The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-21


that the position Of Union men in the
Southern States should be considered. II
our dissenting friends have taken care to
read us correctly, they will have found
that this Journal was neither slow to MI
ticipate the Treason Of the Gulf States,
nor equivOcal in its denunciatiOns Of trni.
tors. J.. In an carly ard adequate aPpFeeia-
tiODtof the magnitude Of the evil, We sug-
geSted course calculat, d to place the
friends Of the Union upon high vantage
ground. Apprehcnding that We should
be called upon 10 test the strength oi
this Government" We saw what is even
more apparent now, that the conflict would
tax all its faculties and strain all its ener-
gies. Hence the desire, before the trial
came, to mako up u record that would
challenge the worlds approval. This was
due, not less to ourselves, than to the
Union men OF Southern States, who, with
equal patriotism and more Of sacrifice,
we're, amid the "pitiless pcltings" Of the
DisuniOn storm, like the Dove sent from
the Ark, seeking dry spot on which hey
can set their feet.
II is not that we hope or care for any
change of views Of course, from diSuniOn-
lists, that We ask conciliation, but that by
uniting and strengthening Union men, we
may DC the better enabled to resist and
punish treason. And is not such union
and strength needed? Why, but that the
right spirit is not aroused, are traitors
allowed to stalk through the National
Capital? Why, but that the public sen
sibility is dullcd, do traitors come and 90
with impunity? Why, but that the Gov
ernment is cankcred are not men who
openly advise the seizure of Notifications,
dealt with aS traitors? All this results
from failure to adjust differences between
those who might DO and ought to bC
friends. When Congress is brought to ar
agreement upon some one Of the various
pending propositions, the whole question
will assume brighter aspects.
In the border slave States there are
tens Of thousands Of anxious, devoted
Union men who ask only that we should
throw them a plank which promises a
chance Of safety. In standing by the
Union they do and dare much more thar
is required Of us. Maryland has been
and is now, withheld from the whirline
vortex Of diSunion, by the firmneSS and
fidelity Of its Governor. If Virginia does
not plunge IN, reckleSsly, it will be from
the restraining influences Of her Cover nor
Tennessee implorrs the North to throw
out an anchor to which she can make fast
From the EveuInE Journal February 5ih
The Union hangs upon single thread
That severed, We rush into civil war, Ol
yield to the sway Of uSurpcrS. The 7rt
6uHe labOrs for onG-we know not which
--of these alternatives. Nor are we quite
sure which is the worst At present, We
are not inclined to surrender the Govern
mcnt, even il it costs rivers Of blood tC
defend the Capital. While, however
treason and conspiracy stalk forth, threat
ening and undermining the Constitution
statesmen chatter about "Platfurms,
and journals labor to aggravatc rather
than SoAhe the possionS which seek t.
overthrow the Government.
We have said, and now repeat, that thu
duty Of patriot harmonizcS with til,
principles Of RepublIcaniSm. How can i
be otherwise DO not Republicans lov'
the Constitution, the Union, the country
And are not States and traitors seeking
to destroy all that our fathers established
We are but proring ourselves Republi
cans by making the Constitution on
Shibbolcth. fit were otherwise eff ou
party leads in any other dircctiOn-i
"choicc must be made between party
and country. we differ so widely from i
as to prefer the Union to fifty" parties
Meanwhile, defending oursclf as well ii
we could, (Strange that love Of the UnioI
should bc an otfense!) the question cam
up in Congress, where various propo$i
tions Of adjustment were pending. w
urged, with a modification, the adoption
of the " Border State Proposition" That
and all others, were finally rejected, whcI
the correspondent of the New York Ere
ming Post made the following announce
ment
From, the Regular Corrcsponlcnt Of 1e Evening Post