The Placer herald., 1862-07-05
CHAs. H. MITCHELL, Secretary.
Anniversary of our Declaration of Inde-
pendence


pendence.
1t is now eighty six wears since the ances
try Of the American people, declared TO the
world their intention to main ain separate
and independent existence among the nations
of the earth. "A decent respect for the
opinions of MANKIND induced them to lay
before the world the reasons for such a step,
among which were maxims of political ma
ture never before boldly enunciated by peo'
pie, and which startled effete monarchsts
upon their thrones, throughout the world
Not the least among these is the assertion
that government derives its just powers from
the consent of the governed-being in direct
conflict with their cherished theory of the
'divine right" of Kings 10 rule the people
How well the people of these colonies susl
tained their sacred vow. let the story of seven
long years of privation, suffering and sacri-
flee through a devastating, bloody, fraternaI
war, relate. How from murder in taking
the lives of British soldiers on Boston Conn
mon, to armed rebellion at Concord, it be =
came honorable war between nations at ork-
town. How, from conspiracy of proscrib
ed traitors at Philadelphia, it became the en-
lghtened act Of enlarged legitimate states
manshp by concession of all the nations of
the earth. How, from thirteen rebelous
colonies, they became thirteen independent
sovereign states or nations, by concession of
the government Of Great Britain.
The anniversary Of this Declaration is held
sacred by the American people, and the
event commemorated by oratory, prayers, tri,
umphal professions, bonfires, and the dis
charge of cannon, because of the great prin
ciples and mighty sacrifices involved in the
issue. The axioms of July 4th, l776, are
equally truths July 4th, s62,-they are so
admitted North, South, East and West
wherever civil liberty is respected.
That they apply to all white men every
where, has never been doubted by any Amer
ican-ihat they apply to the African and his
descendants in the United States, is modern
theory, never until The year 1861, admitted
by any branch of our Federal Government.
When our sires declared that "all men were
created equal" it cannot be that they meant
to assert the political and social equality
with themselves with the races that lived in
their midst, in a state Of vassaIage and infe
riority-that they meant to exalt to the stan
dard of citizenship the unetered barbarians
they held in slavery. Twelve Of those color
nies then recognised by law the existence of
domestic slavery. In proof that such appli-
cation of the maxim was not intended 10y
those who uttered it, we find that these men
in seven of the colonies never made any pro
vision to place the slaves in the position Of
freemen-not only this, but the Whole o
them (the Colonies,) agreed that the African
might continue to be imported into the coun
try until the year 1903, for the very purpose
Of being made slaves. 1t is absurd to con
clude that these creatures fresh from the
jung es of Africa were intended and regard
ed rs The equals Of the white men Of Amer
ica. Yet upon this rock, has the heretofore
happy family of American States sundered
Theorists maintaining this absurdity, have
through the letter of the constitution, vault
ed into power, and now the country is ablaze
with civil war, and each gale as it sweeps
from the East brings to our ears the clash o
resounding arms. Loathing and hate take
the place of kind Offices and fraterna regard
divided action. instead of oneness of pur
pose-peasant words between brethern, to
vituperation and slander between deadly enc
mics. The maxims and laws established fol
the security of the rights of the individual
and of the States, have been scornfuly tram
pied under foot and national bankruptcy
and the slavery of debt, IS upon us.
The right "to life, liberty, and the pursuit
Of happiness" are at stake,-it is no time to
play at politics. Let us one aud all on thit
great National Sabbath examine our inner
most heart;-look back upon the "small be
g'nnlngs" from which we sprang, pray in
deep sincerity for wisdom, that we may be
guided through the labrynths in which We
wander. Let us invoke the spirits Of the
sainted sages of l776. to visit this distracted
land and animate us with the wisdom, pur
pose, and fraterpal love, with which they