Oroville daily Butte record. [volume] (Oroville, Butte County, Calif.) 1856-1858, 1857-02-24
Influence OF Political Associations.

The failure of portion of the State off.
GERS to properly discharge the duties incum-
bent npon them; the recent legislative in.
vestigation and consequent impeachment, is
traceable to the laxity of principles, and I'M
settled policy of the opposition. AS party
they neither exhibit steadfastness of prin-
ciple, nor even n fidelity to their professions.
They cannot do this from the very nature of
their associations. With them one party
succeeds another with such rapidity, that
they cannot maintain their political connec-
ton with them, and cultivate those firm and
masculine virtues which should ever char
actise public men, and which has ever been
the peculiar and unfailing strength of the
Democratic party.
The changes constantly Transporting in the
ranks Of the opposition parties may be EN-.
inently favorable for the growth of quick
and active talents, and for' the formation of
class of men, shrewd, vigilant, inventive;
of men whose dexterity may occasionally
triumph over principle; whose presaging in
stinct, no sign of the times, no incpient
change of public feelings can elude. The
success of such party is almost certain to
be followed by disasters similar to those we
are now experiencing, and which are now
exerting frightening influence upon the
prosperity of the State at home, and her
cra1;t onJ ;rNnaroo obrooI
Men who connect themselves with the ev-
exchanging opposition, can make no accu-
rate observations on the higher parts of po-
litical science, or acquire any considerable
distinction as Statesmen. Before they
succeed in identifying themselves with their
party, it is scattered. What change has
the past four years presented in the ranks
of the opposition' The old whig party bro
ken up by the death Of its leaders, and sue
ceeded by another, to whose oath Of allegi
ance its members have barely subscribed,
when their articles of association are spurn-
ed and rejected by an indignant and out
ragged people, and their party scattered, to
i nUht WHllH6EbUBNtT QIiNtn ny ClTCutuStuuCtS,
and connect with the charities islands of ia
naticism with which the political sea
abounds In the midst Of the constant eddy
and change, and the eternal whirl to which
the opposition are now subjected, it is task
too hard for the strongest head amongst
them, to keep itself from becoming giddy.
| DIX ...t .,,t A L.
ity of principle, without which no public
man can be eminent, or even safe. becomes
too common to be scandalous, and they re-
gard with complacency instances of political
apps tacy, which would startle the foulest
turncoat in the palmy days of the old Wing
party.
Under the circumstances, it is not so
much matter of establishment that men of
the opposition forces should be derelict in
the discharge of their official duties 1t
would seem to be the natural result of their
political associations, which is but school
of excuses and changes, of conduct unregu-
lated by principle, and which, ii pursued for
| length or time, must undermine the best
intentions, and the purest individual char
acter, 1t was this unsettled policy of the
opposition that gave birth to the Vigilance
Committee, in whose widest excuses the
opposition revelled with delight, and were
only checked in their mad career, by the
firm and unwayering prime iples of the Dem
cratic party, who successfully combatted
their wild heresies with the constitution and
laws. Thus, for the first time in the history
of our State, has the wild excuses of the
opposition turned our State Senate into n
High Court of Impeachment.