History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923, Part 14

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026

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Subsequent Events

The minutes of the council show that B. F. Washington was appointed marshal and Capt. J. Sherwood assistant, to whom all persons de- siring to make arrests were requested to apply for aid and authority.

A letter in Dr. Robinson's handwriting was found in his tent after the riot, detailing what he had done and the plans of the Squatters for resisting the law.

The next day brought other developments that saddened the community and were de- tailed in the "Times" of the 16th. Sheriff Jo- seph Mckinney was shot down it was said by a man named Allen, who kept a hotel at Brighton. Mckinney had gone out with a party of about twenty to arrest some parties said to have been concerned in the riots. Mr. McDowell, of Mormon Island, who was well known at the house, was sent to make ob- servations and report, but the sheriff did not wait for him to return. He rode up to the door and demanded that Allen and others should surrender, but they refused and several shots were fired immediately, mortally wound- ing McKinney. Several of the sheriff's party entered the house, where about a dozen Squat- ters were, and killed three of them. Allen, though wounded, escaped, and a number of prisoners were taken to the city.

When Governor Burnett heard of the trouble, he telegraphed to Brig .- Gen. A. M. Winn to proceed to Sacramento with his whole

force and aid the authorities to maintain order. On the 17th two military companies, compos- ing the 2nd Brigade, arrived on the "Senator" and General Winn offered their services to the mayor and council, but was informed that the citizens' organization under Washington was thought to be able to sustain the law. The re- ports that the Squatters had enlisted the aid of the miners in the hills, who were coming to Sacramento to aid them, were found to be false, and quiet was soon restored. The fu- nerals of Captain Woodland and Sheriff Mc- Kinney were attended by almost the whole city and such was the spirit shown by the citi- zens that Squatterism never reared its head again, although disputes over land titles con- tinted for many years, making costly and an- noying litigation for a long time.

As Mayor Biglow was severely, and possibly fatally, wounded Demas Strong became the acting mayor for the remainder of his term. B. F. Washington was appointed marshal. The death of Woodland, who was city assessor, was due to his kindness of heart. He was walking up the street with a friend and when near the corner of Fourth and J. the Squatters ranged themselves diagonally across Fourth and J Streets, with their guns presented to- ward the mayor and his party, who were ap- proaching. Woodland saw their threatening attitude and exclaimed to his friend, "Oh! it is too bad for these men to take such a stand, for they will certainly be shot down. I will go up and advise them." He went forward a few steps to attempt to mediate, when a ball struck him and killed him almost instantly.

Ben McCulloch succeeded Mckinney as sheriff and afterwards became quite a noted man in the history of the nation. He was born in Tennessee in 1814 and always evinced an inclination for a roving and adventurous life. He went with Davy Crockett to Texas, to take part in the revolution that freed that state from Mexican rule. In 1836 he joined the Texan army under Gen. Sam Houston and was as- signed to the artillery service. He served with credit at the battle of San Jacinto and was em- ployed afterwards on the frontier, in surveying and locating lands in Texas. On the breaking out of the Mexican War he raised a company of Texan Rangers that became famous during that struggle. It was accepted by General Taylor and took a prominent part in the bat- tles of Monterey and Buena Vista and assisted in the capture of the city of Mexico. After the war was over President Pierce appointed Mc- Culloch United States marshal of Texas and the present efficient force of Rangers in that state is the outcome of his organization. The Rangers of today are picked men, noted for their iron nerve, and are the terror of evil- doers, penetrating where the other officers of

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

the law cannot or dare not go to capture criminals.

In 1857 McCulloch was appointed, with ex- Governor Powell, a commissioner to Utah. It was believed that at the time of the inaugura- tion of President Lincoln he was in Washing- ton for the purpose of taking possession of the city at the head of a band of secessionists. If so, the plan was abandoned, on account of the precautions taken by General Scott. Later on, he was commissioned brigadier-general in the Confederate army and assigned to the com- mand of the forces in Arkansas. He issued a proclamation in June, 1861, to the people of that state, calling on them to assemble at Fay- etteville to defend the state from invasion. He was in command at the battle of Wilson's Creek, where General Lyon was killed, and it is stated that he surrendered the command to General Sterling Price, on account of some misunderstanding with him. He led a corps of troops from Louisiana and Texas at the bat- tle of Pea Ridge, and fell on the second day of the engagement, March 7, 1862.

