The hydraulic press., 1861-04-13
CENTRAL COMMITTEE PRO-
EEDIHGS.

CEEDINGS.
! Several resolutions and an address, styled the
proceedings of the Democratic State Central
Committee" have just made their appearance,
as a kind of platform, upon which it is'proposed
to marshal the Breckenridge forces Of California
for the next political contest; and which is one
of the most extraordinary documents ever offered
| for the endorsement of an intelligent people,
who profess loyalty to the Union, and have the
slightest particle of respect for its laws and Con-
| stitution. We should not have been surprised
to find the name of Barnwell Rhett, Robert
Toombs, VIM. L. Yancey, or some other man OF
that kidney, appended to these proceedings -
but, behold no less parsonage than Judge
Charles Lindsey, of Yuba county, endorses and
stands their sponsor.
| The whole tenor and object of these proceed
ings" appear to be, a recognition and approval
of secession. The test which the Committee
establishes at primary elections, is based entirely
on such a presumption, as will be seen by its
perusal, to-wit:
| !" "Resolred, That the several County Commit
tees be recommended to direct, in view of such
cooperation that the votes of all citizens be re-
ceived at the primary elections for Delegates to
the Democratic State Convention, that is to
meet in Sacramento City on Tuesday, the 1lth
day of June, A. D. 1861 who endorse the Crit
tenden, or similar amendments to the Constitu.
ton, and are Opposedt0 coercion and any and all
attempts on the part the Naturalization TO en-
force, By Military or Naual poscer, the Federal
zaacs within the jurisdiction of any of the seeding
| States"
| The address says "our great and glorious
Union is dirided," which is by no means to be
admitted as fact and that sit is idle now to
consider the causes of dissolution, except so far
as may be necessary to their removal"
| Here is strange doctrine. We have no right
| to 'consider the causes of dissolution" That
! is to say, an incendiary may enter your house,
despo it of everything valuable, and setting fire
to it. destroy it to conceal the traces of his vii
lainy, and you are to be denied the privilege OF
| inquiring who did it, why it was done, or to
bring the perpetrator to trial for his crime
What are we coming to, when the love OF
country is to be extinguished in every manly
breast, at the behest of party? When we are
enjoined to stand silently by and see our Ma
tional Constitution destroyed, our laws subvert-
| ed, our forts, custom houses, mints and other
public property seized, without putting forth a
hand to stay the spoilers? Not only this-when
we are asked to recognize, sanction, and adopt
as the basis of our future political action, a
course so dsgraceful, reasonable and degrading
to every sentiment of enlightened freedom!
| There will be but two issues, two parties, in
the country hereafter-the Union men and Sc
cessionists. Let those who can approve the
proceedings" of the so-called Democratic
! State Central Committee" array themselves
under its banner. If spoiIs are of more value
to them than country, they make that elec-
ton but we warn the patriot to beware how he
accepts such heresies as doctrine upon which to
found line of conduct. They are most per-
nicious, and to our mind, fearfully reasonable
California is hardly yet prepared to erect herself
into branch-State-agency of secession; and il
the result next fall does not prove it, we shall
have been awfully mistaken in the character oil
great majority of her people.