Daily national Democrat., 1861-08-28


harhurous ihternecine struggle, like that
which is how raging in Missouri aud other
border states. We, therefore, on behaIf Of
the Union democracy of California. having
the utmost confidence in your ability, nteg-
rty, aud devotion t" the Union and TO the
interests Of the Pacific Coast. desire and re
tques from you an expression Of opinion in
regard to the duty of loyal democrats Of Cal
if rnia in the present juncture, and the man
ner in which they can best serve the inter-
esls of the whole country, and preserve peace
within our own borders.
With sentiments of the highest esteem, we
remain, dear sir, yours respectfully,
ID. ID CoLToN,
Chairman Dem State Central Committee.
San Francisco Aug %, 1861
9gN. d d CoLro>, Chairman Democratic
State Central Committee
DEAR SIH:-I have to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the oath inst, re
questing me to give you the result Of my
opinions, bassed upon the present condition
of affairs in the Atlantic States. | regret
that have not time to respond fully to your
request, and shall therefore content myse
with giving you brief statement of my
own impressions relative to the present de-
plorabIe condition Of the country, and what
| concei to be the duty of loyal men every
where during the present crisis.
The constitutional right of a State to se-
cede from the Union is ignored and treated
as "paradoxical ahsurdity" by the almost
unanimous voice of the people of the loyal
States. whilst a very large proportion of the
people oft seeded States view the propo-
sition in no moro favorable light. What
the leaders in the South characterize as "se-
cession, is regarded throughout the Northern
States as treIS0n, of the most rank, danger
Gus, aud unjustitiable character which it is
incumbent upon the Government to suppress
by all constitutional means within its power.
The selt-consituted authorities of the south
ern States having resoried to arms, not only
in resistance to the laws of the Federal Gov
ernmeIt. but for the avowed purpose of co.
ercing the loyal citizens within their ON n
borders to become participants in the over
throw of the Government, no alternative
was left to the Administration. but to meet
force with force, or to isgracefully surren-
der the Capital and the Government TO
baud of cUnSp;rators, nctuated by the same
motives which prompted Benedict Arnold to
ceusumnate the crimrN hich has hitherto per-
mitled 10 him almost monopoly of the ac-
cursed term III TRAITOR
Under this state of affairs it became the
du of the Democratic masses of the North
to determine whether they would follow
their old allies of the South in their efforts
TO overthrow the Government, or rally in de-
lense Of the Constitution and the laws under
the Administration of President aud IA
party whose elevation to power they had
strenuously opposed, and with whose mere
Il on,l1
In short they were called upon TO choose be-
tween fidelity to the Government as institu-
ted by their fathers or at least silent ac-
quiescence in its destruction. They patriot-
caly chose the former, and came forward in
its defense with a zeal aud aac.ity unparal-
lrIed. think that am warranted in The
assertion that at least three fouths of the
troops who have so patriotically responded
to the call of the President, are persons who
within the last ten months voted against his
elevation to power. The few Union Demo-
cratic members of Congress remaining, in
cluding those from your own State, followed
the example of their constituents, and cheer
fully voted the supplies necessary for the
prosecution of the war. | am conscious that
there are in certain localities persons who are
endeavoring to paralyze the power of the
Government, under the specous euse of
seeking q peaceful solution of our presen,
difficulties, without indicating in what man
uer that desira'l le eonsummhtion can he sue
c"ssfuly accomplished 1t is claimed tnnt II
recognition of the southern Confederac\
would at once restore peace and tranquility
to the eountay yet am at IA loss to discover
how sue action would produce sech effect
Such recognition would not only be re-
cogntion of the right of secession, which
would be destructive of all goverGmetIt but
would leave us with two seperate, contiguous
! republics, organized upon antagonStic bases,
with all the causes which now exist of de-
vastating wars for generations to come, or
until one or both should he annihlated.
Under all the circumstances, it seems to be
the fixed determination of the loyal citizens
to conquer peace, and compel the leaders
in the secession movement to submit to the
" coercion which we all experience in rem
dering just obedience to the Constitution and
the laws. The impression obtains, and is
warranted 10y the representations of the peo-
Pile of many of the seeded States, that as
soon as tho Federal Government affords them
protection from the reign of terror which
prevails in their midst, they will return to
their fidelity to the Union.
1t is circumstance pegnant with warning
that in nearly every State where the Co
vernnent was in the hands of Disunioniss
the sentiment of the people has been disre-
garded, ard the State carried out OF the
Union 10y the mere force of that local govern
in the hands of those disposed to pervet
it to designs of treason.
In other States, as, for example, Missouri
where the Union sentiment was so over
whelmipg as to prevent the consummation OF
the act of Secession disoyal State officers
have nevertheless been able to inaugurate
civil war; to drench the State in fratricidal
blood, and te invite and procure the presence
of invading armies from seeded States, with
the hope of conquering and driving out lov-
al citizens, and taking the State out by force
of arms This terrible warming should not be
lost on California. Elect to your State OIL
ces any other than men of known and ap.
proved loyalty to the Union, and you invoke
upon your own heads all the horrors which
are now spreading desoation and carnage
throughout Missouri If you desire to SEE
your fair State oyerrun with hand7 of armed
plumbers; your growing commerce parnlyzrd,
your industry destroyed, your mines aban-
doned and your fruitful fields made desolate,
and, worse than all, your homes laid in
ashes and your wives and daughters become
the spoil of hrush men, then elect to ill your
State Offices the men who openly and braz-
enly avOw their sympathy with rebellion and
treason. This picture of the possible eonse-
quences of secession triumph in California
is not overdrawn; for proof of " hich need
simprly refer you t" accounts which reach
you almost every day f;om unhappy Missou-
ri betrayed 'hy Secession Executive into Il
condition of carnage and rapine to which
alone of the seeded States Virginia furnish