The Placer herald., 1861-01-12
The Junior Senator.

The Junior senator.
On the 10th of last April. MIR Latham. the
junior Senator OF California, in speech in the
United States Senate in alludng to the prospect
of dissolution of the Union, said;
.'JTe in Coiifornia coud have reasons to in
duce as to becOme members neither Of the South
ern Confectionery nor of tie Northern Confede-
rdcy, and would be able to sustain for ourselves
the relations of free and Independent State.
"Uhy should IRE trust to The management of
others Uhat zoe are a6mdan1y qualified to do
0urselpes? Uhy depend on the South or North
to regulate our affairs? Ind this. too, after the
North and the South had prOved themselves in
cqp0ble IF liring IN harmony acih one another'
I'VE would regret your teuds. we would deplore
the fraternal blood shed on your battle-grounds,
we should weep over your declining prosperity,
yorr trodden-doown fields your deserted harbors;
but IRE could not. ptH our eyes open to the fatal
consequences Of such an act. inr0iue ourselves IN
your trdtricidai etrVe, and mutual ruin"
In the above there is little doubt that Mr.. La
than expressed the sentiment of Il majority of
his constituents. And they will now he surprised
to learn that the Senator but "A few weeks ago.
in the present session rose and said:
IL rise to correct false impression upon the
public mind. as / have seen it published in seve-
raj leading journals OF the country as to the atti.
tude of California in the present crisis. 1t has
heen said, and by many believed. that, in the event
Of the secession of several of the States Of the
Union, California would avail herself of the op-
portunity to declare her own independence, ami
in conjunction with the other tarritory Of the
United States on the Pacific. would form a Pacific
Republic. Mr. President there is not ,cord Of
truth in This idca. and it does great injustice to
the People Of that State. This Union has no
more loyal subjects than the people of California:
and out OF half million population there are not
many who are for dsunion in any shape. Cali
Iornia will remain in the Union as it is and rs it
may me. And IT, rs il seems now to he conceded.
the cotton States withdraw from the Union. and
are eventually followed Ivy all the Southern States.
California; | am certain, will still remain with
the great West and North with whom she is iden-
tiied.'
And in referring to his speech of the 10th of
April, said: Il am satisfied, upon mature re-
Fiction to say the least, was premature"
There is scarcely IL doubt that Mr.. Latham was
correctly reported in both instances. How then.
are these Inconsistencies of speech to be reconci
ed? The task is one we would not undertake.
A dissolution of the Union would be as greatly
dcplorcd hy CalilornianS as hy the people of any
State; and they will hold fast to it rs long as a
hope remains of urity: but should the day come
when division of th STAGES into Northern and
southern Contcdcracy is made. representing on
side all free States and on the other all slave
then will he the time when. in onr opinion, Cali
tornia Will refuse to 90 with ther. but snstain
tor herself the relations OF Il free and indepen-
dent State;' and we believe Mr.. Latham express
sed the sentiment of a majority of his consttu-
ents in saying so. And when he recans this eX-
preston. and pledges California in ony erent
TO r,mlin with the North and West. he does that
Tor which he has no warrant. and which will not
receive the sanction OF California. We do not
believe for IN Instant that the States and Terri
tories the Pacific coast will consent to be drag
g2tl at the heel: OF Il slavery or an anti slavery
conicderacy. TO he embroiled in the difficulties
aud disasters that would probably follow Il scpa-
ration Seli-intcrcst, seli.protecton. and the ne
cessity for peace among citizens here, would de-
mand ot us to espou>e the qnarrelS aud de>tines
OF neither California is settled by people from
both Northern and Southern Staie--aLd while
Northern men would never consent to il Union
with .Sonthcrn Republic, men from the South
would be equally averse to being joined to Il con-
ted racy made exclusively of Northern States
Mr., Latham ought to be sufficiently well informed
as to the construction Of California society to un-
erstand this; and if his "mltnre reflection" has
brought no mere mature IDEAS upon the subject
than those he has expressed above. we would re-
commend to him further reflection.
He is safe in pcdtng Caliiorn a as ardently
devoted to the Union OF the States; willing to
make many sacrifices to pcrpctuate it: and ascer-
tain OF being faithful as long as it lasts He can
pledge her people as being loyal to the Constitu-
tion and lows. and opposed to dsunion come
fl ON what quarter it may. But he can also say.
should the dark day come. when our oplc can
no longer live oe ether in harmony, and the line
Of separation be drawn between the borders of
the free and slave States, then will California
ana the other Pacific States having fulfilled their
n pStj n inn in lint
from necessity, with their sister States of the
North and South.
This last speech of the Senator has found espe-
cal favor with the Republican press of California
WHO have the hope that he is sailing in their di-
rection. We do not think so, but it is not good
tor the standing Of Il Democrat to have his course
find favor alone among political opponents.