Weekly Trinity journal., 1860-12-15
WEAVERVIILE. CALIFORNIA SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 1860

TRUTHS WHICH SHOULD BE REMEMBERED.-The
subjoined extract from the San Andreas Mdepen.
dents leader of Nov. oath, presents some ideas
that it would be well for every man to read and
consider. 1t contains truths that are patent to
every man at all acquainted with the past and
present political history of the world, but of
which we might as we'll be ignorant as not to re-
member and apply:
An eminent French historian, remarking on
the extraordinary condition of society in Paris,
during the memorable years of 1923, has stated
that violent agitations of the public mind call
fippant mediocrity into note and crowd great
minds, (Which are always conservative into back
seats and obscured corners SO when the period
for the trumphs of the narrow-hearted, soulless
Robespierre had arrived, the great and temperate
Lafayette lay forgotten in a dungeon. France
was drunk and the wicked and Incorporate were
her legitimate rulers. Far be it from us to add
by word or deed to the evils of the present hour;
and vet we cannot but think that something of
the foolishness and recklessncss which character
lied the French Revolution is Matching into life
in certain States Of the American Union 1t is
the leaders and not the people who commence
revolutions Demosthcncs moves Athens to pa
trotic resistance of foreign tyrant, or Cataline
inspires his cOuntrymen with reasonable designs
against Rome. But whether it be Dcmosthcnes
or Catalne, or Robesperre, or Napoleon, or
Washington that leads the revolution invariably
takes the character of its chief Reasoning from
this axiom, which all history confirms. we per-
ceive nothing in the present state OF the country
to Justify the dissolution Of the Union or the Sc
cession of single State. The moderate men Of
the South-those whom prudence could trust
with the high responsibilities of re-organzng
Government from several fragments OF the I'm
ion. are no longer conspicuous on the stage. For
Clay, whose magnificent mind and heart were
constantly guarding the Union, Kentucky has
bred Breckinridge with views and passions for
the South alone. South Carolina submits to the
violent councils of her Gist and Rhett, who brood
upon nothing but arming the State, and, in pc
riod of general peace and prosperity, are TO-
mcntng a civil war, and intenslfying blood and
passions already worked up to pitch OF crazy
excitement. And yet these, and their like, are
the prominent leaders to direct the threatened
Revolution. We cannot believe that at a time
when all of the cool judgment of the country
should be called into council, our brethren of the
South will cherish only her hot heads and aspi-
ring mediocres. Nevertheless, it is not to be
disguised that danger exists, so long as Virginia
discards her Rives and her Bolts, adhering to her
Wise; so long as Kentucky surrenders Crittcnden
for Breckenridge so long as Houston is sup
planted by Wigfall in Texas. These restless agi-
tators will accept no terms from Mr.. Lincoln, but
declare the simple fact of his election good and
sufficient, cause for revolution. A man may as
sent to the abstract right of q State to secede
from the Union, and hesitate long before he
would be willing to march out in the damp under
such leaders.