The hydraulic press., 1861-06-08
Gen. Shields on the Union.

good deal has been said lately about
Gen. Shields, and the position he occupied
towards the Goyernment-some charging
him with sympathy for the secession move
ment, and others maintaining his loyalty to
the Union. On Tuesday night he made a
speech before the Union Club of Marysyille,
an otline of which is given in the Appeal.
ale wants to see the Government sus-
tanned and vindicated, though, if possible,
not by the exercise Of the warike power of
the Government and the speaker still thinks
that there will be no civil war, for the exhi-
bition of the spirit of the North will be suf-
fcient to convince the South of the futility
of her struggles against the Government !;
and that an amicabe settlement can be
reached. Gen. Shields does not like to hear
a South Carolinan condemn the action of
his own State, { and can't understand
how Southern men in California sympathise
with their States at home and thinks that
California, the pet child of the General Gov
ernment, which had denied her nothing, has
nothing to fear from the secessionists, and
that no prescription should be exercised in
this loyal State. He was not ready to pledge
himself to the administration of Abe Lincoln,
but would pledge himself to sustain the
Government while constitutionally admins
tered to the administration in all constitu-
tional measures and to the sustaining OF
the laws. He concluded by expressing
hope that the Union might be preserved
without bloodshed or war"
Here are conclusions of logic eminently
worthy the sympathetic "Sary Gamp!' The
eminent ex-senator "does not like to hear
South Carolinan condemn the action of his
own State" and yet "he can't understand
how Southern men in California sympathise
with their States at home !" He wants to
see the Government sustained and vindcat-
ed, though, if possible, not by the exercise
of the warlike power" when an army of in
vasion threatens to plant its banner on the
dome of the National capitol He expresses
hope there may be no "bloodshed or war;"
after hearing of the reduction of Fort Sum-
ter, and the lives of loyal patriots sacrificed
in the streets of Baltimore He desires an
"amicable settlement" when the Southern
Confederacy has frequently ayowed its deter
mination not to ground its rebellous arms
until annihilated, or its independence has
been formally acknowledged. Still, Gen.
Shields is willing to pledge himself to sus-
tain the administration sin all constitution
al measures, and to the sustaining of the laacs!"
In portion of his speech which we have
not quoted, he declares, further, that there
was no use of forming Union party to run
candidates. as "there was no secession party,
as such, in this State"
If the distinguished gentleman paid little
more attention to passing events, he would
by this time have learned, that there are GER
tain communities of California in which
good and loyal citizens have been intimidat-
ed from the attempt to raise the American
flag. But on this head Charley De Long,
who followed Gen. Shields, in his remarks,
had something to say
"He took exceptions to the remarks of the
previous speaker, that there were no seces-
sioniSts in this State, and nothing to fear
from them. He Mr.. De Long, had heard
the hateful doctrine boldly advocated in the
halls of the Legislature of the State-had
seen the fallacies of secession theories trick
ed out in all the glory of rhetorical flourish
and bombast-and thought that the men
who had there taunted the North with cow
ardice, would have hurried this State into
disunion, had they not been terrified at the
uprising of the loyal people"
Gen. Shields may be Union man, but he
is not of that kind which we would be will
ling to indorse.