USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 38
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Romualdo Pacheco, of San Luis Obispo, was elected Senator from this Senatorial District, receiving 263 votes, defeating Dr. Brinkerhoff, of Santa Barbara, who received 43 votes in San Luis Obispo, and Henry M. Osgood was elected to the Assembly, receiving 244 votes; W. J. Graves 15; others, 4.
José Maria Muñoz elected County Judge, 168 votes, to 102 for J. M. Bonilla.
For Sheriff-Francisco Castro, 169 votes; A. Murray, Io0.
For Treasurer-W. J. Graves, 173 votes; J. J. Simm- ler, 4.
For County Clerk-W. C. Dana, 169; A. Murray, 100.
Assessor-Charles Varian, 132; De la Guerra, 16; Cantua, 116; Graves, I.
Recorder-D. F. Newsom.
Coroner-Slycken, 150; others, 7.
Public Administrator-Lascano.
For Constitutional Convention, 114; against, 18.
The Legislature met on the first Monday in January, 1858. The session passed with but little general inter- est, terminating its labors April 26, 1858. In both houses were 104 Democrats, 14 Republicans, and 7 Americans. Soon after the election in 1857 Chief Justice H. C.
Murray died, and Peter H. Burnett, who had been elected to fill the term expiring January 1, 1858, was appointed to the vacancy, and Stephen J. Field, who had been elected to take office January Ist, was appointed in the place made vacant by the appointment of Burnett.
HENRY M. OSGOOD.
The Member of the Assembly from this county at that time was Hon. Henry M. Osgood, whose name appears frequently in this history. He had borne a prominent part in the affairs of the county, settling here among the first of the American residents, here marrying and rais- ing a family, and here remaining until his death, Novem- ber 29, 1882. Mr. Osgood was born in New York, Sep- tember 21, 1828. When a youth of eighteen he joined the regiment of New York Volunteers, known as the Stevenson Regiment, for service and settlement in Cali- fornia, and arrived here in the spring of 1847. After the close of the war he was detailed, or employed in the service as express rider, or mail carrier, through this region, and in 1850 became a prominent settler in San Luis Obispo. He first located on the Arroyo Grande and began life as a farmer, subsequently removing to the town of San Luis Obispo. Here he was elected Justice of the Peace, acting as Associate Judge, and held various other offices, also following the business of jeweler, which he continued until his failing health caused him to cease his labors. Mr. Osgood was a popular man, a useful and highly respected member of society, and one of that firm and honorable class of pioneers who aided in establishing and maintaining a substantial government in California. He was a member of the orders of Chosen Friends and of Good Templars, both of which assisted at his funeral. In respect to his memory the following proceedings were published :-
IN MEMORIAM .- San Luis Obispo Lodge, No. 444, I. O. G. T., at its regular meeting, held December 8, 1882, adopted the following resolutions, in memory of Henry M. Osgood, deceased.
WHEREAS, The hand of Divine Providence has re- moved our esteemed brother, Henry M. Osgood, from our midst, and
WHEREAS, In view of the loss we have sustained by the decease of our friend and brother, and the much heavier loss sustained by those nearest and dearest to him, therefore be it
Resolved, That in the death of Henry M. Osgood this Lodge laments the death of a brother, who, though a staunch adherent to temperance principles, never forgot to show charity to those who had fallen by the curse of drink; a worthy member of this Order, whose utmost endeavors were exerted for its welfare and prosperity; a friend who was esteemed by all; a citizen whose con- sistent, upright life served as a standard of emulation to his fellows.
Resolved, That the heartfelt sympathy of this Lodge be extended to his family in their affliction; that while we deeply grieve at the dispensation with which it has pleased Divine Providence to afflict them, we commend them to the consolation of Him who orders all things for the best, and whose chastisements are meant in mercy.
Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the records of the Lodge, and a copy thereof be transmitted
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to the family of our deceased brother, and to each of the newspapers of San Luis Obispo, for publication. C. H. WOODS, H. P. FLOOD, D. M. MEREDITH,
Committee.
CAMPAIGN OF 1858.
The progress of the political changes which led from the absolute supremacy of the Democratic Party to its disruption and revolution is noticed with each recurring campaign. In a retrospective view the period including the administration of James Buchanan is one of the most interesting and instructive of the political history of the United States, as it witnessed the culmination of the slave power; the imperial arrogance of its leaders, and the growth of the Republican Party against whose success the South rose in rebellion.
DOUGLAS DEMOCRATS.
