New-York tribune., 1906-04-08

and combined; and Senator Browning, Of II
linois, said the same occasion. ''He stood the
peer OF any gentleman this floor in all that
constitutes the able and skilled debater and the
classical, persuasive and enchanting orator.
"Savoyard" says, Baker. however superb an
advocate, was very poor lawyer" Senator
Browning said Commencing the practice Of law
before he had reached the full maturity Of man
hood among lawyers whose talents and
learning shed lustre upon the profession to
which they belonged he soon made hts
way to the front rank OF the bar and maintained
his position there to the hour Of his death"
Some OF those lawyers were Browning. Logan.
McClernand. Stephen A. Douglas ana Abraham
Lincoln.
Having arrayed these eminent witnesses to
contradict ard dIscredlt "Savoyard in respect
OF things concerning which they have spoken 1
beg your further indulgence to enable mo to re-
fer to some matters with which am myself
familiar. "savoyard," says Baker. was par
lsan ana factionist." a partisan. yes; long
time a Whig; from the moment the Republican
party came into existence Republican; but a
factiOnist, never. There were no factions where
Baker was; he was the idol OF all. "SavOyard'
says. Baker was now Republican and violent
in his advocacy of the Union" That word
violent sufficiently indicates the temper Of
the man who could thus characterize one OF the
noblest advocates OF a holy cause, who not only
spoke for 1t, but who cheerfully died for 1t.
"GGvOyard" says. Until the death of BrOderick
and the vigilance committee OF San Francisco
Baker does not appear to have figured very
prominently In California politics" The ignO-
rance Of the anonymous writer in relation to
California affairs is here disclosed. The vigil
lance committee ceased in 1856; BrOderick was
shot in September, 1859. Baker had been a
candidate for State Senator in 1855 and candl-
date for Congress previous to Brodericks death.
In 1856 Baker stumped the state for Fremont
and ne was the very life Of several campaigns
before the time "SavOyard" assigns to the be-
ginning Of his prominence. He plunged into
the criminal practice" says "Savoyard" land
cleared all the miscreants he defended-and
they were not few" This is a misrepresentA-
ton That Baker appeared in some criminal
cases that became celebrated largely owing to
MS genius needs no apology. But he was also
pre-emlnent in civil practice His fee in
involving water rights is said to have been
Sl3,OUO, and in a bank litigation he once re-
felVed S-1OOO-Sreat pay in those days. the
Iarger sum being, probably, more than Daniel
WEBSTER ever earned In year. And that"
says ISavoyard." referring to his assertion Just
quoted rs what drove him to OregOn'-WhiCh
is merely untrue. The case OF Charles Cora
whom Baker defended. to which "Savoyard'' re-
fers as having provoked the people and caused
Baker to leave tried in January 1855.
Baker went to Oregon in February 1860 In
the years that interviewed between the Cora trial
e.
celved many signal evidences Of the afGection
and respect Of his fellow townsmen and when
ne departed The Alta California" one OF fhe
most reliabls journals. said: He leaves behind
him as largo a circle of admring friends as anv
man i'll California can boast, and the loss 0f bjs
presence among us will be regarded with GEN
eral regret e
SavOyard" asserts that Baker fled" in fear
OF the vigilance committee-an entire misreprO-
sentatIon The community had OverthrovUr
eradicated. the municipal government, includ-
ing the courts. Colonel Bakers profound re-
spect for law made It impossible for him IN
approve the substitution Of the vigilance COM
mlttee for the entire constitutional government
He would not try cases before the COMMITTEES
Wnere, indeed, he would not have been accent
able during the frenzy; he went for few
months into other parts of the state and nrac.
ttsed where his services were in demand
"Savoyard's" most offensive statement foI
lows: Facts never pestered Ed Baker vrher a.
Hvering grafton" The dppant annIica+Io-
to Senator Baker of a nickname that was never
used during his lifetime is of no Importance: but
the assertion of untruthfulness IS mons1rnUo
The associates of Baker, who spoke of him So
many years ago, made no declaration as 10 that
matter; they didn't foresee the need Of aDv
None existed then, nor can believe that "Ss