The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-08-24

the Union while every diSunionist, whe-
ther openly or secretly plotting its des.
truction, is the advocate Of peaceful Sc
cession, or of war, as the surcst means Of
rendering reunion and reconstruction i'm.
possible. | have too much respect for
any man that has standing enough to be
elected Senator, to believe that he is for
war, as means Of preserving the Union.
have too much respect for his intellect
TO believe, for one moment, that there Is
a man for war who is not II disunionist
per sc. Hence, do not mean, If | can
prevent it, that the enemies of the Union
linen plotting TO destroy it-Sllall drag
this country into war, under the prctext
Of protecting the public property. and en-,
forcing the laws, and collecting the reve-
nue., when their object is di>union, and
war the means Of accomplishing a cher
ishcd purpose.
The diSunioniStS, therefore, are divided
into two classes: the one open. the other
secret df,GnioniSts. The one is in favor
Of peaceful secession and recognition Of
independence the other is in favor Of
war, MS the SurcSt means Of accomplish
ing the object, and Of making the scpara.
ton final and eternal. ] am Union man
and hence against war; but if the Union
must be temporarily broken by revolu
ton, and the establishment of dc .t;tct0
government by some of the States, let no
act be done that will prevent restoration
and future preservation. Peace is the
only policy that can lead to that result.
But we are told, and we hear it re.
pcatcd everywhere, that we must find out
whether We have got Government. -
"liave we Government: is the cues.
ton; and we are told that we must test
that question by using the military pow
cr to put down all disconnected spirits
Sir, this question, "have we n Govern
ment!" has been propoundcd by every
tyrRnt who has tried to keep his feet on
the nccks If the people. since the world
began. When the Barons demanded
Magma Cllarta from King John, at Runny-
mcdc. he exclaimed. "havc we a Govern.
ment:' and called for his army to put
down the disc"ntentcd BaronS. When
Charles l. attempted to collect the ship.
money, in violation Of the Constitution Of
England, and in disregard Of the rights of
the people, and was resisted Ivy them, he
exclaimed, "iave We a government? We
cannot treat with rebels: pnt down the
traitors; we must show that we have Il
government" When James II. was driv-
en- from the throne of England for tramp
ling on the liberties Of the people, he
called for his army and exclaimed, "lct
us show that we have n government"
When George ILL., called for his army to
put down the rebellion in America, Lord
North cried Justify, mo compromise with
traitors; let us demonstrate that we have
government" When. in 1913, the peo-
pie rose upon their tyrants all over Eu.
rope and demanded guarantees for their
rights, every crowned head exclaimed,
have we government and appealed
to the army to vindicatc their authority
; and enforce the law.
Sir, the history Of the world does not
fail to condemn the folly. weakness and
wickcdnrss Of that Government which
drew its sword m its own people when
they demanded Guarantees for their rights.
This cry, that We mus have o Govern
ment, is merely following the example Of
the beSotted Bourbon, who never learned
anything by misfortune, never forgaSe an
injury, never forgot an aiFront. Must We
demonstrate that VIC have got Govern
ment, aud cocrcc obedience without refer
ence to the justice or injustice Of the com
plants? Sir. whenever ten million peo-
pie proclaim to you. with one unanimous
voice. that they apprehend their rights,
their firesideS, and their family affairs are
in danger, 1t becomes wise Government
to listen to the appeal, and to remove the
apprehension. History docs not record
an example where any human government
has been strong enough TO crush ten mil
lion people into subsection when they be.
licved their rights and liberties were im.
pcrilcd, without first converting the gov
eminent itself into a despotisn,, and des-
troying the last veStige of freedom.
The people Of the South believe they
are in danger. They believe that you
mediate an invasion Of their constitutional
rights. They believe that you intend to
stir up Servilc instruction, and stimulate
their slaves to cut the throats of their
masters, and their wives and children
Believing this, they will act upon that be.
lief, unless you will remove all cause of
apprehension. If this apprehension be
ill-ioundcd, if there is no cause for it, you
are bound TO remove it. If it be we'll
founded, you have no right to refuse to
redress their grievances.
Then, in either event, it is our duty to
adopt such amendments to the Constitu.
ton as will insure the domestic tranquil
~, safety, and equality OF all the States of
the Union. Do that, and the Union will
be restored to future generations. Unless
you do it, disnnion is inevitable whether
peaceably or by civil war, God only can
tell. The true way to prove that we have
Government, is promptly to redress all
grievances and to quiet all apprehsnsions.
In this country, our Constitution has pro.
vidcd the mode for doing this. The clause
which authorizes the amendment of the
Constitution was inserted for the express
purpose Of enabling the people to do quiet
ly and peacefully that which in other
countries can be done only by revolution
and blood.
Let US take warning from the examples
OF the past. Wherever a Government
has refused to listen to the complaints Of
their people, and have attempted to put
down their murmurs by the hayonet,
they have paid the penalty. OF all those
who listened to the people in 1S4s, and
granted charters Of liberty, and took nm
oath to support them, only one has been
faithful; and that one has been rewarded
for his fidelity, and the others will pay
the penalty for their pcridy. The King
OF Sardinia granted constitution, took
an oath to support it, and never violated
his oath, and to-day he is King of Italy.
If George III. had listened to the muir
murs Of our fathers, and granted their
just demands, the war of the Revolution
would have been averted, aud the blood
that was spilled would have been saved.
II we consider this question calmly,
and make such amendments as will CON
vince the people Of the Southern States
that they are safe and secure in their per-
sons, in their property, and i'm their family