With the opening of the campaign of 1858 the first mention is made of "Douglas Democrats." Stephen A. Douglas, Senator from Illinois, had introduced the bills for the organization of the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska in 1854, which left the question of slavery to be decided by the people when organizing as States. For this he became a very popular leader of the Democ- racy. In 1858, under the pressure of Buchanan and the pro-slavery Democrats, a bill was passed admitting Kan- sas with a Constitution maintaining slavery, known as the "Lecompton" Constitution, which had been rejected by a large majority of the people of Kansas, who had sub- mitted an anti-slavery Constitution, made in convention at Topeka. Douglas, Broderick, and Chandler, Demo- cratic Senators, voted against the measure, and were called bolters, and their adherents became known as "Douglas Democrats," or "Anti-Lecomptonites."
The principal questions under discussion during the campaign were the admission of Kansas with the Con- stitution establishing slavery, and the disagreements between Senators Broderick and Douglas with the Ex- ecutive at Washington. The proclamation of the Gov- ernor called for the election of a Judge of the Supreme Court, and a State Controller, as the only officers to be voted for by the people of the State in general (the election of Members of Congress having been postponed one year), Legislative officers and county officers.
Mckibben, Member of Congress, and strongly Anti- Broderick the previous year, now opposed the Demo- cratic Administration, and acted with the Douglas, or Anti-Lecompton Party.
The Republican State Convention met at Sacramento August 5, 1858, and nominated John Currey, of Solano, for Justice of the Supreme Court, and Dr. L. C. Gunn, of Tuolumne, for Controller.
The Democratic State Convention met at Sacramento August 4th, and nominated Joseph P. Baldwin, of San Francisco, for Justice of the Supreme Court, and A. R. Maloney for Controller.
The Douglas Democrats met the same day and nom- inated John Currey for Justice of Supreme Court; I.
M. Dawley, of Nevada, for Controller, and H. U. Jen- nings of Butte, for Clerk of Supreme Court. Although no election of Congressmen was called for, the Repub- licans nominated J. C. Mckibben and Felix P. Tracey, and the Douglas Democrats nominated Mckibben and Wm. L. Dudley.
REPUBLICANS AND DOUGLAS DEMOCRATS.
The intent and purpose of the Douglas Democrats and the Republicans being so nearly the same-that was, to "end the misrule of the Buchanan Democracy"-that a combination was made, the Republicans nominating two of the Anti-Lecompton Democrats for State officers.
Among the resolutions in the Democratic platform was one declaring :-
That in the opinion of this convention the formation of and adherence to the so-called Topeka Constitution by the Abolition Party of Kansas, was an act of rebellion which ought to have been put down by force. And be it further
Resolved, That it is the will of those who adhere to the Government, and not to the will of those who array themselves in rebellion against the Government, that should be looked to and carried out, both in the forma- tion of State Constitutions and the admission of States into the Union.
This Democratic doctrine of 1858 became very obnox- ious to many of that party when adopted by the Repub- licans in the War of the Rebellion.
ELECTION IN 1858.
The election was held September 1, 1858, resulting in the success of the regular Democratic State and county ticket. The State returns were, for Baldwin, Democrat, 44,599; Currey, Douglas Democrat, and Republican, 36,198; Melony, 44,285; Dawley, 27,759; Gunn, Repub- can, 7,481.
The vote in San Luis Obispo was :-
For Justice of Supreme Court, J. P. Baldwin, 256; John Currey, 4; for Members of Congress, J. C. McKib- ben, 97; F. P. Tracey, 97, Republicans. The Demo- crats made no nominations for Congress, as the election had been postponed until 1859. The vote of San Luis Obispo shows an indifference to partisanship-Joaquin Carrillo was elected District Judge without opposition, and Romualdo Pacheco held over as Senator.
Walter Murray was elected to the Assembly, where he was classed as a Democrat; the Assembly being composed of 54 Democrats, 16 Anti-Lecompton, or Douglas, Dem- ocrats, and 10 Republicans.
The Senate contained 24 Democrats, 6 Anti-Lecomp- tonites, 4 Republicans, and I Independent.
The Republican Party had increased so as to secure a partial, but strong and intelligent representation, the strength and vote being chiefly in the large cities and most populous mining counties.
A PORTENTOUS OMEN.
