The Placer herald., 1860-09-08
From the S. F. Herald.
The Democracy of California

Hardly required two column letter from
Gen. J. w. Denver to make them mindful
of the fact that the Pacific coast is more
interested in other subjects than the slavery
embroglio. While, notwithstanding the
'slow" logic and "huge" sentences of the
late Governor of Kansas, we are at a loss to
exactly comprehend why California is
not as much interested in the political
questions Of the day as Massachusetts, New
York or Virginia, we are willing to admit
that there are other interests Of vast mo-
ment more vital to her prosperity and well
being than the Squatter Sovereignty of Mr..
Douglas or the shrieks Of "Ilonest Abe"
Among these we recognize and demand
the construction of the Great Pacific Rsi!
road.
We have periodically heard Senator Gwin
most roundly abused, because, forsooth, he
has not, during his long Senatorial career,
passed this bill. We have seen Gov. Weller
assaled because he, too, failed in the consum-
nation of the object dear TO every Caifor-
nian heart And-softly be it spoken
Gen. James A. McDougal Ajax Tela-
mon of ancient and like Democracy and
modern Doug lasism-who grows pathetic
over the Pacific Railroad even he has been
soundly berated and his action criticized be-
cause, while in Congress, aud when the
proffered boon was within his grasp, he let
it 90 in order that the Nebraska bill might
take precedence; and thus, in "a, was the
Railroad bill killed-crusbed and smothered
in the house of its protesting friends. We
say, we have heard this intimated;-we do
not charge it, for several reasons. First, hu-
man nature is weak, and allowances must be
made and secondly, we have higher game
than even the illustrious James, with Sena
toral proclivties. Although it has been
we'll said that in statesmen "bunders are
worse than crimes" we do not subscribe en-
tirely to that doctrine, and, therefore, ou1
conscience in no wise troubles us when we
whisper in our readers ears our most chari
table conviction that Mr.. McDougal, on the
occasion mentioned, made a mistake-a lit
tie mistake-easily made-irretrievable when
made and disastrous to his constituents al
home.
We repeat we have heard all these things
heretofore, and just now we are having q
new note sounded on this "harp of thous
and strings. Heretofore our amable friends
of the Republican party have alternated their
freedom shrieks with affecting walls over
the Pacific Railroad. With their loud pro
fessons Of attachment to this measure, we
have had before and shall again have some
thing to do. But of late the most dolorous
complaints on this subject have emanated
from those quasi Democrats, yclept Doug
lasites, led on by that valorous champion Of
the railroad, the aforesaid McDougal.
Nor need the close observer Of human ma
ture be surprised at the apparent paradox o.
finding those who have ruthessly crushed
and spurned-we will not say betrayed
the dearest interests of California, the loud
est in professions of regard for those inter
ests The old, but not less trite, smile Of
the rogue being the first to cry "stop thief
is not inapplicable to the most virtuous Of
politicians. at times, a. we perceive now
The traitor is ever wiling and obtrusive in
denouncng the treason, if thereby he can
hope to ward of from him elf the odium oi
the deed. Is it necessary for us to add that
it was, therefore, appropriate that Gen. Nc
Dougal should have attacked the candidate
of the National Democracy as being un-
friendly to the interests of California; Not
wilhstanding. then, that all may not be sur.
prissd, we wish to cal! attention to g'arina