Henry A. Caulfield, who was arrested and charged with firing on the mayor and Wood- land during the riot, led a stormy career in this city afterward. He was a man of violent tem- per and often became involved in trouble. Born in Ireland, he came to the United States and in 1844 was a member of the Emmet Guards at Albany, N. Y. During the anti-rent troubles in that state, his company was ordered to Columbia County to assist the authorities in repressing the disorder, the anti-renters having killed an under-sheriff, tarred and feathered other officers and committed other outrages. He came to Sacramento in 1849, worked as a carpenter and joiner and became active in Democratic politics. He was arrested by John Cleal between here and Brighton as he was fleeing after the riot, and brought to this city strapped to a horse's back and confined on board the prison brig. With a number of others he was indicted by the next grand jury on a charge of conspiracy and murder. They were never punished, as Governor McDougal had declared he would pardon thiem if they were convicted, and a nolle prosequi was sub- sequently entered in their case. He was after- wards active in the Squatter troubles that fol- lowed. He settled on a farm on the mound north of the American River about 1851 and lived there till the flood of 1852, when he sold the place to Patrick Bannon, and removed to

a ranch south of the R Street levee, out of which arose most of the subsequent troubles. 1

George Wilson was a justice of the peace and associate justice of the court of sessions and had made some remark that gave offense to one of the attorneys. June 19, 1851, the at- torney came to the court room and demanded a retraction. Wilson refused and when the at- torney struck at him drew a sword cane and stabbed him. Caulfield was entering the room and fired several shots at Wilson, but did not hit him. Wilson seized Caulfield round the neck and was about to send a bullet through his head when R. P. Jacobs, a policeman, rushed in and saved Caulfield's life. At an- other time Caulfield was shot several times by Thomas O. Shelby over land matters and sev- eral of the bullets he carried to his grave. On that occasion he was unarmed and the assault was unprovoked. As it was thought he would die, a priest called to see him. "I am told you have been a very bad man," said he. "It is a dom lie and you are no doctor. Get out of here," was the reply.

At another time, in 1856, he had a quarrel with a man named Miller about politics and some mules. It was at Miller's house and he attempted to strike him with a flat iron, but Miller broke a cane over his head and was about to throw him out of the window. Mil- ler's wife intervened and Miller let go and Caulfield fell to the ground. Miller sent word to the coroner that he had killed Caulfield, but when the dead wagon arrived the supposed corpse had walked to the county hospital. The same year he was stabbed by a man named Frank Nolan on Front Street, and wounded so severely that for several days he breathed through the knife wounds in his back. August 15, 1878, he had a dispute with William G. English, over a lot on R Street, and shot Eng- lish, who died a couple of days later. For this murder he was sent to the state's prison for six years. Caulfield was short and heavy set, and had lost an eye in one of his encounters, giv- ing him a truculent appearance ; he was much feared by many citizens on account of the ugly scrapes in which he engaged, nearly killing some or being almost killed himself. July 2, 1888, while walking on the R Street track near Fourth Street, he was struck by the evening train from Folsom, evidently not having heard the whistle, and was killed instantly.

Dr. Robinson, as will be seen elsewhere, be- came shortly afterwards a member of the legis- lature and subsequently governor of Kansas.

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

CHAPTER XI

POLITICS IN THE EARLY DAYS

A Democratic Convention

I N 1854 the old Whig party was passing away and the anti-slavery party was push- ing its way to the front. The exciting strug- gle in "bleeding" Kansas was attracting wide- spread attention and becoming a lively politi- cal issue and a fruitful subject for discussion. On Tuesday, July 18. a Democratic convention met in the Fourth Street Baptist Church in this city at 3 p. m. Disturbance was in the air and long before the hour for opening the con- vention, the doors of the church were sur- rounded by people, a great many of whom were not delegates. The church would hold about 400, and as soon as the doors were opened the people crowded in and filled it to its utmost capacity.

