The Placer herald., 1862-08-09
NUMBER 40.
"A Converted Breckinridger-"

This is the healing of an article which ap.
peared in the Sacramento Union. The sub.
ject al the article was Col. Graham N. Fitch.
of Indiana, and who is gallantly and success
fully operating against the rebels in Arkan.
sas, Colonel Fitch was lately United States
Senator from Indiana and because he desired
the election of breckenridge to the presiden.
cy and is now leading union regiment, the
Sacramento Union pretends to the discovery
Of a noticeable instance Of conversion from
Breckinridgeism. The announcement is
made in covert sneer at COL Fitch, As
though he ought not to be serving his coun.
try in the dangers Of suppressng insurrec-
ton, and as though the supporters of Breck.
inridge as presidential candidate acre ds-
unionists now. There could not be more
despicable style of advocacy, nor one more
indicative Of a shrinking and vlianous mind
than that which makes brass faced liar Of
the person who goes back with disguised
maignity to bring up An honest class of peo.
pie to be denounced as principals and co opi
orators in an unpopular matter Of the present.
Because Breckinridge is rebel the citizens
who. when there was no sign OF rebellion, no
indication of secession in my political plat'
form, mus! have teen secret secessonis:s be-.
fore the presidential election, and must be
"traitors' since Brechinridge is traitor. This
is the form and substance of the argument
with which the falsfers attempt to sustain
their own patriotism and unionsm They
croak about abandoning party for the defense
of en- endangered country, and yet they will
not premlt the members of their late opposi.
ton party TO express tealty to the govern.
men,.-Ihey exhibit even enyious and vim
dictlve surprise when one whom they char
arterlzed as a secessonist and traitor proves
his devotion to tho national government
by actions too positive for Misrepresentation. i.
They call for an unremitting increase of the
love of country, and yet they would prevent
one great mass OF people from loving and
serving the country; they snivel over the
| fact of an increase of secessionsts and hide
the fact of what their own ignominious con-
ducthas done the south; they assert that
there should be only oneparty now, and
yet they daily exert themselves TO induce
the mainlanance of a party which they
can abuse in order to place themselves in q
secure contrast.
In the caee of Col. Fitch there is especial
satisfaction for the reason that he was
definitely numbered with active secessionists
at the commencement of the rebelIion-
How is it possible for him to be brave, pa,rl,
otic and competent federal soldier the Will.
fers ask as they 81. in judgement upon the
thoughts and impulses of men picked out for
public odium. Col. Fitch is the son of a
soldier who Tough, in the revolutionary war
for American independence, and who fought
in the war OF 1912 against the British until
he was vely badly wounded at Baltimore
Col. Fitch is II physician and was much ad,
mred professor in the Rush Medical College
OF Chicago Doctors Crawford, Pangh and
Fisk, Of Amalor county, have d plom rs bear
ING the name of Graham n Fitch. But
whatever may be his merits, is he only one Of
the hundreds of thousands who are opposed
and tradured by persons who think for them
selves SO tar only as to say through their
personal or PARTISAN prejudice: "lIe is a
secessionist." "lhey are seresh" THAT
is secessionism." Anador Dispatch