Excerpt from Grizzly Bear, Vol. 50: November, 1931

In 1857 Broderick was elected United States Senator from California for a full term. Gwin was re-elected with Broderick's support, but for an unexpired term. In 1858 an attempt was made to carry the state for the Lecompton standard. Broderick toured the state. Making speeches everywhere in opposition to the exten sion of slavery. As the campaign became more intense and more and more bitter, Broderick thought it necessary to unmask the true char acter of Senator Gwin. To do this, he made pub lic the scarlet letter, a communication which Gwin had written to Broderick, implying that if Broderick would support his re-election he would not exercise his right to dictate patronage appointments to the president. Broderick sup ported Gwin's re-election, but Gwin immediately broke his promise. In Washington, Gwin turned the favor of President Buchanan away from Broderick, and as a result Broderick became a strong opponent of the presidential administra tion. So strong was his opposition in the Senate to the extension of slavery that Southern leaders became most hostile to him.

As a result of this violent opposition to the powers that were, the leaders of the Lecompton group in California marked Broderick as a man to be gotten rid of. Senator Gwin and his friends, who were both ashamed and indignant over the expose of the scarlet letter, also acquiesced in this. To the honor of these old Californians, it must be said that no attempt was made to murder Broderick. They at least gave him an open chance to defend his life. David C. Terry, a justice of the Supreme Court. Challenged Broderick to a duel. After months of letter writing the date was set for September 12, 1859. Terry predicated his challenge upon grounds of certain derogatory remarks about him made by Broderick, but it was an open secret that Terry was really the avenger of his friend. Senator Gwin, and of the Lecompton party.

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