hubert howe bancroft - Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History ...

SENATORIAL CONTEST. 273
that this digging, delving, half-foreign, rich young
state was not after all able to keep out of the quarrel
between the north and south. As the mails brought
reports of the disunion speeches of pro-slavery senators,
and the disloyal acts of southern people, her
nerves tingled, and her blood was up. Disunion?
Never! A Pacific republic ? Never I
Upon this question of loyalty or disloyalty turned
the choice of a senator to succeed Gwin, who was now
politically dead. The Douglas democrats in caucus
chose James A. McDougall, if a few votes being given
to Edmund Randolph, Henry Edgerton, and Humphrey
Griffith. The republicans chose Timothy G.
Phelps. The Breckenridge democrats could not for
some time obtain a caucus. In joint convention, on
the first ballot, Weller received twenty-seven votes,
McDougall twenty-seven, Phelps twenty-three, Nugent
nine, Denver sixteen. The Breckenridge members
ten days afterward fixed upon John Nugent for their
nominee. Nugent was former editor of the San Francisco
Herald, a democratic newspaper which had come
out for Breckenridge in the late campaign, but after
he had become disconnected with it by selling out to
the Lecomptonites. When Nugent was made candidate
by choice, the votes stood on the twenty-second
ballot, McDougall fifty-six, Nugent forty-seven, Weller
six, Phelps one, and Creanor one. The number required
to elect was fifty-seven, and Phelps changed
M James A. McDougall was born in Albany co., N. Y.t in Nov. 1819, receiving
a grammar school education at Albany. While still a youth, he assisted
in the survey of the first railroad in the state of New York—that
between Albany and Shenectady. He then turned his attention to the law
and studied with enthusiasm. In 1837 he migrated to Pike co.t III., and in
1842 was elected attorney-general of that state, being reflected in 1844.
During this period of his life he became acquainted with Baker, Pratt, and
Hoge, all afterward, like himself, prominent in California politics. In 1849
he came to CaL, overland, from the headquarters of the Rio del Norte, where
he had been exploring for the precious metals with a party from HI. He
settled in S. F., and began the practice of the law, in which he soon became
distinguished for wit, sarcasm, and classicism. He was elected attorney-general
of Cal. in 1850, and member of congress in 1853. His talents were undoubted,
though his motives have been sometimes impugned. He died in
1867 in his native state.
HIST. CAL., VOL. VIL 18