The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-06-08

without war. His speech was bold in his
own defense, and in defense of the De-
mocracy, whilst he denounced as disunion-
lists the Republicans who opposed CON-
promise at the last session Of Congress.
lie read various authorities in defense Of
his anti coercion position, and was lre.
quently interrupted by enthusiastic ap-
p!ause. At the close Of his remarks three
cheers were given for him, with hearty
good will, in which il seemed that every
voice united
The committee then appeared and
through their chairman, JAS. OCOnnOr,
Esq, reported the f'llOwing preamble and
resolutions, which we're adopted without
a dissenting voice
WHEEEAs, regard our Constitu.
tional Representative Government rs the
most free, liberal and just Of all other
forms of Government on earth and.
whereas, we have viewed with excee ding
regret the present hostile and warlike at.
titude of the two sections, North and
South, on the Atlantic side ; and whereas,
We, as patriots, are actunted by a sincere
desire to pcrpetuate this Union of the
States as constituted by the original thir-
teen therefore, be il ResOlred,
LIST. That we recognize the States com.
priSing and constituting the Government
Of the United States Of America as orig
inally sovereign; that whatever Of power
exists in the Federal Government is de-.
rived from the sovereign States of the
Union, and that there is and Of right ought
to exist an equality in the rights of each,
and of the citizens thereof, in order to
perpetuate harmonious Union.
Cd. That as the Federal Constitution
was the result Of compromise and c0nces.
sion, we earnestly believe compromise and
concession NAV and can unite the discor-
dant elements North and South that civil
war is the greatest calamity into which q
free people can plunge themselves, and
that to avoid this great calamity VIC are
willing to adopt any honorable cOmpro-
measures.
81. That the people Of the State Of Cali.
fornia should abstain as far as possible
from exciting discussions, calculated to
draw lines OF distinction between citizens
Of this State, coming from different sec.
tons OC the Union, and that California
should not take sides for OF against either
steti"n in the present crisis, as such
course on her part would be forfeiture
Of the position which she now occupies
as peace maker between the warlikc sec.
tionS.
4th. That VIC are alike opposed to civil
war, or an attempt to coerce or subjugate
any Of the sovereign States claiming to
have sece'led from the Union, believing
such n course to be equally impossible
and undesirable.
5th. That every citizen Of the United
States owes an allegiance to the General
Government and to his own State that
conflict between the powers of the General
Government and State has not been sup.
posed ar provided for in our institutions,
and that We oppose the policy Of any Ad
calculated to drive the citi.
zenS Of any neutral State to choose which
is entitled to their superior allegiance.
9th. That we reiteratc the language of
General Jackson in hls Farewell Address
of March Sd, 1887: "1'hat the ConStitu.
tion cannot BE- maintained nor the Union
preserved IN opposition to public feeling
by the mere exertiOn Of the cOercive pow.
crs contided to the General Government"
That We ask again the question PROFOUND.
cd by James Madison in The Federal Con.
stitutiOnal Convention" How is military
coercion to enforce Government And
lastly, in case Of conflict between the
General Government and any Ofthe States,
we endorse the language Of John Quincy
Adams, used when President, that " Patri.
otis'n and philanthropy turn their eyes
from the condition in which the parties
would he placed, and from that Of the
people ofboth, which must be its victims.
7th. That We have viewed with pleas.
ure the official course Of our able Exccu.
tive, John g. Downey, aud that We give
him all honor for his bold, manly and in.
dependent expression Of views on this
crisis.
9Th. That the resolutions and proceed.
ings Of this meeting be published in the
Trinity Journal, Douglas City Gazette
and MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
W.S. LOWDEN, Chairman.
GEo."J. LOVE. Secretary.