San Francisco Daily Alta California, January 5, 1860

The Senatorial struggle has fairly commenced, and, we presume, no business of importance will be transacted by the Legislature until the contest is over. At the present moment, when the Halls of Congress are resounding with treasonable speeches and personal quarrels between ultra men of either section of the Union, when disunion is openly and loudly threatened, it would seem to be the first duty of the Legislature to take high conservative ground, and elect none but a conservative, Union-loving man, who is the representative of the people, and not of a sectional faction. To do otherwise, is to array California on the side of one or the other of the factions that are keeping Congress and the nation in a constant broil, and to set the opposing faction bitterly and irrevocably against us. It is plain that California ought to occupy none other than neutral ground, steadfast and loyal to the Union and firm and positive in her opposition to all sectional issues. Yet, in spite of this great fact, we see the present Senatorial contest narrowed by the most ultra sectional issues. Candidates are brought forward because of their sectional principles, and they find a goodly array of supporters to urge their claims to this high and responsible position, upon that one issue alone. In fact, in the caucus of the dominant party, which is to assemble in Sacramento, the fight will be made between the conservative men and the ultra sectionalist, with a fair prospect that the latter will win. This is a lamentable condition of affairs. All honest and patriotic men should set their faces against it, should hold themselves aloof from any combination made for the purpose of foisting a mere sectional demagogue upon us as our Senatorial representative. The members of the Legislature should select from among the candidates before them a conservative and patriotic man, who knows no North nor no South, nothing but the Union. If they fail to do this, then good bye to all hope of Congressional aid on the Railroad or any other measure; good bye to all hope of justice being done to us; good bye to the claim which it is now our pride and boast to make of our loyalty to the Union. The power and ascendancy of party may be maintained just as well by an adherence to conservative principles as by sacrificing all to ultra factionists of either section. Nay, more, except by an adherence to these principles, no party can hope for a long lease of power; no party that pursues an opposite policy deserves to do so. We earnestly appeal to the members of the Legislature to open their eyes to a realization of the true duty which they are called upon to perform. Give us a truly conservative, national man, or give us none at all.