The weekly ledger., 1857-04-18
Gov. Foote and the Small-Fry-A Word OF
Warning to the Democracy.


people of the State His dictum to the de-
funct American Party, so far as any attempt
to restscitate is concerned, is Of course abso-
Lutte. The Ex-Governor was the body and
soul of the order in California and at his
command it must cease to exist.
This last gasp of the Union.saver might be
made the subject of very severe criticism it
is vulnerable at every period and every COM
ma but we shall not trouble ourselves to
say more than duty to party and the public
seems to demand. Charity dictates that an
enemy so roughly handled and badly defeated
as the Know Nothings have been, should
thereafter be treated with as much compass
sion as circumstances will admit Of
The Governors predictions were once
Democratic; yet, he has gone so far astray
that long penance-a very long penance-
will be required before he can again be ad-
mitted into the fold of the faithful BE it
also remembered that when that time does
arrive, if, indeed, it ever shall, he cannot be
allowed, (should he unresisted, possess the
power) to toll after him the whole flock Of
Know Nothings with whom he has been as
sociated. If that could be permitted, the
Governor would Of course come in with
powerful support for any little ambition of his
own; he might assume a Democratic leader
ship, and call upon the Old Guard Democracy
to stand aside and make way for the prefer
ment of the raw recruits under his command !;
but unfortunately for him, and unfortunate
for many Of the small fry of his kind, the
Democracy will commune and affiliate with
those only who have the ring of the true
metal in them. 1t is unnecessary to say that
very many of those who sought refuge with
the Know Nothings are made up without
one single grain of the material required to
make Democrats. Let such as they revive
the Secret Order, go to the Black Republi-
cans, to the so-called Peoples. Party, or do
whatsoever they choose-only let the De-
mocracy be preserved from apestilential asso-
cation with them.
There may, possibly, be few members of
the Democratic party, so exceeding generous
in disposition and so timid in their assertion
of political rights, that they will question the
propriety of the remarks we have thus far
made, and pronounce them too proscriptive.
For their especial benefit, we have, in all
kindness, something additional to say.
In the year Of grace, 1856, a crisis occur
red in the history of parties and in the history
OF the country. Dark and tempestuous clouds
oyerhung the Union and the Democracy
called upon the patriotic of all former and
present political organizations to unite with
them in one grand final effort to calm the
storm, and restore safety and prosperity
Many answered the call, and most cordially
did the Democracy receive and embrace
them and now that the storm is over, and
the country has been saved, they rejoice to-
gethcr, and renew to each other mutual pledg
es of eternal fidelity to the cause.
This is one picture now look on the 9th
er. There were those who would not and
did not respond when the toesin of the Union
was sounded. They either acted and voted
with those whose flag had on it but sixteen
stars, or acted and voted with third party,
whereby they greatly endangered the triumph
Of the Union Then their services were
needed great battle was to be fought
but they would not come now they are not
needed-for we have national President and
national majority in Congress without their
aid-yet they would fain join with us and
exclaim, " how we apples swim !" Out upon
them-they were not reared upon Democratic
fodder, but sucked the milk of Federalism
from their mothers breasts.
We do not mean by this to ostracise all
who did not vote for james Buchanan but I
those of the Gov. Foote class, extending
through all the gradations, down to the verriest
small-fry leaders of county, village and pre-
einct eliques. We do not alIude to the whole
rank and file it would be manfes.ly unjust
TO hold them responsible for the deeds of
oHice-seeking clique leaders We are not
only willing to overlook mistakes, but also to .
forgive error when it is repented of ; and we
yet continue to call on all good national men,
of every party, to unite with the Democracy