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the recipients of the spoils. What a contrast between his opinion as to what should be a candidate's position, and what really is their course now!

The joint convention of the two houses convened from day to day, when it was well understood no choice could be made. The Colonel would not vote for himself, and not being disposed to vote for the opposite candidate, would cast his vote for any one he happened to think of at the time his name was called. At one time some fellow-member suggested the name of a party, and the Colonel cast his vote for him. He afterwards learned. that he had voted for Mr. Broderick's servant, and some of the members regarded it as a good joke. "Well," he remarked, "I am not certain but he would do about as well as any of us.'

The Whig party to which he belonged and to whose doctrines he had unwaveringly adhered, just at this time went into dissolution, and other and different isms. sprang up. He never afterwards had any strong attachment for either of the political parties that were claiming the suffrage of the people. The Know-Nothing, or American, party being in opposition to the Democratic party, he favored the former on the ground of continuing his opposition to the latter, which he had been fighting all his life, yet he condemned all secret political associations.

As a partisan, he was so on the broad ground of principle, and not capable of resorting to the narrowly contracted view too often entertained and practiced by those who, in deciding a proposition, first inquire how much, or the number of dollars they can make out of it. "After," he would remark, "the chivalric and noble Whig party died," he had to choose between his life-long foe and the new isms of the day. This, however, he did not do until after the Presidential fight in 1856, at which time he strongly advocated the claims of Millard Fillmore. Political parties then divided principally on propositions of a sectional character, and from that time he voted and acted with the Democratic party. Except the speech he delivered in the Democratic Convention in 1861, his political addresses were impromptu, and always to the point at

issue-strongly persuasive to the cause he espoused. On that occasion, he was careful lest he should be misrepresented by the reporters of the press, and wrote out his speech on the issues involved and the condition of affairs, before delivering it.

In his public as well as his private life, all had full opportunity to understand his position. Scorning deceit, condemning vanity, abhorring egotism, frank and sincere, with a religious faith not hampered by the sectarian limits of favorite dogmas, but broad and extended as the pleasing fields of charity, love, and truth. The old, the little children, the young man, as well as the damsel just blushing into womanhood, were fond of enjoying his society. He never spoke ill of any one, nor did ever charity appeal to him in vain. His desire to assist others doubtless injured him in a pecuniary point of view, but it demonstrated the good impulses of nature which marked his course through life.

HUGH CAMPBELL MURRAY.

BY THE EDITOR

All Californians will find interest in a simple sketch, however prosaic, of the life of one who came to the shores of the Pacific in early manhood, friendless and penniless; who, after a very brief residence, impressed his fellow men with a high sense of his worth and splendid abilities; who became a leader in the early political movements in California; who was a Judge of the Supreme Court at the age of twenty-six years; who became Chief Justice of that tribunal at the age of twenty-eight; and who died, not "full of years" but "full of honors," in the service of the State.

H

UGH CAMPBELL MURRAY was born at St. Louis, Missouri, on the 22d day of April, 1825. He was of Scotch ancestry. While he was yet in his infancy his parents removed to Alton, Illinois. At Alton, Hugh passed his boyhood days, where he received his education and grew up to manhood. Upon leaving school he resolved to embrace the study of law, and, with that view, entered the office of Hon. N. D. Strong. He had not commenced the practice of law, when the Mexican War broke out. Mr. Murray joined the army and received the appointment of Lieutenant in the Fourteenth Regiment of Infantry. He served during the war in Gen. Scott's line, and, upon the conclusion of peace, returned to Illinois. The Editor has been unable to obtain any incidents in his military career, and cannot say with what distinction, if any, he served in Mexico; but his disposition was ardent and adventurous, and he doubtless entered with spirit and enthusiasm into that short conflict.

Before he had commenced the prosecution of his profession, his attention was again diverted. Upon the discovery of gold in California, he was among the first to leave Illinois for the far West. He came to California by way of Panama. The voyage severely tried his patience and endurance: not being able to secure a through ticket, he was detained some time on the Isthmus; at length he embarked at Panama on the ship Two Friends, for San Francisco. This vessel was very old and very slow. Mr. Murray spent six months in coming from Panama to San Francisco, and would have been even longer on the way had he not left the vessel at Cape St. Lucas. In company with some of his companions he walked the entire distance from the point last named to the place of his destination--several hundred miles. Upon this journey the little party of indomitable pioneers suffered incredible hardships and privations. At last, in September, 1849, they arrived at San Francisco. Mr Murray at once commenced the practice of law. He soon formed a large circle of friends, and was distinguished for his social and convivial qualities. He was not long in obtaining a lucrative practice. When the Superior Court of the city of San Francisco was organized by the first Legislature of the State in 1850, Hugh C. Murray and J. Caleb Smith were elected Associate Justices, Judge Morse having been appointed to preside. Judge Murray discharged the functions of his office in a manner that convinced the bar and the people of his capacity and fidelity.

In 1854, upon the resignation of Judge Bennett. Mr. Murray was appointed by Governor McDougal as one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court. Judge Murray was then only twenty-six years of age. It is safe to predict that many years will elapse before the Supreme bench of this or any other State will be occupied by a man as young as was Judge Murray at that time. Upon the expiration of his term of office, in 1853, our subject was nominated by the Democracy for Supreme Judge, and was elected by the people. Shortly after his election, he became, upon the resignation of Judge Lyons, Chief Justice of the Court.

The term for which he was elected having expired in 1855, Judge Murray became a candidate for reelection. The Native American, or Know-Nothing, party had just perfected its organization in California. Judge Murray, with many of the brightest intellects of the State, embraced the principles of the new party. The first State Convention of that party met at Sacramento, in the summer of 1855. It was a very enthusiastic body and largely attended. Judge Murray received the nomination for Supreme Judge for the long term-six years. After a desperate contest, in which every appliance was brought to defeat him, he was again elected by a small majority. He continued to be the presiding justice of the Court up to the time of his death. In the summer of 1853 he made a visit to Illinois, and spent a few months with his mother. With that exception, ever since his appointment in 1851 until he succumbed to disease in 1857, he devoted all the energies of his great mind to the proper discharge of his official duties.

Judge Murray died of consumption, at his residence in Sacramento, on September 18th, 1857. For a long while before his death he had suffered much, and often occupied his seat on the bench when his health did not justify it. He was confined to his room for about ten days in his last sickness. By the force of will he bore up against the working of his disease until the evening previous to his death, when the consciousness of his situation was first fully manifested to him, and he calmly resigned all hope of life. From that hour he sank rapidly, and at a quarter past twelve o'clock the next day, expired. A post mortem examination showed the cause of death to be the perforation of the left lung by the ravages of disease. A violent fit of coughing, with which he was first attacked, caused a rupture of the tegument and the opening referred to. The following extract is taken from the obituary notice of Judge Murray which appeared in the Sacramento Union the day after his death.

"As a man, Judge Murray has always been noted for his extremely positive character. No one in the State possessed more warm and devotedly attached friends,

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