Daily national Democrat., 1861-06-05
Secession Meeting at Weaycrville--Gov.
Downey endorsed--J. Cactus Burch's


In pursuance Of the following call, TO wit;
"Grand rally Of the Democracy and Of all
Compromise Union men" meeting was held
at the Court House, in Weaveryille, on Sat
urdny evening May 18th, 1861. A commit
tee on resolutions was appointed, (UfHiam
H. Ya"cey was one ofits members) Pending
their deliberations Hon. John Cactus Burch
was called upon for speech. lie advocated
"peace and compromise" and read authori
ties in defense of his anti coercion position.
The Trinity journal "a staunch Union paper,
but friendly to Burch as a ctizen,) thus re-
ports his speech.
The speech of Hon. Jno. C. Burch (of which
we heard a great portion,) was listened to
with marked attention. The Hon. gentleman
was the only speaker and while his address
seemed to have been carefully prepared, and
was well delivered, it failed entirely TO con,
vince the audience, a majority of which, we
are Of opinion, differed with Mr.. Burch in re-
gard to most matters treated, and the policy
OF the present Administration. IL reviewed
his Congressional career defended the famous
Cactus letter." as it is famiiarly known, and
was very denunciatory of the press of this
State for the misconstructions which had
been placed upon it. He said the letter was
a private one addressed to friend, not even
hinting AT 'secesson." That in the letter he
expressed his warm attachment to the Union
yet the California papers had called him a
seeessionist, a favorer of Pacific Republic,
ETC., etc. Before the conclusion of the speech
he clearly and distinctly announced himself
in favor of Pacific Republic in the event OF
the separation of the Southern from the
| Northern States
The journal then comments upon the ideas
sought to be conveyed by Burch. as follows:
If we understand it right the principle is
this: If the South shall succeed in dividing
our happy and God favored land, Mr.. Burch
favors a subdivision. Because treason should
stab liberty and strike death blow at free
dom, must loyal California drive home the
dagger of anarchy and ruin. and as far as lies
in her power put finishing stroke to the
| fiendsh work? We believe Calfornians are
true to the Union by an overwhelming ma
jority, and that they spurn the idea of living
under any other Gov ernment than that over
which the Stars and Stripes shall float, what
ever fortune may bctide the present national
troubles
Our sincere prayer is that not another drop
of American blood may be shed, but we be-
lieve there are worse evils than civil war, and
that the American Union must be preserved
at all hazards.
The resolutions adopted by the meeting
were Intensely true to the cause of treason.
They opposed coercion" "subjugetion," etc,
and declared in favor of Neutrality for Cali
fOrnia The fifth reads fins.
5th. That every citizen of the United States
owes an allegiance to the General Govern
mcnt and to his own State; thata conflict be-
tween the powers of the General Govern
ment and State has not been supposed cr
provided for in our Institutions, and that We
oppose the policy of any Administration cal
culated to drive the citizens of any neutral
State to choose which is entitled to their
superior allegiance,
If there is not good hot South Carolina
doctrine, We confess we are ignorant of the
issue before the country. The Federal Ad-
ministration must not ask citizens to choose
which of the two to serve--the Nation, OF
States in rebellion against it. The Genera
Government must not insist that citizens owe
it "their superior allegiance" The men who
adopted these treasonablc sentiments, thus
encouraged Gov. Downey to go on in The
work commenced 10y him, in his anti-coercior
letters:
That we have viewed with pleasure the
official course of our able Executive, John G.
| D0wncy, and that we give him all honor fol
! his bold, manly and inGependent eXpressou
Of views on this crisis.
Such endorsements must be highly gratiry-
ing to his EXcellency.