Benjamin Bronston Beales

“ Shortly after the Democratic schism of 1860, a national movement was begun to unite the followers of Douglas with the Republicans. This coalition was to be known as the Union party. Owen at first was not in favor of such a union on the grounds that its "elements were too inharmonious and too sluggish."^ No further attempt was made to unite the two groups in San Jose that year. ”

“ Although local Democrats had failed to see eye to eye regarding their two Presidential candidates, nevertheless, by April they united to elect their members to municipal offices. In the elections of that month, "Sham Democracy," according to the Mercury, received 306 votes as against 236 for the Republicans.^ Shortly after this Republican defeat, Owen resolutely proclaimed concerning the Mercury: "We intend that it shall be an efficient [Republican] party organ."*
The national losses of the Democratic party did not daunt its leaders. They pointed to the coming fall elections with confidence. ”

“ The town grew steadily until by 1851 the population numbered over five hundred. An act of the first California legislature incorporated San Jose as a city on March 27, 1850. Included in the population were such diverse nationalities as Mexicans, Peruvians, Chileans, Californians, Indians and some Americans. As in most California towns of the day, the homicide rate was high, although a genuine effort to remedy this condition was made by the various mayors and city councils. Population growth was steady. ”

“ At the outbreak of the Civil War there were two newspapers in San Jose. The oldest, the San Jose Mercury, under a variety of names had been published regularly for a period of about ten years. It began publication as the Weekly Visitor. Politically it was first Whig, but later in the same year it became Democratic. In 1852 its name was changed to the Register. The next year it became the Telegraph, and in 1861 it was sold to James Jerome Owen and Benjamin H. Cottle.
Owen, according to Eugene Sawyer, was "a man among men . . . ”

“ At the same time, however, they invited the cooperation "of all men who are in favor of sustaining the Administration in its efforts to preserve the Union and enforce its laws." Leland Stanford was endorsed by the convention as its choice for governor.^^ This was a most crucial election for the Republicans of California because it was to be contested with a firmly entrenched Democratic group headed by the incumbent governor, John Downey. ”

“ Following the proclamation, many argued that the Negro would overrun the North and cause sociological and economic problems. Owen denied this. He thought the Negro would remain where the climate was more congenial and his services more in demand. He, however, did not deny to the Negro the right as a free man to move wherever he pleased. Freedom for the Negro, in his opinion, did not elevate him to social equality with the whites because, "Social equality . ”

“ The Northern and Southern elements named Stephen Arnold Douglas and John Cabell Breckinridge as their respective candidates. The remnants of the old Whig and American parties united under the name of the Constitutional Union party. ”

“ The editor of the San Jose Tribune held out very little hope for the Republicans in the pending state election.^* Owen, for his part, saw^ all the issues and platforms of the various parties boiled down to the fact that the only question before California was whether or not the war policy of the Administration would be wholeheartedly supported.^^
The elections were held on September 4. The Mercury announced the results on the twelfth. Owen estimated Stanford's county majority over the Douglas Democrat, John Conness, and the "Compromise" Democrat, John R. McConnell, as "about 570." ”

“ A total of 1,195 votes wer€ cast in San Jose. The Mercury gave the total for the state as: Stanford, 56,038; Conness, 30,944; and McConnell, 32,751.^^ Davis verifies the report of the Mercury}^ The state Democrats, it will be noticed, slightly favored McConnell over Conness.
Owen viewed the election results as fortunate and stated that had the Republicans not gained a victory, California would have been in serious economic difficulties because "Capitalists became frightened . . . for all their wealth was at stake." ”