As the campaign closed there appeared in the north- western sky a large and brilliant comet, afterwards known as Donati's Comet, with a tail fifteen degrees in length,
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HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
and curved toward the north like a flaming Turkish cimetar. This grand spectacle was visible every evening for six weeks, appearing like an army in the heavens pass- ing in review from the north to the south, eventually dis-" appearing in the southwest, having many features likened to military equipages; sharp, straight lines like spears and rapiers rising and disappearing, and the whole appearing like a sabre held in the air, or an aigrette plume flowing from the chapeau of a soldier, or off upon the ocean as the flame from a passing steamer. By many it was re- garded as the comet which some historians declare influ- enced Charles V., in the sixteenth century, to abdicate the thrones of Spain and Germany, and which had foretold the birth of Christ, and in its period of a little over 300 years had prognosticated great political and religious events. Did it come at this time to forewarn the world of the great revolution to occur in the United States in a few years thereafter, one of the greatest political revolu- tions of history, and was its flaming sword and military appearance as it passed a symbol of the future march of the Union armies from the north to the south?
THE LEGISLATURE.
The Legislature met January 3, 1859. On the 4th the Assembly organized by the election of W. C. Strat- ton, of Placer, as Speaker.
The most exciting question of the session was a reso lution introduced by Senator William Holden, of Tuol- umne and Stanislaus, requesting D. C. Broderick to re- sign his office as United States Senator for having diso- beyed the instructions of the previous Legislature to support the Administration in regard to the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution, and for hav- ing spoken disrespectfully of the President of the United States in the Senate on the 22d of March, 1858. This resolution was long and ably debated, and passed by a strictly partisan vote. A law was passed exempting from execution the homestead of an unmarried person, to the value of $2,500; also, an Act, again submitting to a vote of the people the question of calling a Constitu- tional Convention. The Legislature adjourned April 19, 1859.
CAMPAIGN OF 1859.
The campaign of 1859 was one of the interesting series attending the disruption of the Whig and the solidification of the Republican Party. The Kansas "embroglio," "Bleeding Kansas," the "Kansas Out- rages," "Lecompton" and "Anti-Lecompton," "Squat- ter Sovereignty" and "Border Ruffians," were the common terms often heard in political speeches, indi- vidual wrangles, and newspaper articles. Questions of State and county interest were overlooked or forgotten in the all-absorbing subject agitating the nation. There was, however, the struggle for local offices, and, in the gen- eral breaking up of parties making it difficult to forecast the result, each organization entertained hopes of success. A full set of State officers was to be elected, also two Members of Congress, one Senator from the district of Sun Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, Member of Assem- bly, county and township officers.
The Republican State Convention met at Sacramento, June 7, 1859, and organized by the election of Hon. Charles A. Tuttle, of Placer, Chairman.
The nominations were as follows: For Governor, Le- land Stanford, of Sacramento; Lieutenant-Governor, James F. Kennedy, of Santa Clara; Members of Con- gress, P. H. Sibley, of Placer, and Col. E. D. Baker, of San Francisco; Justice of Supreme Court, Oscar L. Shaf- ter, of San Francisco; Clerk of Supreme Court, S. D. Parker, of Tehama; Treasurer; P. P. Caine, of Yuba; Controller, J. R. Clarke, of El Dorado; Attorney-General, H. S. Love, of San Francisco; Surveyor-General, A. G. Randall, of Amador; Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion, S. W. Brown, of Sonoma; State Printer, F. B. Murdock, of Santa Clara.
The Anti-Lecompton State Convention met at Sacra- mento, June 16th, and made the following nominations: For Governor, John Currey, of Solana; Lieutenant-Gov- ernor, John Conness, of El Dorado; Congress, Joseph C. Mckibben, of Sierra, and Col. E. D. Baker, of San Francisco; Justice of Supreme Court, Royal T. Sprague, of Shasta; Clerk of Supreme Court, Joseph Powell, of Sacramento; Attorney-General, Edmund Randolph, of San Francisco; Treasurer, Josiah Johnson, of Sacra- mento; Controller, George Pierce, of Sonoma; State Printer, John O'Meara, of Yuba.
The Democratic State Convention met at Sacramento, June 22d, and made the following nominations: For Gov- ernor, Milton S. Latham, of Sacramento; Lieutenant- Governor, J. G. Downey, of Los Angeles; Congress, John C. Burch, of Trinity, and C. L. Scott, of Tuolumne; Justice of Supreme Court, W. W. Cope, of Amador; Attorney-General, Thomas H. Williams, of El Dorado, Clerk of Supreme Court, Charles S. Fairfax, of Sacra- mento; Treasurer, Thomas Findley, of Nevada; Con- troller, Samuel H. Brooks, of San Joaquin; Surveyor- General, Horace A. Higley, of Alameda; Superintendent of Public Instruction, A. J. Moulder, of San Francisco; State Printer, C. T. Botts, of Sacramento.
ELECTION PRECINCTS.
At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors, held August 3, 1859, the county was divided into election precincts as follows :--
SAN MIGUEL: To compose all that portion of the county north of an east and west line passing through the Hot Springs, between San Miguel and Paso de los Robles, and extending from the Coast Range to the eastern bound- ary of the county.
