Columbia gazette., 1853-11-26

larity as Of the candidates whose votes
reached by thousands into the sufrages
Of the other side. Independent. how
ever, Of all the unprincipled means and
disgraceful influences used against him,
Governor Bigler was triumphantly re-
turned to the station which for two years,
he had, III the opinion Of the State, so
faithfully and honorably filed, by ma
jority of more than 1000 greater than at
his previous election. A proud appro-
val for him and his friends to point to,
and a crushing rebuke to those who had
contriyed against him.
1t would be natural, perhaps, to en-
quire at this point, the cause of this
toan,ing hatred, this acrid and unstinted
maleyolence, this apparent frenzy of re-
venge against Governor Bigler, in par
ticular; but We are spared the investiga-
tion by the fact, that those who waged
it were disappointed seekers after profit,
and by the inference which their defeat,
at his hands, affords.
But it is needless to enlarge upon
the extraordinary nature Of the struggle
or to dwell upon the more than brilliant
character Of the result. Embarrassed
and crippled as we were at the outset,
the issue takes the shape of the miracu-
lous, and in our gratitude for its bene-
fits we are more disposed to ascribe it to
the hand of Providence, put forth to
protect our favored State from too early
a disgrace, than to any especial efforts
or merit Of our own.
1t now only remains to say few
words as to the position of the misguided
men who stood aloof from the contest,
or who joined the ranks of the enemy
and sought to mar it to our hands. In
the course of our remarks We have spo-
ken Of them all, by the term ofthc seed
ers, but though we insist upon the ap-
plicability of this term, as well to those
who stood merely neutral as to the ac-
tive traiters of the fight, there is a dis
elimination to be made between them
which cannot be passed by with justice
We desire to make this discrimina-
ton in favor of those who exhibited the
bold demeanor and manly courage to
openly enlist against us; and, while we
can conceive the possibility that some of
them may have been actuated by mis-
taken belief that they were right, we
can only ascribe the lowest motives and
meanest instincts to those who fought
in the dark, eyaded our appeals, caves
dropped on our councils, and served the
enemy, not as soldiers. but as spies. But
while we draw this distinction for NOR
al purpose, we must assign to both, the
same amount of apostacy. There are
no degrees in desertion. There can be
no neutrality on the field of. battle.-
More especially are those soldiers bound
who have received an advance of pay,
and we need only to refer to history for
evidence that "mercenaries' and 'sf: ee
companions" of all sorts, who have at
tempted neutrality by standing idle in
the hour of conflict, or by marching to
the other side, have invariably been
hung when the battle was over. In
politics there are two ways to exhibit
adhesion. One is by contributing sup
plies; the other by giving personal SER
vice. When either of these is withheld
by those who owe them, it must be ta-
ken as withdrawal from the cause
Party organization can tolerate no in
terrupted allegiance mo shifting policy.
1t depends for its existence on continu-
Gus service. 1t must be maintained un-
broken under all circumstances, for the
sake nf the principles it conservcs, and
in that view, it becomes as sacred as
principle ITSELF The man who abandons
guard takes part with the invader, and
he who, with means to spare, suffers a
garrison to capitulate for want of food,
cannot expect an invitation to their board
when they possess abundance.
We have no reflections to add, and
we cheerfully return to the congratula-
tions with which we set out.
The first privilege of victory is to re-
joice over success; the profoundest plea
sure of patriotism is to reward the cham
pions of the fight; and the best service
to the steadfsst, is to expel the unwor-
thy and to brand the deserter. The
former Of these instincts we share in
common with you all; but the grand
powers of Reward and Punishment re-
side in the. common sense Of the Demo-
cratic masses, and to their intelligence
and unwavering justice the entire SUBJ
ject may with safety be committed.
DAvID c. BRoDER1cK, JOHN Nip
DLEToN, DAVID MAHoNEY, j. w.
SwEARsEY, MosEs E. FLANAGAN, F.
P. TRAcY, j. III. McKuNE, J. w.
HALL, j. w. CoLBr.
DAVID c. BRoDERIcK, President.
p: TRACY, Secretary.
OFee Of the State Board Of Mining
H,dter Companies.
SACRAMENTO, Oct. 20, 1853.
AS the address of many of the Water
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