Three San Francisco Homicides
Moment of Truth: 1. The Decision
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Moment of Truth
1. The Decision
In the Spring of 1859, Senator David Broderick, Democrat of California, left Washington at the close of that year’s session of Congress. He traveled to New York to visit friends before sailing back to San Francisco.
Friend:
I don't see what's in it for you, Dave. Why not tour Europe for the summer? See Ireland and find your family. You're exhausted. You should be thinking of your health. Unless you're thinking about joining the Republicans, there's no place left for you in politics. There's no place left in the Democracy for us Free Soil men, or even Northern men in general. The party's in the hands of slavers and nothing's going to change that.
Broderick:
I'm stubborn, Sam. I'll always be that way. It's made me what I am. It may break me in the end, but it's nothing I can change.
Friend:
What can you possibly achieve in California now? They'll be electing a new governor?
Broderick:
And two congressmen.
Friend:
Whatever. What's the point?
Broderick:
There's far too much at stake to run away, Sam. I stand for something in this country. In this party. I'm the first working man, the first man born to labor, the first New York City Irishman to be elected to the U.S. Senate. My father carved the pillars of the Capitol when my family first came over, and I marvel at his work each day I mount the steps. The people that I speak for have never known a place so high in government, and I cannot and I will not let them down. My success has been their pride and hope because, in the future, they, and not all of the aristocrats will dominate this nation.
Friend:
Then save your health so you can fight another day. No good will come of going back to California just to have your head beat in over an election. You still have three years on your term, so these races can't be that important to your own career.
Broderick:
My political career is built entirely on loyalty. Those who have supported me have always known that they could count on me for leadership. They've stuck with me because they've never seen me back down from a fight. It took five years to get me to the Senate. Five years of constant warfare with the Chivs. I've never backed away from any fight and everybody knows it. Know where I learned that? Right here in New York City. When I was captain of a firehouse, I had to take on any challenger from any other company. Bare knuckles. No time outs. There were times I knew that I would take a heavy beating, but I never backed away because I learned my men admired me as much or more for fighting against heavy odds and losing as when I won against a lesser man. A fighter doesn't weigh his chances. He only fights, no matter what the outcome. That's how I won the loyalty of firemen, and how I've won the loyalty of all my friends in politics. My friends in California expect me to come back and lead the fight against the Chivs, no matter how it all turns out. So that's exactly what I'm going to do.
Friend:
You've got Republicans out there in California. If you jumped in with them, you'd be their leader right away. Look what happened here. New York is sure to go Republican in next year's Presidential. The entire North may do so. They've got this new man, Lincoln, and I've heard him speak. He's got the message folks are waiting for.
Broderick:
We've got Republicans in California. A lot of Free Soil men are joining up. Abandoning the Democratic Party. My good friend Colonel Baker, the attorney, is their leader, and he says just what you are saying. That if I bolted from the party I could be the leader of the state Republicans and give them a huge boost. And Baker's also big on this man Lincoln. They shared a law firm back in Illinois. Says Lincoln's a great orator, and that's something coming from Ed Baker. But it's impossible for me to leave the Democratic Party.
Friend:
These are perilous times, Dave. Nothing should be deemed impossible.
Broderick:
I'll be forty next year, Sam. Old enough to understand that I can't leave the party anymore. It's the nursery where I was raised. It's like my family, a great big Irish family. You may hate half the people in it, but they are still your family. I don't make any sense outside it.
Friend:
That's just emotion, Dave. Not reason.
Broderick:
How's this for reason? The Democracy is the only truly national party in existence now that the Whigs have disappeared. The only means to bind together all of the United States. North and South and West. The Republicans are entirely a Northern Party. They have no presence whatsoever in the Southern States. If they win next year, the South will not acknowledge Lincoln and the nation will break up. Only the national Democratic Party can keep the Union going. If there's a war to be fought against the Chivalry, it must be fought within the Democratic Party. If Free Soil men become Republicans, the Democracy will belong entirely to the slaving interest. That's what's driving my decision not to bolt to the Republicans.
Friend:
Stay in the Party if you want to. But at least think of your health. Take it from an old, true friend. You don't look good. You need a rest. A chance to build your strength if you intend to fight again. Going through a tough convention and campaign may kill you.
Broderick:
I'll make it through election day. It's after that I have to think of. It's not my health that's going to kill me. It's the Chivs. If they can manage it.
Friend:
What are you saying?
Broderick:
I'm saying that the Chivs all need me dead. They need my Senate seat. If they can kill me, the next governor will replace me with a Chiv. They've got old Gwin right now in one seat. He's a Chiv from Mississippi. His vote is as reliable to slavers as if he still was serving for a slave state. If they get rid of me, they can have both our California senators for slavery even though our state is free. That's critically important to their purposes, to spread slavery across the West. The Chivalry is counting on their California crew to kill me.
Friend:
You’re saying they'd assassinate you?
Broderick:
No. It isn't quite that easy. They'd have to lure me to a duel. Both they and I know what the plan is. Just two problems from their point of view. For one, I'm a terrific shot. When I came up in New York City, men of my class never used a gun at all. We used our fists, or maybe brickbats. So I wasn't used to pistols. But when I came to California, I realized I had to learn to use one. All the Southerners in California carried them, and it's a Western habit generally. And I learned that you could not refuse a challenge and remain in politics in California. It tags you as a coward. So I bought a Colt’s revolver and I practiced every day. I still practice every week in public, at a shooting gallery, so that everybody knows how good I am. My draw is fast and my aim is excellent. So any Chiv who challenges is risking something.
Friend:
What's the second thing?
Broderick:
The second thing is that I will not make it cheap. If they want to have a duel, they'll have to risk their champion. A senator against a senator. If they want me, they'll have to risk the life of Gwin. He's been a senator from California since the founding of the state, and he's a powerful man in Washington and in the national Democracy. I won't fight against a lesser man. We've been at war politically for years. I know the man like no one else. If I insist that he's the only one I'll fight, he'll have to challenge. That's what Chivalry calls "honor."
Friend:
Is he a dueling man?
Broderick:
All Chivs are dueling men, but both of us have been in duels. He fought with one of our past congressmen, with rifles from a distance, but both men missed and made their peace. I fought with a state legislator early on. He hit me, but my watch in my vest pocket saved my life. That's what got me to get sharp with a revolver. At this point,I can hit a man two times before he's leveled up his piece. So Gwin will have his hands full.
Friend:
Two U.S. Senators dueling! A Northern man against a Chiv! Sounds like civil war!
Broderick:
Has to happen sometime. In any case, I’m going back to face the Chivs in California. Thanks for your concern, Sam, but my decision has been made.