Page:History of American Journalism.djvu/298

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the expulsion of the reporters of The Union from the press gallery on the ground of a colored report of the debate of the previous Monday. The debate which followed was important because it definitely established the rights of the press at Wash- ington. The resolution was lost by a vote of 27 to 21.

ORGAN OF TAYLOR'S ADMINISTRATION After the battle of Buena Vista several papers, led by The Sentinel, of Boston, suggested the nomination of Zachary Tay- lor. Other papers adopted the suggestion and strongly advo- cated his election. When he came to the White House he found that he was without an official newspaper at the Capital, as The National Intelligencer was the organ of Daniel Webster. Taylor immediately prepared to establish a newspaper which he called The Republic. For its editors he brought Alexander Bul- litt from The New Orleans Picayune and John O. Sargent from The New York Courier and Enquirer.

During Taylor's Administration The National Era, the recog- nized organ of the anti-slavery party at Washington, published "Uncle Tom's Cabin" as a serial. No romance ever printed in an American newspaper attracted so much attention in the press. Its influence was clearly recognized by Lincoln, for when he met its author, Harriet Beecher Stowe, he remarked, "So you are the little woman who caused this great war." The great influence of this tale was due not only to its newspaper publication, but also to the book and to the play. The National Era should not be confused with The New Era later edited for the colored people by Frederick Douglass.

JOURNALISM OF THE PACIFIC COAST

The discovery of gold in California, strange to say, did not attract very much attention in the press of that State. Possibly The Californian published in its issue for March 5, 1848, the best account under the small caption, "Gold Mine Found": "In the newly made raceway of the Saw Mill recently erected by Captain Sutter, on the American Fork, gold has been found in considerable quantities. One person brought thirty dollars worth to New Helvetia, gathered there in a short time. Cali-