to the patronage. If that is not
proper, what are the twenty Republicans in
the Senate contending for?
Inasmuch as you have brought my name
into print, let me say a few words in regard
to my position and the attitude of the five
Senators who are supporting Senator
Knight for President pro tenn: We depre-
cate the hindrance to legislation caused by
the deadlock to organization. but do not
! feel called upon to break it, any more than
should the fourteen who oppose US, for
there are only that number bound by a
caucus, and several of those have ex-
pressed themselves as opposed to the policy
which they are compelled to pursue. We
have made no accusations, hence have no
/ retractions to make; we have committed
no political crime. therefore object to pOlit-
ical ostracism. But, above all, we hold
that the Stockton Convention transcribed
its authority when it resolved Itself into
politico-moral body, and personally de-
nounced us, who were not before it, and
denied US the right to an honest difference
of opinion on legislative matters, which
involve opOlitics.
The State Central Committee, which is
the legitimate offspring of that Convention,
has affirmed that action and in my opinion
the result of the proposed action of the
fourteen would be to perpetuate the new
! political dogma, By refusing TO place one of
our number into position of honor to
! which no power or emolument is attached,
and the only place that a Senator can oc-
cupv by their votes If we simply join
them without any retraction we tacitly ad-
NIT the truth of the accusations INDUCED
in, and indorse the stigma sought to be
placed upon us. We are willing to divide
| the Endorsement among six of us, and en-
ioy what little consolation there may be
derived from the one-sixth 10 each but
they will not grant that, even, and it fol-
lows, to my mind that we are expected to
occupy the anomalous position of party
savers-to be kicked out to purify the party
and to be dragged in again to saveit
If the Stockton Convention had only
differed with us on legislative action, and
conceded to US the right also to differ, with
out being branded as unworthy of public
trust and lost to all sense of honor, traitors
and pledge-breakers, there would have
arisen no difference here that would not
have easily been adjusted
| have been told personally by the Gov
ernor of the State, most of the State officers
and half of the fourteen Senators, as well
as many others prominently connected
with the Stockton Convention, that that
body went too far when they encroached
upon private character, and | cannot see
why there should be any objection to a
public recognition of the fact by so many
as are occupying a position in q coordinate
body to that Convention, VIZ, Democratic
caucus.
While | contend that no Convention has
a right to drive men out Of party, nobody
can deny but that body duly represented
can by-its action destroy mans character
and chances for preterment in places where
he is not personally known, and reputa-
ton gained by more than thirty years of
faithful and effective service can in this
manner be marred by the Vaccinations of
g neophyte with no political standing, but
temporarily with the power to draft resolu-
tons which it seems the Convention did
not in their hearts indorse, but dare not re-
iect. JOHN DAGGETT,
Lieutenant Governor,
Sacramento, January IL, 1855.