Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-08-04


1t is not the disposition of the present gen
Grafton, to look back with regret to tho excel
lencc Of the men and things Of other days. /
is almost the universal impression, that tn,
world Of to-day is vastly superior to that Of I
century ago, or Of any Of the centuries which
have contributed to the once venerable char
actc- of antiquity. In morals, in mind and il
politics, it is the fond fancy Of myriads of The
citizens Of this Republic, that as a nation
Americans excel all other Of the races Of men
To deny this proposition, one incurs the risk
Of being deemed and lrnominatcd "Old Fogy.
At the hazard however, Of such classification
We cannot abstain from the declaration, thai
We have fallen upon evil times, and that "tht
good old days" of our government are past
perhaps never To return. Those DAYS, when
the arriinony vt partisan CONT OVERSEES was res
trained within reasonable bonds. Those days
when children Of the same soil could disagree
on political questions, without arousinS mu.
tual personal animostics Those days, ante
rior to the dreadful reign Of scctionalisn-
when change in the administration Of the
country was not regarded 10y any considerable
number Of the people as an omen Of the over.
throw Of the Constitution, and the death.kncll
of the Union. Then, the eloquent language
used by De Lolmc, in treating of the English
Government, was applicable to our own har-
monious condition, and hcncticcnt institutions.
He says of England, the agitation of the pop
ular mind is not in England what it would be
in other States; it is not the symptom Of a
profound and general diScontcnt and the fore
runner Of violent connections, Fnresccn, reg.
ulOtcd, even hoped for by the Constitution
this agitation animatcs all parts Of the State,
and is to be considered only as the beneficial
viciSSitudcs Of the seasons The governing
power being dependent OH the nation, is often
thwartcd, but so long AS it continues to de-
-seFve-the affection Of the people, il can never
be endangered. Like vigorous tree, which
stretches its branches far and wide, the slight.
est breath can put it into motion; but it ac
Iures and excrts at every moment a new de-
gree Of force, and rcSistS the wind by the
strength and elasticity Of its tihreS, and the
depth Of its roots. In word, whatever rcvo
lntionS may at times happen among the per-
SONS who conduct the public affairs in Eng
land, they never occasion the shortest inter
ruption Of the power Of the laws, or the small.
est diminuton Of the security Of individuals
A man who should have incurred the enmity
Of the most powerful men in the State-what
do say?-though he had. like another Va
tinins, drawn upon himself the united detcs.
tation of all parties, might, under the protec-
ton Of the laws, and by keeping within the
bounds required by them, continue to set both
his enemies and the whole nation at defiance"
Such was the happy condition Of our own
country and people, before the dawn Of Black
Rcpublicanism had cast its baleful glare upon
the land. Now what is it: Who can predict
the fullness Of horror which seems to be in
store for the Republic in n near future Its
mere anticipation makes sad tho heart Of every
patriot-and when its dreadful reality bursts
upon the COnfederacy, there will be weeping,
and wailing, and general gloom throughout our
borders. Nor will the lamentations be con
fined to this Continent. Wherever civilization
regns, and the soul Of man has experienced
the invigorating glow of liberty, a mournfu,
ness not to be comforted, will pervade the
breast Of humanity. Then, who will not cx
claim for the return of 1.-The good old days"
and utter meanings of regret for their depart
ure?