Daily national Democrat., 1861-05-18
n. II y l w Ahl),
JOHN DOUGllERTY
SACRAMENTO, MAY Is, 1861,

! JOHN DOUGuER14.
b SACRAMENTO, May Is, 1861.
c IIoN. JOIN DoUGnERTY and A. HAYWARD,
G ESD. &c gentlemen: Your esteemed letter. OF
yes erday, has Just been handed me- and |
take pleasure in thus promptly complying
with the desire therein expressed. | do this
i the more heartily being fully impressed with
the sincerity Of the motives that actuate you
q both in addressing me upon the subject OF
my recent letter to the Union meeting held
in San Francisco, on the 1lth inst. and
a which has given rise to newspaper attack i'm
e peaching my loyalty TO the Fe1cral Govern
! mcnt; and this too, in portion of the nllu-
entail and highly respectable journals who
have hitherto been disposed to treat my pub
D lie acts with fairness, candor and kindness.
t | did not intend that anything emanating
! from me should breathe aught but patriotism
and devot ION to the country and its Govern
mcnt. i have no sympathy with secession
, or those who brought it about as | have al
ways believed that all evils or grievances
growing out of our system and diversity of
interests peculiar to each section of the Union
could find their remedy within that Union
itself and under the broad aegs Of the Con-
stitutOn.
As the nature ofyour request does not in
volye the necc 5ity Of going into an argu-
ment on the subject of your communication
| will not volunteer il now, and will content
myself by giving you an emphatic and frank
declaration of what conceive to be my du-
ty to the State, and the obligations resting
upon me as her Chief Magistrate.
As Chief Magistrate of the State of Califor-
mia, State of the United States of North
America, l hold myself bound to bear her
true ahd faithful allegiance, as have sworn
10 do-tO the Constitution of the United
states and the Constitution of my own State,
and this obligation, at every sacrifice, and
under all circumstances, will be faithfully
discharged, without any evasion or mental
reservation whatever. This obligation in
cludGs obedience TO the laws and authority
Of the Federal Government. Whether that
authority be eXerted by those to whom am
politically opposed or not, or whether those
a laws be such as meet my peculiar views, it
S Il .kes to Inc 10 difference long as they
I have the sanctity Of the law and emanate
, rom constitutional aushority And that |
! may be understood, the call of the present
= Chief Magistrate will meet as prompta re
sponse as if Mr. Douglas, whose cause | es-
pouscd when his prospects of success were
darkest, occupied the White House. But as
one Of the free citizens of a Republic which
b acknowledges the people as the original
c source of all political authority, claim the
right Of expressing my opinions as to the
policy of any and every law of the Federal
u Government. This right has never been
= denied: and | shall insist upon its exercise
o upon all occasions, as far as | am individual
ly concerned. | have never in all my life
stopped to inquire whether L was on the
S popular side or not, or how my opinions
f might he received. | would not nor never
will try to seek advancement by practicing
deception, nor will be the recipient of pub
lie favor if | have to suppress an honest SEN
timent in order to obtain it.
| have examined the letter to which you
refer. and | can find nothing therin contained
which is at all liable to the construction
given it by many ofmy fellow citizens. The
sentence having reference to coercion has
been construed to mean anything to suit par
tisan notions-it is generic in character, and
its use is capable of misconstruction. AS
force is inseparablc from goverument-the
one cannot exist without the other and, in
! deed, force is the first attribute Of authority.
As this word Is now popularly received, and
the sense which desired that it sould con-
vey in my letter. it is understood to mean
i the invasion of the South 10y an army having
: in view the suhjugation of fifteen sovereign
- States, and holding them conquered pro-
Vinces-the melting of servile insurrection
with its train of horrors-the oblteration of
% Clale lines, ana lne COnuScatlOn OF Individual
n preperty-all of which, and their prospects,
are advised and goated over by leading
statesmen and journals in the confidence of
L those who hold the rens of power. This is
= the policy to which cannot subscribe, and
, | am frank to confess that l would stand on
no plato rn that had n plank of this mate
rial in its composition, let it emanate from
5 what party it might
o ! ackno wledge and commend the Govern
ment and shall commend it to the extent of
my ability in defending and maintaining it
G self-defending the National Capital, pre-
c serving property, defending its forts and ar
senals and collecting its revenues but in an
attempt TO annihilate half the u Mon, you will,
| trust, in all sincerity, allow me the privil-
J ege to dissent from any such policy, as | can
o not but look upon it as insane, and its accom-
, plishment an impos7ibility.
y do not intend to offer this by way of an
= apology, but as an act of Justice to myself as
= an American citizen, and the desire | have
,f to remove any false impressions that NAV
e have been created by the misrepresentation
. of my views upon the minds Of the people
OF the State, whose confidence and respect |
e have labored to deserve, and whose good
&c opinions, trust, have not as yet forfeited.
e Trusting that this explanation of my views
= Will be found frank and explicit recognition
d OF my obligations to the State and the Ten
e eral Government, and that you can rely with
: confidence on my disposition TO maintain the
integrity OF California in this respect, bv any
4 sacrifice necessary to maintain the honor of
the nation.
! have the honor, gentlemen, to remain,
y very truly, Your friend
~ IOIN ~ TnJUNrI,vv