The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-08-17

"rhs Meaning Of this Fight"

The Boston AtLdS and Bee Of the oath,
edited by the Adjutant General Of Massa.
chusetts and the Adjutant General Of this
State, thus explains its views of 1.-The
meaning of this fight" and Of the course
to be pursued in its prosecution;
"Let the government send a strong
force at once into Eastern Virginia, ac-
cumpanied by such chaplains as Stella
Martin, Fred. Douglas and Box Brown,
with as many black volunteers as can be
raised in Canada and the free States de.
clare martial law, so that it shall override
the law Of slavery as it Overrides all other
law, and declare freedom to every slave
that will join the Federal army, furnish
ing arms and ammunition at the same
time. BY prompt action Of this sort, al
army Of 10000 men may be raised from
the slaves and the free negroes east Of the
Blue Ridge, that would take care Of Nor
folk and Richmond before the return Of
the sickly season. 1t is healthy, even in
the counties near the Chesapeake, until
July, and Immediately below the Blue
Ridge it is healthy all the year round.
"Put Stella Martin, and such Mission.
aries as he may select, ashore, each under
the protection Of battalion, on either
bank of the Rappahannock, York and
James Rivers-let them stump IL at the
nearest court house, and Eastern Virginia
will be free communty-a strong power,
with us and Of us, before the elnasculated
whites Of that region fairly learn that they
are out Of the Union. DO this, and away
with the nonsense about abolition. We
want deeds, not offensive and useless
words; and we want deeds that will save
life and lead to freedom. Tile meaning
IF this tight is the dOom of siarery, md
tile SoOher the GOrernment acts upon this
idea, the less aciLL be tie cdrnage. We
must buy into freedom the slaves Of the
loyal States, if any such remain at the
close Of the war;"
We invite especial attention to this afro
cious scheme and to these atrocious sen
timents, because they emanate from the
official organ of the Government Of Mass
achuSetts, which has been cordially en-.
dorsed and commended by the leading
managers Of the Republican party in this
State. We invite careful consideration
Of this matter also an account Of its atroc.
ity, as well as its identity with sentiments
every day promulgated by class Of Re-
publican papers and takers. and even
from the pulpit, here in Concord. And
we ask honest and patriotic men Of that
party to consider well whether such SEN
timents and such avOwals are calculated
to unite the people of the North in n
hearty support of the Government in this
time Of imminent peril to all that intelli.
gent and patriotic men hold most dear
and sacred. What said our Revolution.
airy fathers to similar sentiments and con.
duct on the part Of Great Britain? Did
they not denounce them as atrocious, bar.
barous, and deserving the indignant con-
demnation Of all Christian meny Did
they not appeal to the whole civilized
world to stamp them with the brand Of
iniamy? Certainly they did. Yet now,
in this age Of Christian civilization, it is
proposed to adopt the very course which
was then universally denounced as fit only
for savages!
But do the people Of the North-do the
people Of New hampshire unite in the
view of " the meaning OF this fight" as in.
terpreted above? Are VIC waging war
for the determination Of SlaveryY Is that
the ground upon which we are urged to
aid in the vigorous prosecution Of this
war? If so, we have entirely misundcr-
stood the issue before the country. We
had supposed this war to he wagcd in the
defence Of the Government of our fathers,
in defence of the Flag Of our Union, in
support Of law, order and constitutional
authority; in other words, that the issue
was between Constitutional Government
and Anarchy. Upon this ground We have
declared our purpose to stand by the
country and sustain the Government
On this ground the people are unitedly
rallying to the defence Of the old Flag,
regardless alike Of political distinctions
and Of their views in reference to the
causes and responsibility Of this war and
the remedy for the evils they suppose it
is designed to redress. Tint is a cOnsti.
tutional duty on their part, in support of
constitutional action on the part Of the
Government. But " such is not the real
issue-if such is not the purpose and
meaning Of this var; but il, on the con-
trary, it is party war, waged for the ex.
tinction Of slavery, then it is an uncon-
stitutional war, and any and every form
Of opposition to it and its prosecutors
would be not only justifiable but iInpera-
tive on the part Of the true friends Of the
Constitution and real lovers of their coun.
try.
We repeat, what We have before said,
that those who advocate support Of the
war upon the atrocious principles above
quoted, are curse to the country, worse
than dead weight upon the Government;
and should be reprobated and denounced
by every patriotic citizen. They have
driven the border slave States into rebel
lion for it is undeniable that this kind of
talk, and the fear that the course recon-
mcndcd above would be adopted, has had
great effect in hurrying the people of those
States into joining the enemies of the
Government. And now this kind of talk
and these counsels, il persisted in and not
repudiated by the Republican press, will
inevitably drive into indifference and in
action thousands Of true men whose ac-
| IINC bcTttCeo uTS uOW uCcucu u ulu III
bringing the country out Of the deplora.
bic condition into which it has been
plunged by the very men now promul-
eating these atrocious sentiments and
savage cousels. They are doing more in
jury to the cause than like number of
true and loyal men can do to serve it.
They are "Inoral traitors" in every sense
Of the phrase-quite IS much SO as the
very few Northern meff who would give
direct aid and comfort to the rebels; and
il the real friends Of the Government
among the Republicans would exert their
influence to direct public indignation
against these men, instead Of seeking to
stir up mob.violence against those who,
while giving their support to the Govern.
ment and the country, refuse to exonerate
the Republican party from the RESPONSE
bility Of the present awful state Of the
country, they would do the cause real
service. 10 unite the people in ahesrty,
zenlouR. energetic support of the Govern.