The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-29
From the San Francisco Free Press, September IL
THE DUTY AND INTEREST OF CALIFORNIA.


From the San Francisco Free Press, September IL
THE DUTY AND INTEREST OF CALIFORNIA.
1t is common remark, that California has
no interest in the question of Slavery, as it can
not affect her welfare as State that there is
no reason why we should fear its introduction,
or even serious effort on the part of those
friendly to that institution for that purpose.
Admitting there is little to fear of its being es.
tablished in our State, do we owe no duties to
our sister States? Have we no obligations
resting upon us, as a member of the Confedera.
cy, that we should sit down, without interesting
ourselves concerning o question which agitates
the Atlantic States from Maine to Texas
from the shores of the Atlantic to the great
Northern Lakes? This is not our opinion-it
is not an opinion that can-fnd favor with one
who is true lover of this Union, and who re-
CARDS everything affecting its welfare as i'm
portant to every true American heart, wherever
1T may beat.
As to the question of Slavery in States where
it now exists, we believe all Republicans are
willing to let those who control the legislation
there De responsible for, and, if they choose
continue it at their own pleasure but as Cali
fornians, responsible for the influence we exert
in the Halls of the National Legislature, we
hold that we have been false to the obligations
we owe our country, in sending men to repre-
sent us who have betrayed the real sentiments
of this State, in pandering to the extension of
human bondage and believe in 30 doing they
have betrayed the true interests of the State
they misrepresented.
This false cry of no interest in Slavery is one
of the means by which the aggressive spirit Of
Slavery has by an adroit manoeuvre turned the
votes of California TO their own account during
the past six years. 1t was worthy of the shrewd
policy of the politicians of the slave States and
has succeeded as they desired; but, unless the
voters OF the Eureka State are more besotted
than we believe, the time is not far distant
when they will Justify their motto and the SIa
very extensionists will, to their dismay, find
that the lovers of truth and justice on the Pa
cihc shore can say, We have found it."
Neither individuals nor States have a right to
think in reference to the interests of the fam-
lies or States of which they are members: It
is OF no consequence to me or us what another
may do such doctrine would uuhinge socie.
ty, and destroy all Government is neither
consistent with patriotism, nor with the expert
ence Of mankind in all ages since Governments
were established.
But, aside from this, California has direct
and all-absorbing interest in the question she
has already suffered delay of at least three
years, IN the passage of the Pacific Railroad
Bill through Congress, in consequence of the
passage of the Kansas.N Nebraska Act: for. he'd
our representatives on the floor of CONGRESS
done their duty, they would have never allowed
1t to be put Oft for the consideration of any other
subject. The simple fact, as we have under
stood 1t, was this: The Pacific Railroad Bill
was hrst IN order In the business before the
House OF Representatives previous to the pas.
sage OF the Kansas bill, in the summer Of 1854.
and it was well known there was a majority in
favor of Its passage; but our Representative
the representatives. Of Cdlif0rnia-a State. then
say aohIch has no interest IN the question OF
StaUery-consented to have BILL which all be-
ileVed vitality important to US, passed by, for the
purpose OF taking up bill which was to extend
Slavery, which they say is nothing to US. Well,
the Kansas act, which has been the occasion Of
atrocities being perpetrated that are disgrace
to our country, was passed-and passed, too, by
The AID Of California votes, as well as by the
sacrifice of her interests.
The passage of that act Disguised many of
the friends of the railroad they said, Califor-
ma does not want it built-the acts of her rep.
resentatiyes establish the fact had she really
wanted it built, surely those she has sent to
make known her wishes would never have dared
to allow the bill, which would surely have passed
at that time, to be put aside for business ofary
KIND not Immediately affecting her interests.
BY this 1t will be seen there is no such thing as
being neutral. If we wish to have the railroad
built, we must of necessity attach ourselye, to
those who are able aud willing to aid us in that
work. In this way, if no other, CALIFORNIA; in
terests involve her in the contest going on else.
where IN the United State, and it is only by
honorably taking part in the battle between
Freedom on the one hand, and the extension of
Slavery on the other, we have a right to look
Tor that respect from all parts of the Union, in
which is the only reliable foundation upon which
to claim the passage of the bills we need, enact
ed Tor our own peculiar welfare. At present,
we are looked upon by the North as the slavish
uphoiders OF institutions opposed to our own in
terests and the spirit of the age.
At the South we are scorned as serfs are al
ways scorned By their masters; we do their
will without pay and without respect-servine
a few of them by furnishing Offices for those
to fill who are too idle or incompetent to get
them at home 1t would be better for this State
] to be ldenthed IN interest even with the South
| than to occupy Its present position of North
ern State, owing all it's wealth to free labor. vet
voting with the South to extend Slavery. and
thus FORGETTING the respect and good will of both
sections. While thus situated, the North can
not be interested in our behalf by any feeling
of sympathy, while the South, knowing we are
false to ourselves, and likely to be untrue to
them, when once our eyes are opened to our
own interest, give US neither support nor connte-
nance In the great measure of the Pacific Rail.
road, which Is to make our State prosperous,
or the want of it to keep us poor and impoyer
ished for years to come. The friends Of Bu-
chanan have said he was in favor of the road.
but we have no faith in the neutrality-suspicious.
1t OF little consequence what he is in favor of.
so long as he is ruled by Southern statesmen.
who VIII never allow road to be built, unless,
like the present mail route, it is made 10 mass
through territory congenial to their fayorite in