Year: 1861

i never was It's advocate upon tS merlts; tnat L
never had Identification with it, either in a les
ser or greater degree; that only resolved to
give vote for it when by that vote ! could ex-
act from its proceeds a portion for the benefit
of the children of the State. lGTeat applause l
have stated time and again, but they will not
publish it, that my zeal for the cause of educa.
tion in the State did not begin at that time. If
it had would indeed, confess, be open TO sus-
picon. But had, whenever had place in
public body, at all times and under all circum-
stances, looked over the great want OF education
here, and endeavored to correct it. From the
beginning to the end of the session OF 1861,
when this socaled Bulkhead bill was acted
upon, / endeavored to incorporate in every
practicable measure those amendments and
those features that would contribute to add to
the Common School Fund. :" Good APP
plausel Then my action at that time indicated
no new born love for the schools of your State.
Farther than that; my action since-having
been in the Legislature since that time-shows
conclusively that my love for the schools
did not then cease. During the past ses-
sion of the Legislature | initiated legislation,
and followed it to a successful termination-for
it now exists as the law Of the State-that will
in the next six or eight years give you a School
Fund of not less than from S. 900 900 to $40 000,-
900. [Applause.]


/ knew at the time to which referred that the
Bulkhead measure was an unpopular measure.
| knew it. knew that the vote ] would give
would hold me amenable and responsible to per.
sons who would not understand me, or appre-
ciate me- But took the responsibility. | had
not the fear before my eyes that mortal man
could ever stamp upon me the stain of interest
ed motives, or of corruption in connection with
my public acts Applause The amendment that
obtained to that act at that time was not willing
ly conceded. The gentlemen who had the mea-
sure in view ami desired its passage, did not
readily consent to its incorporation. told them
first consulting with as many gentlemen as
could get to cooperate with me on the issue so
made-that unless they did, | would fight their
measure. That was my language; those were
my words. | obtained their consent. took
the responsibility of casting that vote. | cast


it; and, / tell you here, tonight, that under the
same circumstances, / would cast it over and
over again. The measure had passed the other
branch of the Legislature. 1t was in the body
of which ! was a member, with certain, posi-


tive, ascertained majority. All the opposition
that | could have made to it could have had no
other effect than to have delayed it for day or
two at most. Therefore concluded to do what
| have always endeavored to do--what was
practical in connection with legislation ! am
prepared to face any misconception that has
grown out of that vote. | am responsible for it
to the people, and | am the last man to try to
evade that responsibility. tVoIoE-"Good"
Great applause.]


] say this to you tonight fellow.citzens, and
present to you this view of the case, without
discussing the merits of the measure. / have
already told you that did not intend to permit,
pending this canvass these men of interested
motives to make the Bulkhead measure an issue
in this campaign, for the purpose of defeating
the party of which | am now one of the expo
nents What, in Heavens name, have we to do
at the present time with what is called the Bulk
head question? Why, a commission has been
applied for to the Government of the United
States, to make a survey of this harbor and de-
monstrate either its necessity, or the contrary
We know that that survey will be made. Does
| any man suppose for single instant, that |, or
any man having regard for his character as a
public man or statesman, with report from
the scientific body thus appointed adverse to
such measure, would favor it On the other
hand supposing that survey should demonstrate
the necessity of a sea-wall in front of your city
does any man imagine that l. as public officer
would oppose my judgment to theirs? If it is
decided by that survey to be a necessity, would
| not the public interest demand it? And then
the question would simply be as to how
| that measure should be carried forward; who it
| should be built by, if built at ALL whether by
the people of San Francisco, by the State OF
California, or by private parties. These things
! are in the future, and all have to say to you
this evening in connection with it, as | leave
and dismiss the subject, is this-and want it
once and for all 10 go to the people of the State:
That ii shall be elected Governor of California,
no measure in connection with that scheme or





fully, entirely and completely the public inter-
ests-not private interests, but the public inter
eStS-can ever receive my appreciation. lGreat
applause.l Nay, more than that: Any other
class of measure will be certain to secure all the
opposition | can concentrate against it. Zap
plause.] AS guarantee of this to the people
of the State-I speak it through you to them,
not intending to discuss this matter everywhere
i invite from you the closest scrutiny into my
past acts. But don't, in mercy, pray you, as
you regard truth and common decency, go to
the columns of the Bulletin for my record. Zap
pause and laughter.l Don't go to the Aha
California for it, either; conducted by man
who said, few days ago, that ] opposed what
he called the "Auctioneers' Bill when the
miserable wretch, who is one of its proprietors,
came to me and secured my assistance for that
very measure during the last session of the Leg
islature. [Applause.l


respect the public press. | would defend it.
As before said, it is the great right arm of civil


liberty with us. But need not picture to you
the miserable and cruel deception, the deep by.
pocrisy, the contemplate want of integrity that
is found in some of those creatures who carry
on this business for the money that is in it-no
thing more. [Applause] Mark how they man
age here in the city of San Francisco. They
first horrify the people by telling them that there
is something to occur. Devastation, famine or
destruction in some shape, or in all shapes, is to
come upon the people in order to give them the
very uSClul OlhSC Vi pluboOJuS INC pCOplc llOul
it, or from all. [Applause and laughter.l Then
they are the defenders of the people They
say, Merchants, close your stores ! Go to the
primary elections! Don't permit Conness to be
nominated Don't permit somebody else to be
nominated !" They not only do this in connec-
ton with the party | am an humble member of,
but in their magnanimity, in their voluntary of.
flee of defenders of the public interests they take
charge at once of all the parties in the State
[Laughter.l Mark the article within day or
two in this miserable sheet [holdng up the Bui-
letin1 VOICE "That is played out."1 Well,
they will be played out directly. [Appause. ]
Mark the article in it, say, within II few days
which talks glibly about what they call the Bo-
hemians; meaning certain portion of the Re-
publican party in this city. They warn the peO-
pie that unless they take care now, there will be
Republican Convention packed on the people,
and there will be nominated men who will not
be fit to be elected They take charge of all
| parties at once, these great public defenders
but they take care, in the mean time, to get the
auctioneers' advertisements. They take care to
make good fair weather with the Front street
merchants. AS Brother Fitch said to me during
the past session Of the Legislature-he is little,
dapper, thin, white-faced fellow [merriment]- /
81 am for money with my paper, entirely" |
want you to understand that while this paper
now belches fire and smoke at me daily that
during the past session OF the Legislature one of
its chief proprietorS and managers, one who con-
trOls its columns, was my most especial friend
[laughter]; that he more than once had a seat
near my desk in the Assembly chamber; that
could scarce come to this city and resist the in
vitaton to come to his office and sit there and
talk with him about public matters; that
over and over again he has suggested that we
would forget the past and we would have peace
In the future; that in those cooing periods he
represented to me that he was engaged in this
concern (BuHetin) because it was paying con-