The Nevada Democrat., 1861-05-18
Another letter from Gov. Dovvney.

Another Letter from Gov. DOsvney.
The Union Of yesterday publishes letter
from Gov. Downey In answer to commit
nicasion addressed him BY Messrs. A. Hay
ward aud John Dougberty. asking for .
more explicit statement Of bis views than
was contained 10 bis letter to the San Fran
cisco meeting. We give the following ex-
tract from the Governors letter
As Chief Magistrate of the State Of Califor-
MIA, State OF the United States Of North
America, hold myself bound to bear her true
aud faithful allegiance, as / have sworn to Go
Ito the Constitution of the United States and
the Constitution Of my own State; and this OBJ
legation, at every sacrifice, and under all cir
cumstances, will be faithfully discharged, with
out any evasion or mental reservation whatey-
er. This obligation includes obedience TO the
laws and authority of the Federal Government.
Whether that authority be exerted by those to
whom am politically opposed or not, OF wheth-
er those laws be such as to meet my peculiar
views, it makes no difference so long as they
have the sanctity Of law and emanate from con-
stitutional authority. And that may be un-
derstood, the call of the Chief Magistrate
will meet as prompt response as if Mr.. Doug
of success were darkest, occupied the White
House. But as one OF the free citizens OF a
Republic which acknowledges the people as the
original source of all political authority, claim
the right of expressing my opinions as TO the
policy of any and every law of the Federal Gov
ernment. This right has never been denied;
and shall insist upon its exercise upon all oc-
casions, as far as am individually concerned.
| have never in all my life stopped to inquire
,kakI. fhr. uVA nOf nF
how my opinions might be received. l would
not nor never will |, try to seek advancement
by practising deception; nor will be the re-
cipient of public favor if | have to suppress an
honest sentiment in order to obtain it.
have examined the letter to which you re-
fer, and can find nothing therein contained
which is at all liable to the construction given
it by many Of my fellow-citizens. The SEN
tence having reference to coercion has been
construed to mean anything to suit partisan
notions--it is generic in character, and its use
is capable of misconstruction. As force is in
separabIe from government-the one cannot
exist without the other, and, indeed force is the
first attribute of authority. AS this word is
now popularly received, and the sense which
desired that it should convey in my letter, it is
understood to mean the invasion of the South
by army having in view the subjugation of fif-
teen sovereign States, and holding them as
conquered provinces-the melting of servile in
surrection with its train of horrors-the oblite-
ration of State lines, and the confscation of in
dividual property-all of which and their pros
poets are advised and gloated over by leading
statesmen and journals in the confidence of
those who hold the reins Of power. This is the
policy to which | cannot subscribe, and l am
frank to confess / would stand on no platform
that had plank of this material in its compo-
sition, letiit emanate from what party it might.
i acknowledge and commend the Govern
ment, and shall sustain it to the extent of my
ability in defending and maintaining itself-de-
Tending the National Capital, preserving prop
erty, defending its forts and arsenals and col
Letting its revenues but in an attempt to anni-
hilate half the Union, you will, trust in all sim
cerity, allow me the privilege to dissent from
any such policy, as l cannot but look upon it
as insane, and its accomplishment an impossi-
hility.
There are few people in tbe country who
would endorse the policy of "coeTGion,' y in
the sense in which the Governor says he
used the term in his former letter., and we
do not think he states the popular meaning
of the word.. "Coerce" means to restrain
those who are doing wrong. and aspopu-
larly used 1t does not mean the "iaciting Of
servile insurreetiOn,' y the 'obliteratiOn of
State lines," or the "con6soation Of indi-
vidnal property" We have no reason to
believe that such policy is contemplated
by the Government. Within the past few
weeks thousands of Northern troops-all
of whom are generally believed in the
South to be abolition fanatics.-have march,
ed through Maryland, but so far as we have
heard not an outrage has been committed,
nor has single instance been recorded of
an attempt to incite q servile revolt
Should hostilities continue for five or six
years, it is not possible TO fOresee what
outrages may be committed in a spirit of
retaliation or revenge, and for this reason
the Government has been urged to put
forth its whole strength, aud crush out the
rebellion at once, in order to avoid the
horrors of a protracted civil war.