Nevada County CA Archives History - Books .....Political 1867 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 5, 2005, 4:14 pm Book Title: Bean’s History And Directory Of Nevada County, California POLITICAL Upon the organization of the county, in 1851, the voters were about evenly divided between Whigs and Democrats, and in this regard Nevada was an index of the State. Sectional feelings were rife at first, and it generally happened that Southern men, or those sympathizing with Southern views, obtained the offices. An effectual mode of ruining a candidate was, to raise a suspicion that he was not "sound," or, in other words, he was suspected of having an idea that slavery was not a divine institution. Ultimately the charge of abolitionism became to the candidate the passport to success. Latterly Nevada has been one of the most advanced of counties as well in political sentiment and action as in material development. At the first election, held in the Fall of 1851, the Whigs elected J. N. Turner and E. F. W. Ellis, who fell while acting as Brigadier at the battle of Shiloh, to the Assembly. Burton and Lindsey were elected to the Assembly as Whigs in 1853. But generally, the Democrats were able to carry the county by small majorities, till their power was broken by the Know Nothings in 1855, though the year previous the Whigs elected their first Senator, with two Assemblymen. After the decline of the Know Nothings the Democrats swept the county and State till the Republican party broke in upon them in 1860, and the next year won the field maintaining their ascendency to the present hour. There was an early misunderstanding between Northern and Southern Democrats in the county, which sometimes contributed to the success of Whigs. There was, also, a want of harmony between Northern and Southern Whigs. The antagonism between Northern and Southern men destroyed party lines to some, extent and disposed some of the most sectional to vote for the men from their part of the Union. Gamblers had a powerful influence in the early elections, and being numerous and generally Democrats, they contributed greatly to the success of their party at the polls. The party with the most desperate men was likely to succeed. Hundreds of unnaturalized foreigners voted at the first elections, and even down to a very late day, and being generally attracted by the name of Democracy, the weight of their influence went to swell the tide of victory for the Democratic party. The national administration being generally Democratic, also, helped the organization and power of that party in California, having all the spoils of office, and, therefore, the material power to drill and keep a party together. Democratic orators perambulated our county, the speeches of some of whom are remembered for ignorance and vulgarity, and, indeed the times was not remarkable for any great degree of refinement on the part of political speakers to whatever party they might belong. Both the Whig and Democratic parties were loosely held together in 1854, on account of sectional feelings. The advent of a secret organization in, that year helped to disrupt the parties still more. The Know Nothings polled that year more than twelve hundred votes, although they were unknown in the county till a few weeks before the election. Their influence was marked in that canvass, and became more so the nest year, sweeping the Whig name from the political field, and under the name of American party, overthrowing the Democrats signally at the polls. Their triumph was, however, temporary. Southern influence procured the indorsement of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill and other Democratic notions, and left no distinctive difference between the parties on which to make an issue, except the question of proscription or liberality to foreigners. As hundreds of the members of the American party had joined its ranks more out of opposition to the Democracy and its principles and tendencies than because of prejudice against foreigners, there was little to attach them to the party any longer. The indorsement of the cardinal principles of Democracy would have destroyed the party, if ideas of national importance had not conspired to bring into the field a new party whose aim was the restoration of the rights of man over the whole Union, and more particularly the saving of the virgin soil of the territories from the curse of slavery. In 1856 the Republican party took the field, and for a new organization, exhibited great