Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-02-25
NUM- so.


| In the course of an address on American
patriotism, delivered by Rev. DR.. Hawks Rec
tor Of Calvary, in New York, On Thanksgiving
Day, he used this language
Are there nome thO openly condemn the
constitution Of their countrt-hohe who, by
the exercise Of corruption that scAreely has
shame enough to keep itself out Of sight, per.
vert it from its plain declarations and legiti
mate interpretations Are there none who
have been willing and ready to convert execui
tive powers into judicial, and Legislative into
executive? And how speak some men now
Of that Union Of which our fathers Caught by
revolutionary experience) thought 90 mucht
They had purchased it for their children with
their blood and that blood had flowed from
northern and southern hearts alike; Il made
one common pool upon the battle field; they
knew tina. upon union alone depended
strong, proud, national existence. Do oil their
sons adhere to this opinion Of their fathers
or do they trample on their memories and de-
spisc their wisdOmS Let facts answer What
means the angry and Insulting language Of
PORTIONS Of the press both north und south
toward ench otherp Why do flippnnt sneers
and taunting insnuations, and inSidious atIec-
tatiOns OF candor, and false assertions, and tul-
gar vituperaion, form 30 much of the editorial
staple oi certain printsf- f-Isit thought TO show
skill Of fence in intellectual gladiatorship?
| Whether it be quite as clever writing as Its
authors suppose, may perhaps admit Of doubt;
but grant that II Is, the sober American, who
has no personal vanity Of authorship involved;
may well ask whether it is either patriotic or
wise thus to furnish fuel to the Aaine of mu.
tual cxhSpcration already burning, klas too
brightly; ol to sacrifice the interests and hap.
pincss of our country to the qualification Of
| ,s.,h t-1A-
writer Of insulting sneers and trenchant irony.
Our. country Is surely worth more to us than
the qualification Of the personal vanity Of any
man, and while It is cheerfully conceded that
the press should be free, and may often furnish
information and instruction to the public mind,
vet it would be hard to show any lawful
power it possesses to assume over it dictation
or contrOls The mode Of saying may DO often
rlUrc offensive thnn that which is said; and
there is n mode which does not conduce to
union, because its tendency is to destroy fra
tcrnnl feeling. lfany American citizen wishes
to he without country that can command
the respect of the civilized world, let him con-
tribute his aid 10 dissolve the union of theae
United States. In the iuliillment of his un.
patriotic purpose he will find his punishment,
for he will have ruined himself He will be
crushed and bruised under the edifce he has
assisted 10 undermine Our country is ex.
cnptcd (at least for the preSent) from the in
lrSine convulSonS-how long it may be be-
fore opposing hosts may be narshalcd on the
field Of carnngc, depends under God, on the
calmness, the courage, the prudence and tho
patriotism of the wise, the thoughtful, and the
good men of all parties Of the Union, who
love their country better than they do any
party. and who have the sense to appreciate its
value to the world and to themselves.