Year: 1861




% of the Butte delegation aLI Bidwell one,-
so that Bidwell's strength was a positive out
side strength by % majority over McCorkle
showing decided preference for the MAJOR
outside of the delegation. But the following
speech caps the climax of Misrepresentation


The twelfth ballot was proceeded with. Or
Butte being called, Mr.. McCoRKLE said
wish to make single remark in regard to the
remark made by Major Bdwell a candidate
before you. He stated sententiously and posi-
lively that the delegation from Butte county
were misrepresen.ing their constituents


Mr.. BIDwELL-No sir. / said that for the
purpose of testing the matter, whether the del
egation were representing Butte county or not
that in my opinion they were not in order
that they might make it an issue before the
people of Butte county. 1t is merely an opln
ion, and | might be mistaken.


Mr.. McCoRKLE-We sir, his opinion Is
very confidently expressed. tits at the request
of the delegation that | make these remarks
When the County Convention was IN session
one of the gentleman's friends drew up reso-
luton instructing the delegates to the county
to vote for Bdwel. My friends accepted the
challenge and proposed to strike out his name
and insert mine. His friends failed to carry
their resolutions. Applause.


Mr. BIDwELL-1t is the first time that
ever heard of such resolution. More than
twenty delegates in our County Convention
came to me and wanted to have instructions
given; but in every case | said no. One or
two consulted with me in regard to the propri-
ETY. of such resolution, but we all came to the
conclusion that it was not necessary. | would
not have vote from Butte county if it was
not volunteer offering and the sentiment of
that county. Applause.] But l do not
want it to go abroad that, having lived in
Butte before it was a county and ever since,
and performed all the duties of citizen Of the
county uprightly, as far as my judgment would
go, that the county of Butte will not sustain
me here If they have expressed the senti-
ments of the county of Butte, hope they will
canvass the county, because 1 am willing and
desirous even that the voice of the people of
Butte county should be expressed upon the
action of the delegation here. [Applause]


That paragraph would lead any one to sup
pose that the matter had been decided in
Convention, authoritatively and although the
speaker was not a member of the County Con-
vention, yet he knew that no such thing was
ever done. His friends failed to carry the
resolution. Where, when, and under what
action? Any one, not present, would say at
once, of course, in the Convention. But it
was not so. No such resolution was offered or
acted upon, by the Convention. So much for
the misrepresentation of our Union Democra-
cy. Now, as to some of the parties who lead
the van McCorkle is not, and has not been,
a resident of Butte county for years, and never
paid taxes here, so far as we can learn from
Assessors books. He has always, of late, been
around, about Convention times and took. ave.
boldly, took possession of several Conventions,
and welded our delegations TO State Conven-
tions for his own purposes, almost always be-
ing candidate himself, and desiring to hail
from the great North with a delegation
from Northern county. And "now, in the
name of all the gods at once, upon what meat
has this our Caesar fed, that he has grown so
great?' Is it not upon the life-blood of the
Butte Democracy with which, vampire like, he
has become gloated, at the cost of that De-
mocracy? Do our people here regard him in
any other light among US, than as a carpet bag
politician? Is it not notorious that he is and
has been, for long time past. resident of San
Francisco, and the member of law firm
there? We throw out these questions, as we
hear them asked every day on our street
corners.


The other party referred to in Major Bid
wells first remarks, as suggesting that the
Major was not put in nomination by his dele
cation, and spoken of as delegate, was only a
proxy, a foreign hombre, nonresident of our
county, and, as we have heretofore understood
the rule, in Democratic Conventions, not enti-
tied to seat. But the ak was to be ground
and he agreed to help turn.


We have heard this matter thoroughly dis
cussed lately, and hear but the universal
expression on all sides, that the delegation
misrepresented the Union Democracy of the
County, and leveled an insult to an horored
member of the party, and an estimable citizen
of the County, that will recoil with ten fold
severity upon themselves.


1t is now high time that the Democracy
should see to and correct this growing evil
about our Conventions, and not have non-resi-
dents of our county keeping our own citizins
in the back k-ground