The Placer herald., 1862-07-05
The Sacramento Union and the Constitu-
tional Amendments.

The Sacramento Union and the Constitu-
tional Amendments.
Last week we called the attention of our
readers to the Importance Of the proposed
amendments Of our State Constitution-gave
the history of them, and pointed out in an
unmis,skabe manner, the utter llegality of
any vote that might be had with reference
to adopting them, and the palpable opportu-
nifty there existed for the preparation Of
gross fraud, in case they should be declared
adopted We also showed that the Union
was the only authorized medium of inteli-
gence, to the people at large, upon this
question. Near week has passed, and that
paper, has either with owl like wisdom
maintained its silence, or with accustomed
contempt for the intelligence of the country,
declines to speak further in explanation We
give the editors two chances for retreat, they
may take which road they please. In either
event it stands convicted before the world OF
either intentionally or ignoran,ly, lending
itself to an attemp: to practice upon the peo
pie Of California wholesale fraud-one af
fecting permanently the government and in.
situtions of the State, and the most sacred
rights of our people.
The example in usurpaions by the Fed
eral Administration, to the support of which
that paper is devoted with heart and soul,
does not induce us to look upon these things
with charitable eyes,
The Union has declared the Constitution
of the United States, unsuited to the necess
tiles of our government, and has justified
the President and Congress, in all and every
violation Of it, and in all and every act of
their usnrpations, upon the rights of the
States and the people thereof Knowing
that such are the loose political morals of
of that paper, may the people not be justi
fled in regarding this as a trick upon them,
having for its justification the same rotten
philosophy? We submit that this is not a
time to toy with these matters Politics
have an earnestness to day, which it never
has had during the present generation. Life,
liberty, property, character and honor are
impered, nay. are daily sacrificed on the
altar of country. The hours are big with
the fate of States, and the fortunes of indi.
viduals; we may no longer jest and rihe in
politics. We must act seriously, and above
all, we must have plain words, with honesty
and fair dealing.
READ AND REFLEcr.-We publish to day
the Inaugural Address of Thomas Jefferson.
delivered in 1901. We hope every reader
Of the Herald, and every citizen, who can
procure copy will peruse and carefully
study this impor ant document. 1t embra.
ces aud inculrates the great principles of
democracy. Those principles which carried
Mr. Jefferson trumphantIy in,o the Presi,
dental chair, and in whose election the de-
mocracy of this Union vindicated their
rights and standing in the government, aud
the rights and dignity of the several sover-
eign States composing the Union. Upon
the principles of this message did the demo,
cratic party, for more than halt century,
administer the governmant;- and always
with success and prosperity, and within the
requirements of the Constitution of the
country. Read and reflect fellow citizens,
and if we can learn anything from the wis
dom of the past by which we will be enabled
to retrace our steps into the old beaten path,
let us do it. Therein is our only safety, the
preservation of the country, and the securi-
ty to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi
ness"
W. ,l