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

The mariner does So, when, after
storm. his vessel has drificl oil her course.
The traveller thr"rSh n wilderness pnnSc>
at intervals, u consult the sun by day,
and the stars by night This Nation has
reached a standpoint in its journey from
whirh the FAST, the PRESENT and the ~
1rKE should be calmly aud thOughtfully
surveyed aud reviewed.
In November last several States whose
inhabitants had been prepared by long
course uf instruction GT the movement,
announced their intention to divide the
Union, In this movement all the Slave
States were invited, and most of them ex'
pcctcd, to participate. The Rebellion
Tor il assumed that phaSr, early was to
he more or less formidable, according to
the number UG States il embraced. II had,
besides experienced and capable Senators
aud Representatives in Congress. the CO.
operation Of the Secretaries Of the Treas
urv, War and Interior Departments Of
the Government! 4 wicked or weak
President was moulded to their purposes
The arms and munitions Of the Govern
Incnt were Atcal,hily transferred to South
crn Arsenals The Naval force was aS
stealthily employed in distant Oceans
All the influences, circumstances and con-
ditiOns Of the Government and Country,
conspircd to favor Rebellion.
The rebellion, though as yet undeclared,
was MS certain as fate or doom. Eyes
that did not perceive, or minds that failed
10 realize it, were practically useless.
The only oDcn, true question: was, how
MANY slave States can be withheld from
the vortex Of Disunion? The Gulf States,
moved BY ambition, cupidity and hatred,
we're hopelessly welded to their idol.
The Border States faltered. In ell Of these
States the Union had numerous and
staunch supporters. In these States, in
tosesA and safety cOunSelled against Scccs'
sion. The Gulf States wcnt-thc Border
States heSitatcd. And while in "hiGh
debate" among theWSclvcs, this journal.
with what will nov bS acknowledged =
just conception Of the magnitude Of the
war in which We were to be involved,
suggested the importance Of concentrating
and cherishing the Union sentiment OF
Border Slave States. We believed then,
what VIC know now, that while Secession
had influential advocates in those States,
Union sentiment existed, which, wisely
developed and sustained, would keep them
in the Union. WeSsay We know this, be.
cause. without such said and comfort, "
Western Virginia and Eastern Tennessee
vet stand by the Stars and Stripes; Della.
ware and Maryland Gn spite of the city Of
BaltinlOrs) are loyal and the gallant sons
of Missouri and Kentucky are sealing
their devotion to the Union with their
blood.
At that conjuncture, and with such
views, wc ventured, in December, 1860,
to say:
Assuming the possibility of coming
together in fratcrnal spirit for the Pur-
pose of efIecting "a more perfect Union
among the States" we are not without
hopes that the result may prove auspl'
cious. With mutual desire to harmonlze
differences, let us suppose that in the
place off Uindictire Fugitive Rlave Law
= law repugnant to manhood aud honor
one should be enacted which arms the
Federal Authorities with all nccdGuI power
for its execution, together with 4 provls'