Daily national Democrat., 1861-09-04
READ AND PONDEI..

serVatous, as CdtiforttdnS, having ID view
only the peace and welfare OF our beloved
! young State, ard its exemption from the ca
lamlics and horrors which affi'ct our orelh
reu on the Atlantic slope. We do not au-
dress you as Republicans or as Democrats, as
Northern or as Southern men. hut as clttzenS
/ Of California. having deer and vital inter
est III preserving the peace and prosperity
which now happily reign "it"in our oorderS'
/ Fellow -cizens, YOU, in common WIN our
selves are profoundly interested, III the pre-
seryntion of this peace. Our business ana
social relations, the safety and happiness OF
our wives aud children, in short, every la"d-
able motive that can appeal to the human
heart, demand Of lis an earnest ana solemn
consideration OF the condition in which Call
iornia is placed In making his appeal, We
utterly disclaim any intention TO influence
single vote ut the approaching eiecilon. We
belong to different political organizations
and shall exercise our right Of suffrage, rs
you will eqercise yours 1t is, therefore, IN
no parti2nn or sectional sense. nor to sub
serve the interest Of any pollicll party. that
we address YOU. There are occasions when
lofty considerations of patriotism and of duty
rise far above the bchests of party, aud APP
peal with irresistible force to the heart and
conscience of every right-thinkng man. We
think iuch an occasion has arrived IN this
State, and for that reason we venture TO adj
dress you
We need not remind you of the deplorable
scenes which are being enacted on the other
side Of the continent We abstain from re-
cial. which could only bring MOI freshly to
| your minds the horrors OF The piciure-nor
need We remind you that thus far we of Cali
fornia have escaped these horrors. The busy
hum OF industry, the fruitfuness of our fields
the pros pelity Of our business pursuits, the
cheerful notes OF the hammer and trowel. and
above all, our peaceful homes and happy
families continually remind US of the mercy
and providence OF God, which thus far has
shielded California from the horrors and
enormities of civil war Shall these things
continue, or are we, at our own homes and
hresides, to drain to the dreg' the bitter cup
Of affiicton which is now at the lips Of our
brethren on the other side
Feliow-c citizens, these are grave and solemn
questions which you dare not answer lightly
We trust there is no just reasont 10 apprehcnd
! that our peaceful relations are likely to bt
disturbed. We hope there is not within the
/ limits Of this State n single man so blinded
! With passion, so lost to reason. so reckless of
/ human life, so devoid of all the better in
stincts Of humanity. So welded to an idea, as
to desire that California should become the
! theater Of bloody, fraIernal strife. But,
unfortunately. in times of great public eX-
ctcment, men of violent impulses and hasty
, passions, often without any deliberate put
pose to do wrong become committed to
inc of conduct, which is suhversive Of the
! puhlic peace and may end in the overthrow
Of all eoci4l order. TO such persons we de
sire in all kindness TO offer friendly word of
counsel We would adure them to consider
/ the magnitude of the interests which are at
stake. These are no less than peace, pros
| pcriiy and happiness on the one side, and
anarchy. Violence death and utter ruin on
/ the other. Missouri at present presents Il de
| plorabe picture Of the latter, and California,
/ fortunately. eXempfihes the former. Under
| these circum.tances, he who Deliberately or
rashly does an act tending to disorder or like
! iy to provoke it, commits crime against hU-
niAnity.
We appeal most earnestly to every lass OF
our citizens to remember that. Hs CGlJorHi-
auS, it IS oar bouuden duty to our State, and
to ourselves, to dlscountenanee. and promptly
to suppress Nny effort hy misguided men, il
there he anY eu.h, to disturb the public tran
guilty aih to involve Us in the hoors of civil
war California is menihtr Of the Federal
peaceful renticns 10 the General Govern-
ment, or any manner to array her against it,
is an enemy to her peace, and to her highest
Interests However we may differ in oiin-
ion rs to the policy of the Government, pnd
whether we be Republicans or Democrats,
/ Northern or Southern men, it is our high and
solemn duty to yield an implicit and aithful
| obedience to that Government. Our destiny
! i in the Mon, and under the Federal flag
| Our hi Lhest interests and our most solemn
obligations hind Us to that Union and to that
flag as the guaranty of our national great
! ness and of our domestic peace w solcmulv
entrcat you, therefore, to permit no blind
passion 10 violence of partizan zeal. no Sec
lioual attachments, to seduce YOU into "A line
Of conduct hostile to the pullic tranquility,
or which may tend to the disturhauc If the
peaceful relations hirh now So haprily ex-
ist between our people Whilst civil war
unfortunately, is desc laling the homes and
iireside5 of our brethren on The other side ct
the continent let it be oar h0as', th,t in
California, one of the young st sisters If the
Confederrcy, whatever differences of 0pinion
may exist among us, there hre at least two
points on which we are agreed, to- wit: lst,
Ihlt California is and ever will be true to
the Constitution, the Union and the Flag
or intestine hroils within our own limits
Felow-citGeue, after these great troubles
are ended, whet a proud position will Cali
fornia occupy in The eyes of all mankind, il
we can then point to her position amidst the
intestine excitement which now agiiates the
nation. and say that whilst She was true and
loyal to the Constitution and the Union, she
was too wise, too fRst 100 humane, to inbrue
her own fields with the lood of her citizens !
If We would have her occupy this proud po-
sition-if we would preserve her from the
unsppakahle horrors of civil war-if we
would do our duty as patriots and good
citizens, we must each Of us resolve, at all
times and under all circumstances, to frown
Indignantly upon any attempt. come from
whatever source it may to disturb the pence
fu aud loyal rel ltions of this State with the
General Government, or to fomcnt discord
aud civil commoticn amongst our own peo.
PIE
Felow-citzens. we trust you will properly
appreciate the motives which have induced
us, who are only private citizens. as You are,
to make this special appeal to your patriot
ism and sense of right.
w. H. Hallech, J B. Crockett,
F. W Brooks, fhos B Detfenbach,
Geo II. Faulkner, Henry Kmball,
Geo } Brooks. Joseph Robinson,
Edward f. Hall, Jr Hubbard u Co,
Charles W. Brooks Geo i Hitchcock,
1hos H. Agnew, D. Nj Galley,
ToWue d Bacon, Wm. b. Cooke & Co..
j Bryant Hill Bobart d Bro,
f a Woodworh, VIM r. Johnston,
Louis McLane. W. i. BaLcock.
HaWleV d Go