Daily national Democrat., 1861-05-18
Governor Downey's Second Letter.

sympathy with secessionism from the outset
and that he believes all evils have then
proper remedy within the Union. lie says
as Governor Of the State that he will yield
"obedience to the laws and authority OF the
Federal Government" This portion Of the
letter is plain, and directly to the point
But the Governor cannot keep out Of the
pitfalls of coercion" INVASION" "suLjuga-
ton" etc. He seems to dread the frowning
looks of the peace mongers, and hastens ia
pour words Of explanation into their ears
lie had only pledged himself to be true to
the United States Government and obedieni
TO its laws and authority. There was nc
need Of qualification or apology. No friend
of the Government, whether from the North
or the South, desired it, But he turns to the
traitors and gives them his views upon the
subject of coercion. lie repeats the cant
phrases which secessionists are using for the
sole purpose of making the people dissatifed
with the late energetic action Of the Govern
ment in mastering troops into service Ht
declares that the word Coercion" is now
popularity received as meaning "the invasion
Of the South by an army having in view the
subjugaton of fifteen sovereign States and
holding them as conquered provinces, incit-
ing seryle instructions" and much more to
the same effect And the Governor says that
all these bhrbarous things "are advised and
gloated over by leading statesmen and jour
nails IN the confluence of those who hold the
reins of power" 1t is this portion of the
letter that is beneath the dignity OF the
Governor of this State. 1t would do better
for an article in the California Express or
the Sacramento Dramatic Chronicle. The
Chief Magistrate of one of the States of the
Union has no right to publicly make so un-
qualified an assertion upon no authority
whatever and this we declare that he has
done for no man in California does or can
know what men or journals have "the conf
dence" of the Administration.
None but traitors to the Government have
charged the President with barbarous inten-
tions towards the South. The friends of or
der have, until within fews weeks, COM
plained that the President lacked nerve and
premptness. Loyal men of all parties re-
joiced when it became apparent that treason
was to be met with the whole power of the
Government, and they now demand that all
that power shall be used with energy and
decision, to conquer peace, since peace can
be had upon no other terms. Good citizens
| should declare for the Government without
apology or explanation to its enemies; and
Governors Of States should speak by authorl-
ty when they charge that the constituted au-
thorities of the Nation retain in their conf
dence statesmen and journalists who advo-
cate 'the melting of servile insurrection will
| its train of horrors-the obliteraton of State
lines, and the confscation Of individual prop
erty." This is no time for men to respect
Federal authority under protest nor is it be.
coming in men who occupy high positions &c
publish letters calculated to fill the public
mind with the idea that the Government i:
about to do horrible things in violation Of
all the rules which govern civilized nations
The true patriot says, "my country, al
ways right, but right or wrong, my country"
Governor Dowuey talks to the people as
though the present guardians of the coun-
try's honor and existence wers blood-thirsty
barbarians. Such supporr of the cause Of
the Union rather tends to fortfy its enemies
than increase the number Of its friends. We
incline to the opinion that the admirers Of
his Excelency's first letter will see nothing TO
censuse in his second. The secessionists will
forgive the most loyal sentiments if accom-
panied with an antidote They rely upon be-
ing able to weaken the peoples attachment
to the Government by continually represent
ing it as being bent upon " an attempt to an
initiate half the Union"
| We have read and re-read, dozen, times
the Governors explanatory letter, and il
spite of an honest desire to regard it favora-
bly,, we are forced to say that while portion
| oft is of the right stamp the remainder con-
tains language suggestive of two facts: first
| that a general election is at hand and sec
ond, that the number of voting secssionist
in the State is estimated at from fifteen tC
twenty-five thousand.
SAN FRANCIsCo MUNICIpAL ELECTIoN -Th,