strength in the canvass. The earnestness and energy of its leaders, and the soundness of its principles insured ultimate success. But not in the contest of that year. Nevada county went for Buchanan, and indorsed all the Kansas iniquities, border ruffianism, the prostitution of the National Government to the slave power, and all, by a tremendous vote. For four years the Democrats maintained their power in the county, divided, however, in 1857, when an issue was made by Douglas with the Administration. The debris of other political organizations in the county took sides with the Douglas and Broderick wing, or the Buchanan and Gwin faction, as interest, feeling or personal relations seemed to dictate, till the opposition to Democracy in general began in earnest in the National canvass of 1860. Then a separation of the progressive elements from all others was made, and the first decisive battle fought for freedom. The county was carried for Lincoln, and three members of the Assembly elected out of five. The next year the Republicans swept everything before them, electing their whole ticket, county and legislative. Before, however, going into the canvass of that year the Republican County Central Committee proposed to the Douglas wing of the Democrats, which professed to be for the Union, a fusion of all the elements opposed to secession, and placing all, of whatever political antecedents, on equal grounds. The offer was rejected, and that wing of the Democracy as well as the other, nominated a distinct ticket. Three sets of candidates were in the field. Conness, regarded as the exponent of the Douglas faction, took the stump, and in a speech at Nevada occupied the same position, he did in his speech of the 16th of August at Folsom, which was as essentially copperhead as any delivered during the war. The same sentiments, condemnatory and abusive of the Administration of Lincoln, were retailed over Nevada county, but without success. The Republicans were victorious, electing their entire ticket. On the 12th of March, S. H. Chase, State Senator from Nevada, introduced certain resolutions into the Senate of a very facile character. He proposed the adoption of the Crittenden compromise, the plan of adjustment suggested by Mr. Rice of Minnesota, the Border State plan, or, if the people of the South were for a separate Grovernment, to allow them the privilege. Undoubtedly he spoke the sentiments of a large number of the weak hearted of his constituency, in his speech supporting his resolutions. But, there were true Union men in the county determined to sustain the Government in any emergency. A meeting was called to assemble at the theater in Nevada for the purpose of declaring the sense of the Union men of the county. Niles Searls, District Judge, was chosen Chairman. The secessionists were on hand in force. By the appointment of the chairman, a number of uncertain men were put upon the committee on resolutions. John R. McConnell was there to sow the seeds of Calhounism and taint the Union sentiment of the meeting. Others were thereto assist. On the other hand A. A. Sargent was for vigorous action on the side of the Union. He, also, had worthy supporters. But, the resolutions passed were not entirely satisfactory to the uncompromising foes of secession. Union clubs were soon formed, to obtain admission to which was a matter of more difficulty than to attend a public Union meeting, and the work of organization for the support of the Government began. The county had three presses, the Journal, Democrat, and North San Juan Press, that were bold and unmistakably Union, and the cause advanced rapidly. Some parts of the county were too hot for disunionists before the year closed. The defeat of the Union Democracy left some of that party in bad humor with the Republicans; from which they never recovered; but most of the party, seeing no prospect of success with their old organization, fused with the Republicans in 1862 and some of the leaders immediately set about controlling the entire party to their own purposes. Their pretensions were resisted, but the majority of the fusion party wanted peace in the ranks for the sake of the Union, and in 1863 the most important offices in the county were bestowed upon the late opposers of the Administration of Lincoln. Taking advantage of their positions as officers of the county, they started a press to assail the men who had been first in all the movements to sustain the Government in its defence against treason. In 1865 these men, attempting