Daily national Democrat., 1861-01-13
GENRAL SHIELDS ON COERCION his lee

GENRAL SHIELD ON COERCION In his lee.
ture on the life and character of Gen. Jack
son. delivered in San Fruncisco. on Wednes,
day evening, Gen. Shields took strong
grounds for the Union, but was quite en-
phatic against coercion Here is what he
said
Here is State in open rebellion agains,
the Government, one Of the most powerful
governments in the world, and yet men dare
not execute the laws You cannot save the
American Union by bayonets and cannon, by
battles and slaughter You may subjugate
ana destroy, but you cannot preserve in that
way The man in Washington who in the
present condition Of the country undertakes
to recommend such course is a fanatic or a
iooL-Erpress
The lecture was delivered in Sacramento
instead Of San Francisco, on Wednesday eve.
ming, and Gen. Shields did not say whether
he was for coercion or not Here is what he
did say, and We give the Express's extract
together with the context, in order that his
meaning may be more thoroughly arrived at
We think that his language bears the inter
pretation that he is in favor of the ececWtion
Of The lawS, as against individuals. not being
in favor of ,car against State, as such.-
This is what he says
| scarcely know how TO express my feel
ings for the man who at this stage declares
for the North or for the South, or that he
will not do anything | tell you well, /
won't say too much, ladies and gentlemen
for this gentleman the reporter1 is putting
it all down. Laughter. do not want a
mutilated Republic | want the whole
some II EN- say, "Let South Carolina go" |
give you my word that, if | am ever called
upon to select an army, l will leave all such
men out of the ranks. The man who talk J
In that way thinks he is gallant, heroic fell
low. "Let South Carolina go, she is only an
annoyance. anyhow" The man does not
see far into that milestone. | am military
man in small way, and | tell you if one
regiment can rise up in mutiny and be per-
mitted to march out of the camp, with colors
flying and drums beating. l would not give a
pinch of snuff for the army it leaves behind.
Applause.
do not know how Andrew jackson would
act in this crisis; | dare not say-But be-
lieve that at any hazard he would execute
the td@S, and let the consequences be when
they may. Applause. Not only would
he execute the laws, but | believe he would
do it Effectively and successfullH Do you
think you have any other man in the United
States that dare execute the laws? Here is
a State in open rebellion against the Gov
vernment, one of the most powerful Govern
ments in the world, and yet men dare not
execute the laws You cannot save the
American Union by bayonets and cannon,
by battles and slaughter. You may subiu-
gate and Destroy but you cannot preserve in
that way. The man in Washington who in
the present condition of the c0antry under
takes TO recommend such course is a fanat-
ic or a fool. Look at the facts and find the
reasons for yourselves. Why cannot you 60
and take away those mad men who are pull
ling down the pillars of the Government q?
because Because we ourselves have been
burrowng under its foundations for twenty
years. have no right to give you advice,
but this is time when a man ought to be
licensed to speak little plainly and freely.
And in Gods name, why does not Califor-
MIA this almost new Pacific world, send an
appeal across these Rocky mountains to her
brethren on the Atlantic, in favor of this I'm.
ion Republicans, Bell men, Douglas men,
,Breckiuridge men why not rise above par
ty for the moment, and send to your Eastern
brethren, not Northern appeal or a South
ern appeal but q great continental appeal ?
Let the Pacific call upon the Atlantic in fla
vor of the Union of this great American Re-
public. Applause. | do not despair OF
this country or this Government. AS soon
would [ despair of human liberty ITSELF
States may go out, and there may even be
what is called dissolution. But you never
can have Southern and a Northern Repub
lie. You can draw no such line on this con-
tinent. Nature has forbidden it. There
must be union or disintegration. God for
fend such calamity.
| will not venture too much in that line of
prophecy but my opinion is that these par
ties, Breckenridge, Douglas, Republican and
so on, will have very little existence six
months hence. In fact, am not sure that
they are not all dead already, and perhaps it
is time they should be. Laughter As l
have retired to private life, and am no long
er politician, l may as well let you into
secret. | think you will see, before many
months, springing from these wrecks of par
ty, as the saving spirit of the nation, one
great American, Union, Conservative party,
a party that will select it's own leaders-and
both Northern destructives and Southern de-
structives will share the same fate, and be
extinguished forever. | do not despair of
this Government, even if ten States should
withdraw, for the race which originally con-
structed it is capable of its reconstruction -
But here, in this new State, you should hold
an even balance between the sections. Men
of all sections fought for this soil, paid their
money for it, and it has been open, open for
the settlement of all. For Gods sake then,
let not this great and new State take up
position untrue to the whole Union. APP
plause. l think God will not suffer this
Government to so down. A dissolution of
the Union would be Mexico over again, but
ten times worse. Civil war in this country
would be too fearful to contemplate. We
have great work to do, in the hands of
Gods Providence, both on this continent and
in the old world, on the other side of the Pa
ciic. Put not your trust in politicians, or in
presses, or ranything else, but go back to the
heart of the people. The people and they
only, can save the Union. Applause.
ImPOunding Cows.