The Empire County argus., 1855-11-24
An Address

To the American Party of the State of California
BRoTHERs-California has been the best taxed
and the worst governed country of which there is
any record. In vain have the onerous exactons of
government been paid without stint. In vain have
thus far all the sources of peaceful reformation
been exhausted. Long suffering has not propiti-
ated our rulers, nor has indignant reiiionstrance
been able to inspire terror Evil has followed evil
calamity has been heaped upon calamity, until
the young State which yesterday filled the world
with her renown, to-day lies bankrupt, crime-rid-
den, and abject. Much, very much of our misfor-
tunes is the result of accident and contingencies
which no human foresight could have prevented
but that crime, fraud, and infamy should have ag-
gravated our sorrow, we must blame ourselves and
reckless public policy. But there is always a
limit to passive endurance of fragrant wrongs, by a
free and enlightened people. The history of the
election campaign of '55 in our State is ample tes-
timony that the people united to inaugurate a
stronger, wiser, and better government. Let it be
fervent hope, Brothers, that this time they have
not been deceived.
What have been the issues thrust upon us here
tofore, in the political world? Not our home in
tcrests-the political sanhedrim of California has
uniformly kept them from the view of the people,
and has cunningly fomented discord on issues for
eign to this State In legislative halls and in
our cabinet councils, the interests of California
have been subordinate topics to the political issues
which have convulsed the old States since 1913.
What are these to us! California has asked for
REFORM and she has been answered by a camor
abont the annexation of Cuba She has asked for
a railroad, and the response has been howl upon
the Nebraska Bill. She has asked for protection
against Lynch law, judicial corruption and imbe-
cility She has asked for speedy settlement of
our land titles, and for proper and just protection
of the bona fde settler, and disunion is thundered
upon our in reply. Have we not mission in
tl,n rryII 1,t1,& /
tinct destiny to work out :! The broad Pacific lies
before us to bring into commercial subjection, and
wilderness behind US in hardly diminished wealth
invites the enterprise of the pioneer and capitalist
lntemperance and corruption banquet in corruption
in high places in the land, and bold and bloody
crime stalks unchecked in our midst
While these home duties are before us to per-
orm these domestic wrongs to redress, are we ever
to hang loosely on the skirts of remote scrambng
factions over the mountains kicked and trodden on
by all, suffering all the heat and dust of the tur-
moil without the hope of receiving any of the tro
phies of the contest Neither the success or defeat
of the Nebraska BIll-neither American or Spanish
dominion in Cuba-neither the cotton spinners in
Massachusetts-nor the cotton planters of Alaba-
ma, could or would at the cost of dollar advance
the interests Of California one jot. The main duty
of California at this juncture is to herself.
The questions which have caused such serious
agitation in the old States, are the which we
wish to ignore and discard from this State. Let us
rest assured that the Union is safe-that liberty
strikes its root too deep and strong in American
soil-to be SO easily and suddenly uprooted. But
even did danger impend, it is not in the power of
California to rescue the continent from its immi-
nent doom. Yet, we too, owe duty to the Con-
federacy in this question: and sectional isola-
ton enables to take noble and impressive stand
upon it. Removed, as we are, by position and ac-
tual interest from its baleful influence we should
allay instead of participating in its agitation. An
alyze this slavery question. 1t has proud prin-
thies. Side by side, in friendly contact repose the
historic States of Pennsylvania and Maryland
one free and the other slave State, the border
lines of the Hotspur State Kentucky, come flush up
to those of the young giant Ohio, and the pioneer
of the Western plains the Missouran, has only to
stretch his arms across imaginary line to shake
hands with his friend from the granary of the
West, Illinois. Here, at the very line of contact
between the slave and free States, there is compar
atively little feeling the subject of their different
domestic institutions, and would be none at all
were they let alone, but exactly in proportion as
we recede from this line, where were the question
one of principle, would see deadly border war
fare, do we find the antagonism growing stronger
and stronger, and instead of Pennsylvania finding
fault with her neighbor Massachusetts, and Nlissis-
sippi are at loggerheads. Why should we, there
fore, lend our voices to swell the clamor Why
enlist in cause so senseless and improbable in
itself, which while it divides us to our own des.
truction, is valueless to those with whom we SYM
pathise. Our true course to the confederacy and
ourselves tn mind our own huSinnSs and 1et