The Placer herald., 1863-08-29
ATTEMPT AT INTIMIDATION.

Ono of the meanest and most cowardly
devices to defeat the popular will, is that Of
attempting to intimdate the voters by
threats of personal violence. This is being
practiced to great extent now by the abo-
lition papers in the desperation caused by
the prospect of losing the political power
of the State. The Union Of yesterday
says-"Every man who desires to give aid
and comfort to the rebels, and every man
who desires to see California placed in an
antagonstc position to the national govern.
ment, and who will bring strife, and proJa
bly, civil oar upon the people of the State,
will be sure to vote the copperhead disunion
democratic ticket headed by Downey."
And who, pray, will inaugurate civil war
if Downey is elected Will it be the demo-
Gratis? Unfortunately for this theory, the
thing has been tried without any such result
For nearly the whole of the first year of the
war Downey was Governor, and the whole
political power of the State was in the hands
of the democrats. Did the democrats use
their power then to the detriment of The
rights Of any citizen, to the oppression of
any, or in such manner as to hazard the pub
lie peace! Did Governor Downey place the
State ''in an antagonistc position to the
national government" Did he not prompt,
ly respond to the call of the President for
volunteers, raise and officer the most of the
volunteer regiments now in the service? Did
he not peaceaby surrender the Executive
Office to his successor constitutionaly elect
ed, though by minority Of the voters OF
the State? Every citizen knows that an
swers to the questions will give the lie to the
insnuations OF the Union that Downey or
the party which he represents have ever been
antagonistic to the general government or
instigators of civil war.
Will the aboltionists resist the constitu-
tional government if they fail in the cleo
ton? The suggestion is absurd. Who ever
heard of abolitonists fighting unless they
were assured Of large advantage in num-
bers and material of war. If they were
once out of power they might be medde
some and insolent, for that is their nature
and they know they can say what they
please under democratic administration;
but as for taking up arms against govern
ment sustained by majority of the people,
they are governed too much by calculation
Of chances to take any such risk. We have
then the assurance of past experience that
democrats will not inaugurate civil war in
case of success, and Of the character of their
opponents that they dare not.
The only danger Of civil war in the State
is in the triumph OF the aboIitionists and
organized secret leagues. In the imaginary
strength of their numbers and organization,
in the insolence Of power and their natural
| instinct for tyranny and persecution they
may drive the minority to that condition in
which further forbearance would be crime
against civil liberty and resistance become a
duty which could not be avoided without
disgrace and degradation. When that al
tentative is presented, the people will be sure
moi to forget who are the instigators of civil
war-those who threatened them with such
a calamity for the independent exercise of
their right of suffrage. When that day of
reckoning does come-which may God fore
| fend-woe to the towards and place hunters
who preached civil war for party success.
They will be remembered Democrats will
support the government just so long as
that Government secures to its citizens
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness;
but when it becomes destructive of these
ends, they hold it not only to be their right,
but their duty, to alter or abolish it by such
means as the Almighty has endowed them
WITH No one need fear that democrats will
inaugurate civil war but in defense of their
inalenabe rights So long as these are
respected no party have ever been or evel
will be more loyal to the government.
Sac. Republican.