to perpetuate their offices two years longer, were driven from authority by the strong hand of the people, and most emphatically rebuked. It is proper to remark that the course of John E. McConnell at the outset of the war of rebellion was such as to recommend him to the Breckinridge or. secession Democracy, and he was nominated in 1861 for Governor of the State. Nevada county, however, gave her vote for Stanford, the Republican and successful candidate. We append to this political sketch a list of the persons who have been elected to various positions in the county since its organization. The following Representatives of the county in Senate and Assembly were elected in the years given, except the Senators holding over: SENATE. 1851—James Walsh, Democrat. 1852—Wm. H. Lyons, Democrat. 1853—Wm. H. Lyons, Democrat, J. T. Crenshaw, Democrat. 1854—J. T. Crewshaw, Democrat, E. F. Burton, Whig. 1855—E. F. Burton, Whig, E. G. Waite, American, 1856—E. G. Waite, American, S. H. Chase, Democrat. 1857—S. H. Chase, Democrat, E. F. Burton, Independent. 1858—E. F. Burton, Independent, C. J. Lansing, Buchanan Dem. 1859—C. J. Lansing, Buchanan Dem, S. H. Chase, Douglas Dem. 1860—S. H. Chase, uncertain Democrat, Wm. Watt, Douglas Democrat. 1861—Wm. Watt, Democrat, Joseph Kutz, Republican. 1862—Joseph Kutz, Republican. J. C. Birdseye, Republican. 1865—Joseph Kutz, Republican, D. Belden, Union. ASSEMBLY, 1851—E. F. W. Ellis. Whig, J. N. Turner, Whig, Wm. H. Lyons, Democrat, 1852—J. T. Crenshaw, Democrat, Phil. Moore, Democrat, J. H. Bostwick, Democrat. 1853-E. F. Burton, Whig, I. N. Dawley, Democrat, Wm. H. Lindsey, Whig, H. P. Sweetlaud, Democrat, J. R. Bostwick, Democrat, 1854—E. G. Waite. Whig, E. H. Gaylord, Whig, W. J. Knox, Democrat, Jonathan Phelps, Democrat, H. M. C. Brown. Democrat. 1855—T. B. McFarland, American, Daniel Dustin, American, V. G. Bell, American, G. A. F. Reynolds, American, S. W. Boring, Democrat, 1856—E. M. Davidson, Democrat, W. H. Wood, Democrat, Parker H. Pearce, Democrat, Phil. Moore, Democrat, Michael Cassin, Democrat. 1857—W. H. Hill. Democrat, Jno. Caldwell, Democrat, J. B. Warfield, Democrat, G. A. Young, Democrat, J. K. Smith, American, 1858—Jno. Caldwell, Douglas Democrat, C. Callahan, Buchanan Democrat, G. A. Young, Buchanan Democrat, Phil. Moore, Buchanan Democrat, W. R. Armstrong, Buchanan Dem. 1859—Phil. Moore. Buchanan Democrat, Chas. F. Smith, Buchanan Dem., Henry Hayes. Buchanan Democrat, M. P. O'Connor. Douglas Democrat, S. T. Curtis, Buchanan-Democrat, 1860—E. F. Spence, Republican, J. M. Avery, Republican, E. W. Councilman, Republican, N. C. Miller, Douglas Democrat, J. C, Eastman, Douglas Democrat, 1861—James Collins, Republican, J. M. Avery, Republican, W. H. Sears, Republican, Reuben Leech, Republican. 1862—James Collins, Republican, W. H. Sears. Republican, Seth Martin, Republican, J. W. Rule, Republican. 1863—Joseph Kutz, Republican. E. W. Roberts, Union, 1863—W. H. Sears, Republican, Seth Martin. Republican. A. A. Smith, Republican, J. W. Rule, Republican. 1865—John Pattison, Republican, G. D. Dornin, Republican, Reuben Leech, Republican, H. L. Hatch, Union. A new apportionment was made by the Legislature of 1853, by which Nevada county was given two Senators instead of one, and five Assemblymen instead of three. This representation was maintained till the Legislature changed it in 1861, when Nevada lost one Assemblyman. Birdseye held his office but one year, a change in the Constitution having been made. Roberts, under the new order of things, held his office one year, drawing the short term as Senator. The term of a Senator since the Constitution was changed and biennial sessions inaugurated, is four years, and that of Assemblymen, two. The following list of officers of the county will be valuable for reference: DISTRICT JUDGES— W. T. Barbour, 1850 to November 1855—Democrat. Niles Searls, 1855 to November 1861—Democrat. T. B. McEarland, 1861, (present incumbent,)—Union. Barbour was Judge of the Eighth District, composed of the counties of Yuba, Sutter, Nevada and Sierra. Nevada and Sierra and Plumas were erected into a new Judicial District, in 1855, and Niles Searls was elected to the Judgeship. Plumas and Sierra were afterward lopped off, and Nevada became a District of itself. When the constitutional change took place the Judicial Districts of the State were reorganized, and Nevada and Placer were associated in one District, and so remain. COUNTY JUDGES— Thomas H. Caswell, Democrat; 1851 to 1859. David Belden, Democrat, 1859 to 1863- Addison G. Niles, Republican, 1863—present incumbent. SHERIFFS- John Gallagher, Whig, 1851 to 1853. William H. Endecott, Democrat, 1853 to 1855. W. W. Wright, Democrat, 1855 to Nov. 3, 1856.