Year: 1861

OAChAMENTO, all. 10, 1901.


FRIEND CRosErTE:


The facts daily occurring show
that the two antagonists of anti and pro-sla-
yerv have got possession of the minds of the
members of the Assembly. The Douglas party
having the plurality but not the majority of
the Assembly, have found it impossible to elect
Speaker and although they made in Caucus
nomination, to wit, of Mr.. Conness, they soon
saw very plainly that his election was impossi-
Bile. The Republicans declined to vote for
him or to withdraw enough Of their number
from the Chamber to allow his election, desir-
ing to punish him. as they intimate in private
circles, for his overwhelming proves against
them in the late campaign in Ell Dorado
county, wherein he broke through their
ranks and scattered tempest. On the other
hand the Breckinridgers were equally hostile
to him, for he had in that conflict, demol-
ished them in the same county. The conse-
quence was that each of the two minority
parties in the Assembly, having the power to
prevent his election, or that of any other
Democrat, intimaed that if either of their said
minorities could find any person in the ranks
of the Democracy, whose antecedents or pres
ent opinions indicated an affinity or proclivity
in common with either of said minority parties,
that then the minority party with whom such
person was supposed to sympathize would give
him their votes That is, the Republicans
would support any Democrat who was nearest
them in anti-slavery proclivitIes, and the Breck-
inridgers would support any Democrat whose
proclivities were pro slavery. And each was
to Judge for itself: the Democracy was to have
no voice in the selection. Now, each of said
minority parties might catch Tartar" but
no matter-it alone was to be satisfied. To be
sure, each had other words to express the idea
aforesaid the Republicans said they would
support any good :" Union - man in the Demo-
cratic ranks, if they had the selection and the
Brecks said they would support any Democrat
who voted for Latham, if they could select him.


But, disguise it as you will, there has been
battle OF the two antagonisms of the two
fanatical parties that are now destroying this
glorious Republic-struggling clashing, was
ting. and devouring upon the floor of the As
sembly Chamber for the last week. Ia Gods
name shall the forces of rampant Black Re-
publicanisnl, and of bloated Pro- Slavery, mar
shal their sickly columns for hostile conflict all
winter, in the Legislative Halls of California
here where of all parts of the Union there is
the least necessity for the irrepresslble con-
hct."


As yet, after nine days of futile conflict, no
Speaker is elected in the Assembly. A por-
tion of our party believing the election Of Gen.
Wood, of Plumas, possible, after vainly trying
to elect the nominee of their party, Mr.. Con-
ness, have thought proper to withdraw their
support from the latter, and give it to the for
mer This is thought by some TO be mistaken
policy, yet we have no evidence that they are
recreaut to the principles of our party, and
they dlsavow any intention to leave the De-
mocracy, or to abandon, in the least, the prin
ciples of our party. They declare that their
only aim is to secure thereby an early organi-
zation of the House, and proceed to the legiti-
mate business of legislation. And, in the
character and antecedents of Gen. Wood, we
have the surest guarantee of their sincerity.
He processes to be true to the platform and
principles of Democracy as enunciated by
Douglas. Born and educated in Pennsylvania
from whence he emigrated to Arkansas, and
thence entered the army Of Mexico, and brave
ly fought for his beloved country, he has no
sectional prejudices, but is devoted to the Un-
ion and the Constitution. And, if elected
Speaker, all his acts will show him to be true
to the patriotic impulses that led him to i'm
peril his life in foreign war to sustain the
honor of his country.


Resolutions will be introduced Immediately
after the organization of the Assembly, that
will change the conflict, and show who is for
the Union and who is for secession, when in
the all absorbing subject the little squabble
for Speaker will be entirely forgotten.


You may expect further communication
from your correspondent MN