D. C. Broderick was chairman of the state central committee, and when he ascended the platform he was received with continued cheers. As soon as he called the convention to order a number of delegates sprang to their feet, in order to make nominations for tem- porary chairman. He recognized T. L. Ver- mule as having the floor, but before he could make the announcement, John O'Meara nom- inated ex-Governor John McDougal for tem- porary chairman. Vermule nominated Ed- ward McGowan for chairman pro tem., and Broderick announced that he could not rec- ognize O'Meara's nomination, and put the question on McGowan's election and declared him elected. McGowan mounted the platform immediately, followed closely by McDougal, whose friends insisted that he had been elected, although his name had not been sub- mitted to the convention in regular form.

The convention thus had two chairmen, who took seats side by side and pandemonium reigned for a time. Finally a semblance of order was restored, and McDougal announced the names of Maj. G. W. Hook and John Bid- well as vice-presidents and McGowan an- nounced J. T. Hall and A. L. Laird as ap- pointed by him to those offices. A scene of noise and confusion again followed, but the gentlemen named took their seats with their respective leaders. The appointment of two sets of secretaries and committees followed and reports were made to each side, recom- mending that the temporary officers be made the permanent ones. Motions were made to

adopt the respective reports, and were declared carried, amid great excitement.

The convention transacted no other busi- ness, but sat as a doubleheader until nine o'clock that night, each side endeavoring to outstay the other. One sickly tallow candle in front of each president illuminated the scene, or rather made darkness visible. The situation lasted until the trustees of the church notified the convention that they would no longer tolerate the riotous assemblage in the church, and the delegates departed without attending to the formality of an adjournment.

Pandemonium had reigned throughout the session and soon after the organization was completed a crowd made a mad rush for the platform. One of the officers was seized and just then a pistol exploded in the crowded room. The direction of the rush was imme- diately changed toward the doors and win- dows, a number of the delegates jumping through the latter to the ground, a distance of about fifteen feet. This ended the exciting events of the day.

The next morning the "chivalry," or South- ern element of the party, the wing presided over by McDougal, met at Musical Hall, while the McGowan, or Tammany faction, repre- senting the Northern element, met in Car- penter's Building. The officers of the chivalry wing tendered their resignations and Major Hook was elected president and H. P. Barber, William A. Mannerly, A. W. Taliafero, and J. G. Downey were elected vice-presidents. The other convention sent a message asking that a committee on conference be appointed in order to endeavor to settle the differences. As the language of the communication was considered offensive, it was withdrawn for the purpose of modifying the phraseology. A sec- ond note was afterward sent in, but as it was quite similar to the first, it met with a flat re- jection. The convention then nominated can- didates for congress and for clerk of the su- preme court ; passed resolutions favoring the construction of the Atlantic and Pacific Rail- road under the auspices of congress, and en- dorsing the Nebraska Bill, etc. It also elected a state central committee and levied an assess- ment of five dollars on each delegate, to pay for the damage done to the church building.

The McGowan wing met at 9:30 on the morning of the 19th, that gentleman continu-

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

ing to act as chairman. They appointed a committee of seven to invite the McDougal convention to attend their session and also empowered the committee to heal the difficul- ties. When the convention reassembled the committee reported that they had sent a com- munication to the McDougal convention, but that the proposition embraced in it had been rejected. The communication sent was follows :

"John McDougal, Esq., Chairman of Demo- cratic delegates convened at Musical Hall : Sir-The undersigned have been this morning constituted a committee, with full powers, by and on behalf of the Democratic state con- vention at Carpenter's Hall, for a conference with our fellow Democrats at Musical Hall, for the purpose of harmonizing and uniting the Democrats of California. You will be pleased to announce this to your body ; and any communication may be addressed to the chairman of this committee at Jones' Hotel."

