The Placer herald., 1861-01-26
LETTER FROM HON. CEAS. L. SCOTT.

| Lndley, Chairman of the Democratic State Cen
trail Committee on the political crisis will be
found interesting:
WASHINGTON Cry, DEC 21st, 1850.
My DEAR SIR: 1t has been my intention for
some time past to write to you upon the fearful
crisis through which our country is now passing,
but my time has been so entirely enga ged in la
boring Tor the passage Of the Pacific Railroad
Bill that could not find leisure to do so; but as
that measure, which is so dear to every one with
in our State, passed the House on yesterday,
have now breathing spell, and will carry out
my intention.
One of my colleagues (NIr Latham) has sta
ted in the Senate OF the United States that, in
the event Of Il dissolution of our Union and the
| formation Of two separate cOntcdcracies Caliior-
MIA would 60 with the Northwest. With his
opinion on this subject totally dissent and dis
agree. and will briefly state my reasons in the
small compass of a letter | do this. not from an
| ostentatlous desire o! parading my name before
the public but from stern sense Of duty which
| | owe ~ those who have twice ntrustcd to me
the representation of our State, in part, in the
lower brancH Of Congress. and because frequent
illusions have been made in the press, this
side, TO the position Of the California delegation
on this momcntous question,
Our Union is gone beyond a doubt and the
Fourth of March will see certainly seven
or eight States Of the present conlederacy out
of the Union. with Il strong probability at the
border States, consisting of Virginia, Tennessee.
Kentucky, Missouri North Carolina. Maryland
and Delaware will 90 with them-making. in
such an event. powerful Southern confod dericy
able and willing to defend and protect them
| selves against the arrogant cncroachmcnts of
dominant sectional party. II coercion is not t.
tempted. the Government may be reconstructed
and peace and harmony once more be restored
| to the great sistcrhood OF States, provided the
| Northern masses will return to their senses and
| S0uth riohtS
| by acceding to her most righteous and just de-
mands. Whilst cling with affection and dcvo-
| tion to the Constitution WhicN our fathers made
and transmitted to as Il rich legacy. whilst
would make any sacrifice to preserve our Union
with the hallowed and sacred associations that
cluster around it, in my heart Of hearts warm
ly sympathze with the South, and cordially in
dorse and fully Justify them in not remaining in
the Union under the President elect, whose whole
record proves him to be the open and avowcd
enemy of the South.
But, then, sincerely trust and ardently hope
that the scales may fall from the eyes of our
Northern brethcrn; that they will finally mete
out justice to the South, by 50 amending the Con
stituton us to guarantee to them equal rights in
the Territories, recognizing slaves us property.
and u strict enforcement of the Fugitive Slave
Law. Nothing else wi satisfy the South and
believe conscientously that she has right to de-
mdnd this, and ought not to except anything else.
This can only be done by the spontaneous aud
voluntary action Of the Northern people, for the
South Will not regard or value Congressional en-
actmcnts or compromises. The day has passed
for thcm and nothing but a solid and substantial
evidence of return Of friendly feelings on the
part Of the North will appeasc or satisfy them.
II this Union is divided and TWO separate con
federacies are formed, ! will strenuously adyo-
cate the secession Of California and the establish
ment of a separate republic on the Pacific slope.
Some may conlcpd that we have neither resour
ces nor population to set up for ourselves. In
answer to this, say that if California links her
destiny with the Northern Government, crippled
AZ ruined as she must necessarily be by the
separation and withdrawal of her Southern ALI les.
California. instead of being benefited and re.
ccving aid from the Northern Confcdcracy. will
be heavily taxed to carry on the machinery OF
their Government.
If Gas is strongly apprebendcd) New York city
also secedes and becomes free trade city, and
the immense imports which are annually received
at the ports of Boston and Philadelphia, and
which are mainly consumed by the II 100000 of
the South. should be carried by a direct line to
Charleston, Mobl Savannah and New Orleans,
really believe that the programme proposed by
Thomas Ewing, General 1aylors Secretary of the
Interior, to exact tax in the shape of seignor
age, from the miners Of California would be car
ried out to raise revenue for this bogus Govern
ment. Again if she stands alone and sewers her
ties from II Union dissolved and bankruptcd, there
will spring up rivalry between the two sections,
North and South to connect with her railroad, in
order to secure the trade Of the Pacific and
thus We would have intercourse and trade not
only with the sixteen Northern States, but also
with the fifteen Southern States. The distance
between the western frontier OF Texas and the
eastern border Of California is little over 500
miles; Il railroad could and would be constructed
in few years, and thus you would have the
means of transporting your heavy products of
grain, and would find ready market in the South
crn States, for New England and the Middle States
will always be supplied from the Northwest. Our
intercourse with each section can be OF the most
friendly character, and the trade which is now
going on would be undsturbed. Our postal ar
rangements could and would go on. for there is
not State in the Union which is not represented
in our State by some of their own sons; but,
above ALL the influence eXr:.cd by our immense
produce Of gold would regulate all this and make
our Eastern brethren anxious and eager to keep
open each and every avenue of communication
with us.
Besides all this we have one hundred millions
of acres of public domain within our limits; our
immense mineral and agricultural resources and
our geographical position with China. Japan and
the East Indies and the trade generally with the
East which is now in its infancy, all belongs to
us by the decree Of nature, and which is recogniz-
ed rs our common Inheritance would in few
years be amply developed. have thus condens-
ed my views much as possible, so far; now let
us look upon this matter in a political point oil
view.
While do not advocate nasty or precipitate
action on the part Of my State; while | would
counsel caution and discretion, | would suggest
that she calmly and quietly wait until coming
events shall demonstrate beyond doubt that this
Union is irrevocably gone, and when she is salts
fed that a reconstruction is impossible, and not
until then, would have her act.
But as | said before, let us take a political
view of this question. Can the true, legal and
Union men of our State link their destnes with
the rump and remnant of Union governed by
traitors and fanatics, who. by persistent and
systematic series Of wrongs and aggressions, have
finally presented to the South the alternative of
either leaving it or remaining in it deprived of
oil enunlitv of rnhts which the C0nSti tntnn