The weekly Placer herald., 1855-09-01
He'd aud Reflect.

many evidences in their writings of their op-
position to the bgoted, narrow minded, and
preudiced notionsof such class as the Know
Nothings. Religious and civil liberty they
had fought for, and when gained knew its
value. The Constitution was formed by them,
and they knew we'll the genius of the govern
ment they had framed, and the principles
upon which twas founded. For. in the Decla-
ration of independence. in stating their grlev-
ances they distinctly declared,
THAT all men are created equal that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights; that among these are life
liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness That
to secure these rights Governments are in
stituted among men, deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed. The
history of the present King of Great Britain
is history of repeated injuries and usurpa-
tions. He has endeavored to pre-
vent the population of these States for that
purpose obstructing the naturalization OF
fore,gners; refusing to pass others to encour-
age their migration hither.'
That our Government was founded upon
liberal policy towards all who should wish to
live within the jurisdiction and enjoy the
benefits and privileges of our Constitution
and laws. there cannot be doubt. AS an
evidence We refer to the inaugural addresses
of Thomas Jefferson. in which may be read
those principles upon which the democracy
of this Union base their political faith. and
for which they have earnestly fought from
the DAYS Of Jefferson down to the present
time. Read them and reflect
LET US reflect that. having ban>hed from
our land that religious intolerance under
which mankind so long bled and suffered. we
have yet gained little, if we countenance
political intolerance as despotic. as Wiched.
and capable of as bitter and bloody perse-
cufi0ns. During the throes and convulsions
of the ancient world: during the agonizing
spasms of infuriated man. seeking. through
blood and slaughter. his long lost liberty. it
was not wonderful that the agitation Of the
bllows should reach even this distant and
peaceful shore: that this should he more felt
and feared by some. and less by Others. and
should divide opinions as to measures OF safe
ty: hut every difference Of opinion is not
difference of principle. We have called by
different names brethren of the same princ-
pie We are all republicans: we are all
federalists If there be any among us who
would wish to dissolve this Union. or to
change its republican form. let them stand.
undisturbed as monuments of the safety with
which error of opinion may be tolerated,
,rhere reason is left free to combat it.
Possessing chosen country. with room
enough for our descendants to the thousandth
and thousandth generation: entertaining
due sense of our equal right to the use OF our
faculties. to the acquisitions of our own in
dustry. to honor and confidence from our fel-
low-citizens. resulting not from birth, but
from our actions, and their sense of them;
enlightened by benign religion. professed,
indeed. and practised IN rarious forms, yet
all of them inculcating honesty, truth, tenn
perance. gratitude. and the love of man; ac-
knowledgng and adoring an overruling Pro-
violence which by all its dspensations. proves
that it delights in the happiness of man here:
and his greater happiness hereatter.-wth all
these blessings. what more is necessary to
make us a happy and prosperous people,
Still one thing more. fellow-citizens wise
and frugal Government. which shall restrain
men from injuring one another. shall leave
them. otherwise free to regulate their own
pursuits of industry and Improvement and
shall not take from the mouth of labor the
bread it has earned. This is the sum OF good
government and this is necessary to close the
circle of our felcties."