The black shame is doomed never to cross the Rockies, and yet the
great struggle for the born nobility of manhood has been led by
Shannon, an alien Irishman. The proudest American blood followed
Dr. Gwin's pro-slavery leading. The two senators named are Gwin and
the hitherto unrewarded Fremont. Wright and Gilbert are the two
congressmen. Honest Peter H. Burnett, on November 13, is elected
the first governor of California. He is chosen by the people, and
destined to live to see nearly fifty years of peaceful prosperity
on the golden coast.
While this struggle is being waged on the Pacific, at Washington the
giant statesmen of those famous ante-bellum days close in bitter
strife. The political future of the great West, now known to be
so rich, is undecided. It is the desperate desire of the South to
keep California out of the Union, unless the part falling under
the Wilmot proviso act south of 36 deg 30 min is given to slavery.
The national funds to pay for the "Gadsden purchase" will be
withheld unless slavery can be extended. The great struggle brings
out all the olden heroes of the political arena. Benton, Webster,
Clay, Calhoun, Davis, King, Sam Houston, Foote, Seward, John Bell,
and Douglas, are given a golden prize to tourney for.
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