The report was accepted and the commit- tee was discharged. The convention then pro- ceeded to nominate a ticket entirely different from that nominated by the McDougal con- vention. It also adopted a series of resolu- tions alluding to the heterogeneous condition of the party in the state, and to the differ- ences of the convention in this city. They urged the people of the state to accept their ticket as most likely to effect conciliation. They also appointed a state central commit- tee and took up a collection of $400 to reim- burse the Baptist Church for the damage done to it, a committee having reported that the injury to the building would amount to that sum. Several of the nominees withdrew from the ticket after the convention adjourned, and the Tammany wing, after the election, ascribed its defeat to the withdrawal of Milton S. Latham, who afterwards became governor, from the congressional ticket.

Early Republican Gatherings

The time had arrived when a new party was to spring up and enter the field of politics and later to attain a dominating influence in the state. The first mass meeting of Republicans in California was held in Sacramento, April 19, 1856. E. B. Crocker was the leader of the new party in Sacramento County, and opened the meeting with an address that was listened to attentively. George C. Bates was intro- duced and attempted to make a speech, but so much noise and confusion ensued in a dis- turbance raised by Democrats and Americans that his voice could not be heard. Henry S. Foote, who had been governor of Mississippi, begged the turbulent crowd to desist from dis- turbing the meeting and allow it to proceed, but no attention was paid to his protest. When

the Republican speakers again attempted to proceed, the crowd made a rush for the stand, overturned it and broke the meeting up.

April 30, 1856, the first state convention of the Republicans was held in the Congrega- tional Church in this city. E. B. Crocker pre- sided as temporary chairman. Only thirteen counties were represented in the convention and of the 125 delegates composing it, sixty- five were from Sacramento and San Francisco. Resolutions were adopted opposing the fur- ther extension of slave territory and of slave power ; welcoming honest and industrious im- migrants : deprecating all attempts to preju- dice immigrants against our free institutions ; favoring the speedy construction of a trans- continental railroad by aid from congress ; favoring the speedy settlement of land titles in this state; and the election of only bona fide permanent settlers to office.

A public discussion was announced to take place early in May in Sacramento, between George C. Bates, Republican, and J. C. Zabris- kie, Democrat, but when the time appointed arrived, no location could be procured, on ac- count of the anticipated disturbance. The meeting was therefore postponed until the evening of the 10th of that month, and when the time arrived the disturbance commenced. Rotten eggs were thrown and firecrackers were exploded to create a turmoil, but the police made several arrests and restored order. Outsiders took possessoin of the stand after the meeting closed and a resolution was adopted, declaring "that the people of this city have been outraged by the discussion of trea- sonable doctrines by a public felon ; and that we will not submit to such an outrage in the future.'

Looking back at this day one naturally wonders that such intolerance should be shown in a free state, but "history repeats itself," and there are many similar instances of narrow-mindedness and intolerance in the world's history, not only in political, but in religious, scientific and other matters. But for the evolution of new ideas and doctrines there would be no progress in the world, and today it would be hard to find one to contra- dict Galileo's murmured protest, "but it does move." The doctrines advocated in 1856 have long ago worked out their own solution, through much bloodshed and devastation, and the whole fair domain of our great republic acknowledges that the destruction of slavery was a blessing to our country.

A few days after the meeting the Sacra- mento "Tribune" (American), referring to the meeting, said: "The fact that a public dis- cussion was permitted to take place in a public street in the heart of our city, in the presence of a large concourse of our citizens, almost

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

all of whom disapprove the doctrine advocated by the speaker, and this, too, when it is the firm conviction of a large majority of the per- sons assembled that the agitation of the slavery question as the basis of political or- ganization is against the true interest of the state and nation, speaks volumes in favor of the public morals of Sacramento." The ex- tract indicates the bitterness of feeling that had already begun to grow up against the agitation for the abolition of slavery, or its restriction to limits where it already existed.