PASO ROBLES: From said east and west line south as far as the creek intersecting the Atascadero Rancho, and extending due east on that line from the eastern bound- ary of the Costa Precinct, passing through the point of intersection of said creek and the main road to San Luis and running thence to the Huer-huero Creek.
ESTRELLA: All that country lying east of the Huer- huero Creek and south of San Miguel Precinct to the east- ern boundary of the county.
'SAN LUIS: All that portion of the county south of Paso Robles Precinct, and west of the Huer-huero Creek as far as the line of the Arroyo Grande Precinct.
Ordered, That the Clerk issue certificates of appoint-
+
" SAN GERONIMO RANCH" DAIRY RANCH WORESIDENCE OF G MUSCIO VILLA CREEK SAN LUIS OBISPO CO.CAL.
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POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.
ment to the following-named Inspectors and Judges of election immediately on receipt of the Governor's proc- lamation :-
ESTRELLA PRECINCT: Alfred Smith, Inspector; James Wayland and Wm. James, Judges. Election to be held at Smith's house.
SAN MIGUEL PRECINCT: B. Palmer, Inspector; M. G. Noble and Wm. McCrutcheon, Judges. Election to be held at the San Miguel House.
PASO ROBLES PRECINCT: G. Cruthers, Inspector, B. J. Jones and J. Pruett, Judges. Election to be held at the Paso Robles House.
COSTA PRECINCT: C. Mathers, Inspector. Election to be held at the Santa Rosa House.
SAN LUIS OBISPO PRECINCT: F. Hillard, Inspector, B. Lascano and J. Bunce, Judges. Election to be held at the County Court House.
ARROVO GRANDE PRECINCT: F. Z. Branch Inspector, C. Dana and L. Martin, Judges. Election to be held at F. Z. Branch's ranch.
POLITICAL DOCTRINES.
The campaign was conducted with unusual spirit throughout the State, the political excitement extending even into San Luis Obispo County, where the people be- gan to pay greater interest in public affairs. The Repub- licans made an active canvass of the State, having such able speakers as Col. E. D. Baker, Felix P. Tracey, and Horace Greeley, who made a brief visit to California during the campaign. The party, however, did not have a very strong following in this county. The doctrine of "Squat- ter Sovereignty" which had been advocated by Douglas and his party, was now repudiated by the Republicans, Greeley declaring it was but another feature of the slave trade-that neither the squatters nor Congress should ad- mit slavery into the Territories. This extreme doctrine was thought by the Democrats so obnoxious that it would destroy the Republican Party in California; but instead of destroying it seemed to increase under the positive dec- laration. Colonel Baker took issue with Greeley upon this question, saying squatter sovereignty-the right of the settler to decide whether or not slavery should be admitted in the Territories-was the basis of the Republican Party. The Democrats maintained that no power could exclude slavery prior to admission as a State.
ELECTION RETURNS 1859.
The election was held September 7th, resulting in a Democratic success. The vote in the State was: For Governor, Milton S. Latham, Democrat, 63,255; John Currey, Anti-Lecompton, 31,298; Leland Stanford, Re- publican, ro, 11o.
In San Luis Obispo, for Governor-Latham, 284; Cur- rey, 30; Stanford, 30.
For Senator, Second District-W. J. Graves of San Luis Obispo, Democrat, 280; Pablo de la Guerra, Anti- Lecompton, of Santa Barbara, 52; De la Guerra being elected by the vote of Santa Barbara.
Assembly-B. McElhaney, 216; P. A. Forrester, 128.
Sheriff-Francisco Castro, 223; William Snelling, 123. County Clerk-Thomas H. Bouton, 231; Alexander Murray, 119.
County Treasurer-Walter Murray, 183; Wm. C. Dana, 142.
District Attorney-Walter Murray, 165; James White, 158.
Assessor-B. P. Brown, 204; V. Gaxiola, III; Charles Varian, 2.
Public Administrator -- Blas Castro, 174; Henry M. Osgood, 160.
Superintendent of Public Schools-F. Wickenden, 203; David P. Mallagh, 138.
County Surveyor-W. H. Sparks, 182; B. M. Henry, 146.
Coroner-J. A. de la Guerra, 169; T. R. Throop, 168; J. P. Leuelling, I.
BRODERICK AND TERRY DUEL.
