The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-03-23

sAOa,nEuEa. Nsr.A lsth. 1871.

tinoed that he press b DE power Of modern
times. Il b the eFOwssd monarch Of nations,
the true diademsd kise, whose word Is law,
whose smile is liz, aod whose frown is death
The great dispenser d reputstiOn, Of position
and power; the creator who can make and M
make; The great impartial empire 10 Q world Of
wrong, who defends the weak and does justice
TO the strong, rewards the virtuOus and pun.
isheS tbe ViciOus-to whom the 0strsgS4 ny
look for redress, the dOwn.trOdden for defence,
and the hslplsaS GOr SaccOg; a. umpisS nsvss
unjust. or partial OF viDdictiVe-sever mean,
spitefuI, or silly.
This being ny belief Is b any wonder that I
feel exercised at the position which you and
that "G6b and i9fVfAtisF' jOurnal. The COlOnaa
zSasSs, place mel What . pitiablS eaSs Is
minel please neither friepds nor enemies
This to one Of my easy, plscable, gOOd-OAiured
deposition in whose sOul there sre no eIe-
@ents Of anger, o. TstaliatiOu, NJ rsveoge-oue
who SbiveFs ct repro0[, who eaa Be killed Cd By
one eritique like Keats-One who can i've only
10 the smiles Of others, is indeed . source Of
uumeFited pain. How imbi,tered ny feelings!
RlsoerSilIe Iasghs 81 ne, aud COIoms pitIes ssd
eOmmiSSeTates mel Bat Why the devil does not
PIacerville laugh ct her own absurdities, and
Coloms commisseFste her own unfOrtunates
Even 10 the DEnOcRAT Office are the records Of
many AbsurdiIies. Even you, Dan, are not re-
eogDised a. the embodiment Of stability or con-
Sistency. Aye, my friend. you have danced to
other tunes than IbOse yOu grind through the
DEHocRAT DIV. Add 10 the COlOma Tines Of.
Office may be found many elements Of political
insanity and 10 the Times ofBos, IL l may
judge frum lato article, pr0fusiOn Of sle-
ments Of political stupidity.
The 7Tsass 10 sOFry for what I was, the Desc
cRAT GOr what am. Both lack ingenuity
Sensible men and sensible journals address
themselves tn present times and present OpiB.
ions. What l was oT what said in days gone
BY 10 Of little purpose II sm right now. But
- pride myself on nothing more than con-
sistency, than having 6rm and unchanging
views. than entertaining correct principles sHd
steadfastness In maintaining them. than baviHR
clear, sensible aud comprehensive notions Of
policy, you will bear wi,h me while de- myself
justice, and examine whether Indeed am the
cratic and Inconsistent person you attempt 10
prove.
I have read very carefully the letter referred
to BY you 10 . humorous article ia late nun.
Der Of your paper, and while there 10 point or
two on which my opinions may have become
mOdi6ed-snd who indeed 10 % stupid 90 in the
rapid change Of circumstances u the last few
Observation-Disclosures Involving and threat
eninR 80 much-aS to have No change u Views,
no modification Of principles, but upon the
whole the views therein contained are very cor.
rect and clash little with my present opiOiOss.
In this letter, - 10 my remarks the other day
on the Union Resolutions befvrc the Assembly,
l took bold and decided ground sgsiDst Q dis
solution Of the Union. / Reproduced il then a.
earnestly and empbatieally a. ! do nov. For
in wealth Or poverty, IN siekoess o. 10 bealth,
in whatever position, in whatever state Of misd
or body, have hsrbored SO ihOugAs Of disIoy.
atty u my adopted cou"sry. Ny sestimsoIs,
my leiters have been before the people Of 81
Dorado e"''D,y E"V anne years. II they prove
me disunionist-AlI asseveFations Of mine to
the con,raEy-a disuuionist let me be. But 70
the facts.
In the December letter spoken Of, find the
following passage: "Ian, not one OF those whO
feel the Union . burden. and have mere pass
ing respect for il. ! am not one Of those who
value it for the mere material benefit it cOnfrrs.
But am one u those who are proud Of the
grand political life It gives to all who bear the
American name, and WIN, in the passion u hrs
soul, would make any sacriice for The country
he more than loves. and the constitution he
thrice SWOre to support" And also this one
Let devoiiOo 70 the Union be . legacy Cali.
EOrUiA will bequeath from ore generatioa to
another Of her children. Let Der imbibe the
sentiment that to be soveTeign State Of the
American Co0Eederacy 10 the greatest glory Of
her political IiGe."
II these are the sentiments and this the Ian.
guage Of /" free and fearless" disunionist and
Pscidc Republican, thea indeed I sm one.
But let me look farther, for have no wish 70
eEaw6sh. have no wish 70 dodge any e.
pressed opinion Of mine. am not nns Of the
lodging kind. In December I sAid IL any poe.
ton Of the Union laDguished in The UaioO, Il
10 that portion Of II on the PsciAe eOast. lay
90 yet. Il is my opinion, other peoDlO may
think differently. We want speedy conmuni-
cation with the Atlantic; ne have not rot II.
We want cheap communication With the Az.
lantie our goveru0est encourages monopoly.
We vast pOpulatiOu still ere We Neglected.
Still never dared to say eli THE, OF hundred
times al shis, would be cause GF disuniou.
All tie political Speealations ! ever made
were based On The suppOsilIon Of Uuiou die.
soaved. ! speeuIated on an event possible, bat
one the very anticipation of which ever Dc.
plored and ss another evidence Of this ut me
insert another extract from my letter:
"But IL our brethren Of the Atlantic States
are 80 forgetful Of their own happiness, and ~
pFOdigAl Of their own interests, 90 devoid of
pure patriotic feeling, 90 culpable 10 The high
privileges they eDjcy, say IL hey. 10 The very
wantOness Of freedom aud tbe riotousuess Of
too great prosperity, destroy at one fell swOop
he /ruitfSI SOETcs Of al AeiS 6ISSsis0s, let us ct
least PrOGt BY their folly"
Now, l think have fsiIy established my con-
sisteDcy, and yOu, Dan, 10 the fuIIness Of your
"friendly sOlicitude" for mo will, I have no
doubt. gracefully acknowledge II, and be as
punctual and assidUOus 10 the right 81 you were
humorous In peTpetratiOg the wrong.
But one error leads to another, q reflection
which leads me to another point where the
DsMOCRAT IL astray. must tell The editor OF
the DEHocsAT that Whatever opinions msy
have on any subject within my range Of thought,
be they wise or foolish, ere al ny own. On.
anime and thirk for myself and plume myself
. good deal on the individuality Of my opinions.
rely more upOa the qualities Of nv own mind
snd sOul, than thOse Of aUy man Of my acquaiut-
snce. You have, With your insinuAtions, pot
me 90 my egOtiSm. have said % mech how.
ever In defence Of my own indspeDdenee Of
character and individuality Of OpIniOo.