, 1861-09-19
ErGENE cAssERLY ON THE CRISIS.

.
read with much interest the letter alluded to, as
published in the San Francisco Herald, and copy
below such portions Of it as we find most peril.
nent to the subject Of which it treats. As
but few Of our readers here know who Eugene
Casseriy.iS, we will state that he is one Of the
most eminent lawyers of California, and was n
! prominent candidate before the late Democratic
Convention Of that State for the Office of Gov
crnOr. No member Of his profession is more ia.
vOrably known on the Pacific coast. The
thoughts and opinions which he enunciates in his
letter are those of true patriot, and are uttered
with iervor which leaves no doubt Of their sin.
ccrity
Of the issue involved, Mr.. CaSserly says, ait
is very serious and clear, where there is no mid.
die ground. We must be either for the country
| or against it. Men may dclude themselves or
others. Still, in this contest, as in all the con-
tests Of the good aud evil f,rGcs Of the world
the eternal truth remains: = lie that is not with
me is against me-
As all know, to whom my opinions had any
| interest, was for peace while peace was pos
Sible, and for full concessions and guarantees to
the States of the Sonth, while they allowed them
" oe oueItu. NOW, liSitau OI peace, tntfe Is
| war, forced upon the country in such n way
that she could not have declined it without al.
dicatinG her place among the nations, giving up
| the Union Of the States which remained loyal,
and incurring the lasting contempt Of the hostile
States themselves That time will vet come
when peace is once more possible, am assured.
That it may come soon, is INV most fervent hope.
u will find me as willing as ever for the sacred
duty Of reconciliation. In the meantime, and so
long as it is force against force, take my stand,
without rancor but without hesitation, with my
own Government and country against those
who, at the head Of armies, threaten destruc.
ton to both. There is no other place for the pa.
triot
The cry Of "peace" in time of war has its
attractions. Ii appeals both to the good and the
selfish feelings. 10 our hearts and our poclets.
None understand this better than Mr. McCon-
nell and the adrOt and practiSed political leaders
who surround him. But in their mouths the
cry is "a deusion and snare" They are for
"peace" because say they "the Union cannot
be preserved by war;" Ask them on what
terms they propose peace, and their answer, If
they give one, will be, "the recognition Of the
Southern COnfederacy." As if that does not
certainly and permanently dismember and de-
stroy the Union. They are against war because,
pIpoaoyI Nas tHeg sdyJ u VIII Hut pTtseTFe tne
Union and they are for the immediate recogni.
ton Of the Southern ConfedcraCy, which most
assuredly destroys it. The love Of the Union
which inspires such o conclusion at the very
threshold Of the struggle is not very evident.
They are for peace, with triumphant and ad
vancing foe almost at the gates Of Washington,
and upon his own terms. They clamOr for the
country to strike her flag with disaster fresh
upon its folds. Is this the time for such de-
maud in the mouth Of patriOt-of any real
friend Of the Union? Before the country has
made half an effort worthy Of great people, or
Of the greatest cause that ever kindled the
hearts Of any peopleS After national reverse,
when such q cry unnerves the arm Of the gov
eminent and lends new Indictment to its enc.
miesf
Let not the people be deceived Peace and
the recognition Of the southern Confederacy
means to-day not only the loss Of honor, but
every other calamity which can belall the Amer
can people. Il is the permanent destruction Of
the Union: the strongest incentive to secession
to the States which remain; the dissnember-
ment Of the country; the death Of all American
nationality the loss of more than half Of our
sea coast; the establishment Of foreign power
at our doors, in the heart Of the continent, men,
aciDg us along fifteen hundred miles Of frontier
and holding the mouths Of the Mississippi; the
the great Powers Of the earth; the imprison.
ment Of our twenty millions of white people In
Q narrow selvedge Of territory. struggling from
Maine to Kansas, shut In with the snow and ice,
between two jealous and perhaps hostile neigh.
b0rs on the North and South. II means for Us
and our posterity standing army and navy for
all time; insufferabe taxation; the modification
or subversiOn Of our free institutions to suit this
new order Of things. After all this, there will
be no peace between Us. II there is none now,
how can there be any theni II in the Union,
and under the bonds Of the Constitution, we
must fight, how shall we be at peace when we
are two independent and necessarily jarring
Governments, with perpetual conflict Of inter
ests intensified by elOseness and BY contact oil
along the linef Let the States Of continental
Europe answer. Who, thatknows the American
people, dreams FOR one moment that any earthly
power can pen them up north Of the Ohio river
and the Potomac. or that the hardy millions Of
the northwest, the nurse Of nations, will ever
yield 10 other hands the mouths Of their great
river, though i should run crimson to the sea
That there must be much debt and taxation
Is inevitable II is the price which great nations
have to pay for their power, their position and
their rights. The people that submits to dis.
membernent loss Of place and nationality, until
after tremendous and exhausting struggle, is
doomed on earth. Its history Is written and the
volume closed. Its "sun has gone down while
yet it was day."
For ify years we have not been called on lor
war tax. Out Of our abundance shall we
grudge this mite 70 sustain the best government
on earth, to which we owe Il all9 Our brethren
in tbs other States pour out their money and
their blood in the cause. Shall California, to
whom the Union Is more than 70 all the rest, be
haaFA In nlain nofa Al. e.n