Ex-Governor H. S. Foote, referred to in re- lation to the first Republican meeting, was well-known on this coast. Born in Virginia in 1800, he graduated at Washington College in 1819, commenced the practice of law in 1822, edited a Democratic paper in Alabama, 1824-1832, and resided in Mississippi for a number of years, being elected by the legisla- ture of that state to the United States senate. He resigned his senatorship and was elected governor of the state in 1852. In 1854 he came to California and joined the Native American party and was its candidate for United States senator in 1856, being defeated by David C. Broderick. He returned to Mis- sissippi in 1858 and took an active part in politics. He represented Tennessee in the Confederate congress. During his life he was engaged in three duels and was wounded in two of them. One of his daughters became the wife of Senator W. M. Stewart, and the other two married and reside in California. while his two sons became practicing lawyers on the Pacific Coast. Mr. Foote possessed considerable ability as a writer. In 1866 he published "The War of the Rebellion," and 'Scylla and Charybdis." In 1871 he published a volume of reminiscences, and he was also author of "Texas and the Texans," published in 1847. He died near Nashville, at his resi- dence, May 20, 1880.

The Spittoon Convention

A remarkable political clash took place July 25, 1865, at a county convention held in Sac- ramento. Through dissension in the Union party two factions had arisen. Gov. Frederick F. Low was a candidate for the United States senatorship, and was the choice of one wing of the party, but there was strong opposition to his nomination. The Low and anti-Low delegates in the convention were about equal in numbers and the convention met in the Assembly Chamber of what was then the State Capitol, afterwards the Sacramento County Courthouse until demolished, some years ago. The desks which'ordinarily occupied the chamber had been removed, and replaced by chairs to accommodate the convention of 106 delegates who were expected to be present.

It was a noticeable fact, that almost without exception the Low delegates, dubbed the short-hairs, occupied the seats on the speak- er's right hand, while the anti-Lows, known as the long-hairs, occupied the seats on his left.

As soon as the convention had been called to order, two persons were nominated for tem- porary secretary, and voted for. The chairman of the county central committee announced that W. H. Barton, the long-hair candidate. had been elected to the position by a viva- voce vote. At once the convention was a scene of confusion, and the Low delegates in- sisted on a count of the vote. As Barton ad- vanced from the left toward the secretary's table, the delegates from the right made a rush to the left side of the chamber.

So sudden was the outbreak that it is hard to describe the terrible scene that followed and that has never before or since been wit- nessed in any political convention in this state. Barton was intercepted by his opponents be- fore he could reach the secretary's table and was told that he should not serve in that position. The delegates on the long-hair side of the house hastened to his support, while the Low men presented a solid front to bar his way to the desk, and instantly the battle was on, the opposing wings joining in a hand-to- hand conflict. Weapons for the combatants appeared as if by magic, and solid hickory canes, which appeared to be abundant on both sides, were vigorously used. It was a repro- duction of Donnybrook fair and the battle waged hot and furious. Spittoons were nu- merous and flew through the air like bomb- shells. Inkstands supplied the place of can- non balls and the artillery was in full action. Pistols were drawn and used freely as clubs, but no firearms were discharged or knives used. The principal weapons of warfare in use on both sides were the chairs, which had not been furnished with the idea of their being applied to the heads of the delegates, and which were not very well adapted for that purpose, but were swung in the air by vigor- ous arms and used with telling effect, being broken over the heads of the contending par- ties. In many instances they were broken up in order that the legs might be used as clubs. No Homer has as yet sung the doughty deeds performed on that occasion and the names of the heroes have passed into oblivion. The battle, while furious, did not last over about five minutes, and when the artillery fire had ceased, the long-hairs, who had rallied to Barton's support, had abandoned the field. Some had jumped through the windows, and others, who had been badly hurt, were assisted from the scene. The greater number had

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

passed out into the ante-room and the main hall, leaving the scene of conflict. Thus ended this episode of what has passed into history as the "Spittoon Convention."

The long-hairs retired in a body after the battle was over, and organized in another hall, while the short-hairs, as victors, occupied the battlefield and proceeded with business. Each convention nominated a full local ticket and elected a set of delegates to the state conven- tion. The long-hairs nominated Newton Booth for state senator, while E. H. Heaton was the nominee of the short-hairs. The shorts claimed that the trouble in the convention was caused by a partial ruling by the chairman of the

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History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923, Part 14

Author: Reed, G. Walter Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1026

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026