The Placer herald., 1861-06-01
Loyalty and Lincolnism.

We have honestly, and with whatever of
ability we could command, opposed the
war now apparently rendered inevitable be-
tween the northern and Southern States Of
the Confederacy. Whatever others who
differ with us upon the great question, may
say of us, we have the appreciation Of our
own conscience, as having acted from the
highest motives of patriotism and humanity.
| 1t is because we love the Union and no or
the flag of our country, that we oppose the
war. We honestly believe that war is the
speediest and most certain road to disunon.
ism, certain, inevitable and eternal" The
future will demonstrate, beyond any ques-
ton whatever, the correctness of our posi-
ton. We are not actualed 10y partizan mo-
tives. We are not opposing Mr.. Lincoln's
policy, Or what appears now to he his poll
cy, for the reason that we opposed his elec-
ton. He is the President of the United
States, elected according to the forms, if
not the spirit Of the Constitution, and it is
our duty TO submit to his administration,
and to uphold it in all Constitutional meas
ures to preserve the Government.
But there is nothing inconsistent with the
allegiance which we owe to our Government,
in opposing any measure of the admins
tralion We claim the right of an Ameri
can citizen TO express our own opinions
upon all questions pertaining to the admin
i>tration of our Government We have the
right to differ with, and oppose, Mr.. Lin,
coin upon great question Of public inter
esI and concern.
There is happily no "Alien and Sediton
7 ~ ln,,1, ,pul.;nr - n
offence to differ with the President, to speak
or write against him, or to oppose his policy.
The Democratic party long since repealed
those laws, and relieved The Government Of
the disgrace which their passage inflicted
upon it.
In opposing the war between the two sec
tions, We have but exercised an undoubted
right, accorded by every citizen of the Gov
ernment. We shall continue to express our
opinions frankly and boldly. despite the silly
twadd'e of the intoerant l'igots, who make
allegiance to Mr.. Lincoln and his dangerous
and revolutionary heresies the test of tide'i.
ity to the Union, and who would, if they
bad the power, make it high treason to crit
icise or oppose his policy of making war
upon, and subjugating fifteen States of the
Union, under the preext Of enforcing the
the laws, rs foreshadowed 10y his recent acts.
Nor can We be seduced or frightened into
An Abandonment of our own party, which
has, for sixty years, stood by the Union-up
held the Constitution and administered this
Government, 10y the treacherous and clap
nap cry of "lhe Union and the enforcement
Of the laws" emanating from the party
which has ruthlcssIy tlampled upon the
Cons titution defied the laws, and brought
ascension and civil war upon us. The glor
ious party of jefferson, and Madison, and
Jackson, has proved itself equal to every
emergency. Whenever the people Of this
country, through the malign influences Of
passion and demagogueism, have departed
from the principles of the Democratic party,
they have brought upon themselves evil in
s+ad of good-raamities instead of bles
sings. Why now. with the experience
Of the pasl-with the one great fact of the
adaptabllity of the Democratic party to the
genius Of our Republican institutions staring
u, in the fare-should we b, told to aban,
don that party aud our country to the con
troll of party whose march to power has
been a continual aggression upon the Con-
stiluioual righ of one half the States,
and whose triumph has overhrown the
Government?
We cannot 90 with that party. We can
no, sustain the President of that party in
his unconstitutional war upon portion of
the States. We love our country too well
to see ii destroyed without an effort to save
it. The frs, great duty Of the American
Na,,,l1 s die, fro,, tbn
party, nd to place the administration of the
Gov >ernmen in the hands of those who can
appreciate the blessings Of free institutions,
who will restore union, and give US peace,
and rosperi'y, and happiness. A civil war
among our people can be Justified upon no
con, evable grounds. 1t was never dreamed
of by our torefathels They never imagined,
tor moment, that an attempt would he
made to employ the bayonet TO hold the
Union together. They never invested the
General Cove: nment with power to make
war upon State. They expressly provided
the exercise of such a power. The Presi
dent of the United States has no more
power, without the authority of Congress,
to levy troops, or to declare or make war
against foreign nation, than though lie
were a private citizen Of the District of
Columbia. Even with the assent of Con
gress he has no power to wage war against
a State or blockade the ports of State.
The Consultation nowhere conters such
powers. A proposition was made and dis
russpd in the Convention which framed the
Constitution, to invest the general Govern
ment with these powers, and it was express
" neoaived. No provision was made for
surh an emergency as has now arisen by
the secession of portion of the States
from the Federal Government, not that the