* William Butterfield, Democrat, 1856 to 1857. Samuel W. Boring, Democrat, May 1857 to Nov. 1859. J. B. vanHagen, Democrat, 1859 to 1861. N. W. Knowlton, Republican, Nov. 1861 to March 1864. Charles Kent; Union, 1864 to 1866. richard B. Gentry, Republican, 1866 to 1868. *Wright was killed and Butterfield appointed to fill the vacancy. DISTRICT ATTORNEYS— John R. McConnell, Democrat, 1851 to '53. William M. Stewart, Democrat, 1853 to '54—resigned. Niles Searls, Democrat, 1854—appointed. S. W Fletcher, Democrat—elected to fill vacancy. A. A. Sargent,'Whig, 1855 to'57. W. F. Anderson, Democrat, 1857 to '59. E. W. Maslin, Democrat, 1859 to '61. E. H. Gaylord, Republican, 1861 to '64. Thomas P. Hawiey, Union, 1864 to '66. John Caldwell, Union, 1866 to '68. COUNTY CLERKS AND RECORDERS— Theodore Miller, Whig, 1851 to '53. W. S. Patterson, Democrat, 1853 to '55. J. H. Bostwick, Democrat, 1855 to '57. Rufus Shoemaker, Democrat, 1857 to '59. John. S. Lambert, Democrat, 1859 to '61. COUNTY CLERKS— R. H. Farquhar, Rep., Nov. 1861 to March '68—twice elected. COUNTY RECORDERS— J. I. Sykes, Republican, Nov. 1861 to March '64. Gerry Morgan, Union, 1864 to '66. John Garber, Republican,'1866 .to '68. NOTE.—The office of Recorder was separated from that of Clerk by the Legislature of 1861. COUNTY TREASURERS— H. C. Hodge, Democrat, 1851 to '53. William Bullington, •Democrat, 1853 to '55. John Weber, Democrat, 1855 to '57. T. W. Sigourney, Democrat, 1857 to '59. J. W. Chinn, Democrat, 1859 to '61. E. G. Waite, Republican, Nov. 1861 to March '64. James Collins, Republican, March 1864 to July '64.* W. H. Crawford, Republican, July 1864 to March '66. E. E. Spence, Republican, 1866 to '68. *James Collins died and Crawford was appointed to fill the vacancy. Looking over the above list, I find the following names should receive especial mention: E. E. W. Ellis would have been prominent for Governor or Congressman, had he not left the State; he fell at Shiloh, giving his life for his country. Phil. Moore was Speaker of the House of 1860, and left the State for Confederate service in 1862. Crenshaw left the same year for the same purpose; was blown up on the ramparts of Vicksburg and his body never found. T. B. McFarland is at present Judge of the District composed of Nevada and Placer counties. Dr. Daniel Dustin did efficient, service for his country, leading an Illinois regiment as Colonel during the war of rebellion. S. H. Chase is District Judge at Aurora, in the State of Nevada. James Collins led the Second Illinois Regiment in the Mexican war, as Colonel, and received from the Legislature of that State a sword for meritorious services. He, also, took an active and important part in the Black Hawk war. W. H. Sears was Speaker of the House in 1863. J. R. McConnell was Attorney General of the State in 1854, and candidate for Governor in 1861. W. M. Stewart was acting Attorney General in place of McConnell during the absence of the latter from the State, and is now United States Senator from Nevada. A. A. Sargent was a member of Congress in 1862 and 1863. Appropriate to this subject, I may add that Governor Fairchild of Wisconsin, and Governor Oglesby of Illinois, once resided in Nevada, and Governor Murphy of Arkansas, once was a citizen of Grass Valley. Lorenzo Sawyer, one of the Supreme Judges of the State, formerly resided in Nevada, and Stephen J. Field, Supreme Judge of the United States, obtained his first political position, as member of the Assembly, by the vote of Nevada county before its separation from Yuba. The county has furnished one State Treasurer, Thomas Findley, and one Clerk to the Supreme Court, J. R. Beard. James Churchman was sent by Lincoln as Consul to Valparaiso, and L. S. Ely as Consul to Acapulco. Lola Montez, the Countess of Landsfeldt, resided at Grass Yalley in 1855. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Bean’s History and Directory of Nevada County, California CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, WITH SKETCHES OF THE VARIOUS TOWNS AND MINING CAMPS, THE NAMES AND OCCUPATION OF RESIDENTS; ALSO, FULL STATISTICS OF MINING AND ALL OTHER INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES. COMPILED BY EDWIN F. BEAN. PRINTED AT THE DAILY GAZETTE BOOK AND JOB OFFICE, 1867. 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