Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-08
Senator McDougall and General Shields.


military appointments for California. that
Gen. McDougall has had no voice in them
whatever. That Senator inquired into the
matter, and down to the last day of the ses-
sion of Congress could not learn that the
Administration had any dehDite policy re-
garding these appointments. After the al
iournment of the Senate. and while Senator
McDougall was absent from the city tor a lew
DAYS with his family, he heard it announced
that Halleck had been appoined Major Gem
eral, and Shields and Denver Brgadier Cen
erals. He then hastened to Washington, and
protested against Shields as dlsloyal man.
These general military appointments were
made without any consultation with Senator
McDougall and he is therefore not at all
responsible for anything that has been done
in the premises The public can rely upon
the above statement, and we make it in order
to set at rest snndry conjectures which have
been entertained respecting this subject.
| Up to the time of the reception in this
State of the news that the war of rebellion
had actually begun at Fort Sumter. General
Shields's position was by no means satisfacto-
ry to unconditional Union men. His opposi-
tion to his old friend. Douglas, in the Presi
Dental campaign OF last year. was, as he
publicly declared based upon the supposed
fact that the South was opposed to that great
man. 1t was strange reason for Democrat
to give for opposing a national nominee,
that the South was running a candidate
against him. Then, when the campaign was
over and the result was known General
Shields was understood to sympathize very
| i II
down by all parties as being opposed to any
exercise of force by the Government. There
was much talk Of "the peculiar situation of
California" There was a disunion faction in
the State, as there is now. They said The
Union wds already disSolued, and that Califor-
MIA was sopereign and independent STATE.
They said that the Southern men of this
State would compel California to be at least
neutral in the war They tried TO compel
every Southern born man in the State to take
sides with the rebellion. They contempa-
ted a seizure of the u. S. arms at Benca
In short, they had complete understanding
with the rebels in the cotton States, and had
their programme marked out for raising the
piratical flag in this State, if opportunity
should offer, and also had programme
| marked out for creating that opportunity
These are facts which most persons, who are
at all acquainted with the working of politi-
cal affairs in California, know, as well as they
know Of the aims and intentions of any po-
litical party.
The Secession of California, or rather tie
recognition Of a dissolution Of the Union, and
tie consequent release Of California from all
national obligations, vas openly advocated,
and was the first proposed basis for the for
nation of a disloyal party in the State The
tornado of patriotism which has since swept
over the State makes men look back to those
times as they would to an almost forgotten
nightmare. But the record of it all exists
in the files of the Secession press, in the de-
bates in the Legislature, in the proceedings of
the Breckenridge Central Committee. and of
their State Conventions, and in the minds of
the people
| Up to the time of G en-. Shiclds'ssspeech at
the San Francisco Union meeting, he was
counted as one Of the Pacific Republic party.
Whether there was any actual proof Of his
completely with this Disunion project or not,
it is within the kno wlcdge Of all who read
the papers, that, up to the time of the taking
Of Fort Sumter, Gen. James Shields was well
enough understood to be s sympathzer with
the Secessensts Senator McDougall we
are told by authority, has protested against
the appointment of Gen. Shields to Briga-
der Generalship, on the ground that he is
"a disloyal man. This is a very serious
charge, made by U. S. Senator whose patri-
otism is beyond all question. 1t is made by
Il man as well acquainted with political men
and movements in this State as any living
man. Should it not meet with some atten-
ton at the hands of the Administration ? If
1T should be ascertained that Gen. Shields
has even been mprudent, and that he has
even careleasly spoken favorably of the Pa
ci6c Republic conspiracy-which was a
part of the rebel programme. as surely as
Wm NJ. Gwin is a traitor--if, we say, Cen
Shields has, at any time, favored the dis
unionst's theory that the Union is thing of
the past, and that Pacific Republic might
be thing of the future, ought he to be ap-
pointed to a command? ?
We, in common, we believe, with large
majority of the people of the State, think
the appointments of both Shields and Den
yer as unfortunate and unsatisfactory, as the
appointment of Major-G eneral Halleck is
fortunate and acceptable. Were the Briga-
ders recommended by Latham? We should
be sorry TO believe that the counsels of but
one Senator from California have weight,
and that one the repentant prodigal, who fed
on Pacific Republic husks, with secession
swine, until he was glad to return to the pa
rental roof We know that General Shields
has advocated the Government cause with
'igor and ability since the opening of the
war; but We cannot forget his repeated de-
mails, in Union speeches, that there were any
sufficient number of traitors in this State,
to make the agitation Of the Union question
at all necessary. We trust that Senator Nc
Dougall will be heard. and that, if he pre-
sents any evidences against General Shields
which would have prevented his appoint
ment, the Government will so act in the
premises as to convince our people that dis
loyalty can receive no honors at its hands.