The returns of the election were but just counted and made known to the people, when David S. Terry re- signed his position as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and challenged Senator David C. Broderick to a duel. The assumed provocation was the remark made by Brod- erick, in the June preceding, that he "once said Terry was the only honest Judge on the Supreme Bench, but I now take that back." Undoubtedly, the true cause was the bitter enmity between Broderick and the leaders of the Southern Democrats, of which Terry was the repre- sentative. The duel occurred on the 13th of September, resulting in the wounding of Broderick, who died on the 16th of the same month. The death of Broderick created a vacancy in the Senate, and gave the opportunity to the Democratic Legislature to elect an undoubted Demo- crat in his place. H. P. Haun, of Yuba, was appointed United States Senator by the Governor to fill the position until a successor should be elected.
M. S. LATHAM ELECTED SENATOR.
The Legislature met January 2, 1860, and on the 9th met in joint convention and elected Governor Latham United States Senator for the unexpired term of D. C. Broderick. On the 14th following, Latham resigned his position as Governor, and was succeeded in office by Lieut. Gov. John G. Downey.
CAMPAIGN OF 1860.
With 1860 came the culmination of the political changes set in motion by the compromise measures of 1850; excited by the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law; aroused by the Dred Scott Decision; accelerated by the extension of slavery into the Territories; and gathered into an overwhelming tempest by the attempt to force a pro-slavery Constitution upon the State of Kansas. Each of the great measures was thought, or claimed, as au- thorized by the national Constitution, to settle the slavery question forever; but each enactment gave addi- tional cause for agitation and strength to the opposing forces.
THREATENING ASPECT OF PARTIES.
As parties arose in the East their influence soon ex- tended to the most distant borders, and national politics controlled the votes of every county. Different states-
19
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HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
men suggested different methods of adjusting the threat- ening difficulties, and each had his adherents. A Presi- dent was to be elected, and four parties entered the con- test. Two of these, the Democratic and Republican, were parties of action, presenting positive principles, and two, the Douglas Democrats and " Union," with vacil- lating, undefined, conservative principles. One violent in its aggression, the other determined in its resistance; and each claiming to be the resisting one, and charging the other as aggressive.
National Conventions for the nomination of Presiden- tial candidates were to be held at Charleston, by the Democrats, and at Chicago, by the Republicans.
The Chicago Convention nominated Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, for President, and Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, for Vice-President.
The Charleston Convention failed to agree upon can- didates, and the delegates of several States withdrew, agreeing to meet at Washington on the 11th of June, and the convention adjourned to meet at Baltimore on the 18th of the same month. At the Baltimore Con- vention a division again took place, resulting in two conventions, at one of which John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, was nominated for President, and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, for Vice-President; and at the other Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, was nominated for Pres- ident and Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia, for Vice-Pres- ident. John C. Bell, of Tennessee, and Edward Ever- ett, of Massachusetts, were named by the Union Party as candidates for President and Vice-President.
The Republican State Convention met at Sacramento June 20th, and nominated Charles A. Tuttle, of Placer, Charles A. Washburn, of San Francisco, Wm. H. Weeks, of Sacramento, and Antonio Maria Pico, of Los Angeles, for Presidential electors.
The election comprised, besides the Presidential elect- ors, Legislative, county, and township officers. Conven- tions were held, and all parties placed candidates in the field. The campaign was long and vigorously con- ducted. The result was portentous of great events. Deep feeling rather than enthusiasm prevailed. The ablest speakers of every party traversed the country. Of the Breckenridge Democratic orators were Judah P. Benjamin, of Louisiana; Senators Milton S. Latham and William M. Gwin, and others. For the Douglas Democ- racy were James A. McDougall, Joseph P. Hoge, and others; and for the Republicans, Thomas Fitch, Col. E. D. Barker, then Senator from Oregon, and others, as well as the various candidates.
Among the questions to be voted upon at the election was one calling a Constitutional Convention, and an- other for payment of the State debt. The first had been voted upon at previous elections, the requirement to carry it being a majority of all the votes cast. The people had paid but little attention to it and the ques- tion had not received the requisite vote. The State debt, amounting to $3,000,000, had been declared by the Supreme Court to have been contracted in violation of the Constitution, which prohibited an indebtedness ex- ceeding $300,000, unless approved by a vote of the peo-
ple. A certain amount of the debt had been voted upon in 1858, but there was an amount of $250,000 that had not been submitted, and this was left for the approval or repudiation of the people at the election in November, 1860.
THE ELECTION-LINCOLN PRESIDENT.
The election was held November 7, 1860. The elect- oral vote of the United States was: Lincoln, 180; Breck- enridge, 72; Douglas, 12 ;. Bell, 39.
In California, the highest for elector, Lincoln, 38,734; Douglas, 38,023; Breckenridge, 33,975; Bell, 9,136.
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