The Placer herald., 1861-08-31
Home Guards.

police authorities, taking the PLACE tor the
time being of such regiments as the New
York 7tb, suddenly called to what was sup
posed to be the defense of the national cap
tol Their title indicates a guardian of the
sacred hearth, preserver of peace antf good
order; and for the purposes which gave birth
to the military order we concede their use
fulness, il certain contingencies, in large
cities. In a country where mobs and vio
lence DO not occur, where passion has not
let loose its fures, it is not only useless, but
is the very means Of bringing about des'
, perate state of civil war. In some of the
border States east, they have made use Of
military organizations under this name, and
the immediate effect has been state of 40
ravated civil war, and it would undoubtedly
have the like effect to greater or less de,
gree in California.
No violence exists or is threatened by
those who are opposed to the war policy of
the administration; they simply propose to
exercise their privilege Of citizenship, to
print, speak and vote their sentiments on thi,
as heretofore, on all issues Of the day. But
the repnbica press are not satisfied that we
shal! live in peace, enjoy our rights, and the
State and people prosp T., as at present. AS
early rs December last it was threatened 10y
them that, those "pp'so'l to the adminislra
ton of the republican party, would have to
leave the State. Since then we have shown
that they were for carrying matters SO far rs
to prevent the freedom Of speech, assembling
in public meetings, and for suspending such
other privileges OF the citizen as in their
heated Judgments were against the interest
of their party. just at this time, they are
making a terrible onset, exciting the public
apprehension with hobgoblin stories Of Sc.
cret combinations among what they call Sc
cessionsts and rebels, Sc, opprobious terms
which they are good enough to apply to
those who differ with them. They ar. de,
cIaring that the election Of Mr.. Mcconnell
VIII be the sigma for civil war in our midst,
and upon these tlimsy and false pretexis are
endearorng to induce peop.e to organize in
military bodies under the specious plea OF
Home Guards" We call upon all good
citizens to frown down these bulding evils
so earnestly urged by these nadmen. The
first effect Of this move will be, to arm neigh
boz against ueighhor, create mutual dislrusl,
hatred, and make the shedding Of blood mosi
convenient. Unless a person wishes to play
the domineerng bully, or is hopee4sly blind
to csuits, he would not advocate so suicidal
a course.
And yet We finl the San Francisco papers
advocating these organizations, aud are even
toLl that they are III profess of combination
in th<t city. These papers have for the past
month been most pel>istenlly endeavo;ing to
bring about civil war in oUr midst, hv com
selling All manner Of iudrcpncirs in the treat
menl Of those who may iarpcn to differ
with them in political sentiment. The IN $;
they have rs yet succeeded in ctfecling WAS
a disgracetul row At n public meeting. in
which their partizan.; succeeded in making
for themselves first rate character for
b.arkg lardism, and their party in thai vicln
iy at least, fixed reputation for h;goted in
tolerance.
Should Ibis arning of one portion If con
rnunity against the o her take are. it would
be followed hv suppression of trade OF eve
~ description. The man of monpy would
at once gather in his means, pressing those
in whosoever hands it be until he obtained
it within his clutch In unsettled times cap
ital-always timid-grasps tighter and more
misery over its wealth of gold and silver
Security becomes worthless, public conf
dence is gone, trade ianguishes, business is
at stand STILL Labor then is no longer in
demand, enterprise ceases, there is no sale
for the abundance of the earth and upon
whom does the hardship fall with most
crushing force! Upon the thousands every
where throughout the land, who are Deepen,
dent upon their labor for their bread, when
they ask for work, they will be answered
| that since the contraction of capital al! kinds
Of Improvements have been stopped, and
| there is no work for them. This has been
so East and will be equally true here. Then
cones perjury, want, starvation Of men, wo.
men and children, and the attendant sequel Of
crime. Employment is great necessity in
every community, one sometimes i'm
peratively demanded on occasions in Europe
that governments have been forced to ste
in aud temporarily supply it.
Let sober peop,e consider these things. -
Look out upon the trowning terrible rocks
upon which these crazy pilots would drift so
ciety and save US for God sake, from the
horrors of cigil war in our own midst. If
these men can only breathe the atmosphere
Of broil aud feed upon the fungus of cor
ruption, let them 90 to some other country
to enjoy it, as for us, of California, let US
preserve our homes from the torch of the
nrenlary, our weak ones from insult and
rutliansm, and to ourselves security Of life,
limb. reputation and property.