The Placer herald., 1863-07-04
JULY 4TH, 1776.

history, and which sanctify it, ought to be
familiar to our people; but if we cast our
eyes to the east, or if we could listen to the
many orators this day, celebrating it in Cali
tornia, is is scarcely possible that the phil
osophy of those political issues can have
been comprehended. We are not one that
believes the world retrogades, bnt it is very
plain that the full spirit of an event may
not be comprehended by all. Those who
see nothing in the American Revolution but
a struggle to separate from Great Britain
and establish distinct nationality on these
shores, for those isolated purposes give to
those sages and heroes of the time, but poor
selfish motive for their acts. The authors and
manipulators of public opinion of that era,
were profound in the philosophy of govern
ment. Circumstances had forced upon them
the study. The question was not with them
'have we governmenl' as we heard it in
1861, but rather "what is government"
1t was period when Europe talked au
tboratively of the "Dvne right" of Kings
to govern the rest ofmankind-ol privileges
enjoyed by the people being gifts from
the Kings, in whom all sovereignty rested.
If these assumptions were admitted, then
all rebeIlions against the Crown, was crime
against the edicts Of the Creator, and like
all violations Of the laws of God, must be
followed by terrible punishments.
The query very naturally arose with them,
what is Government-its objects-and where
does its mission end? Is it made for the
people, or are the people made for the Gov
ernment? Which was first in order of crea
ton, the Government or the people! Is it
designed for the benefit Of those admin is;er-
ing the Government, or to advantage the
people at large? These and many other ee
mentary propositions, which it is now good
to recur to, were deeply studied by them,
and the logical results of their reasoning
thereon, produces tba; great State paper,
the Declaration of 1merican Independence.
Clearly defining what they regarded as
selfeyideut truths-"that all men are created
equal; that they are endowed by their Crea
tor with certain inalienable rights; that
among these are life, liberty and the pur
suit of happiness" They, in single sem
tence, ignored at once and forever theory
upon which all the European dynasties of
that day were founded the classification Of
white men. This was the great distinguishing
feature between the Governments of the new
world, and those which existed and were to
g. II
longer to be sovereign and subject, lord and
serf as between white men. We say "white
men" because no negro or Indian was then
acknowledged to have a voice in politics.
they were held in subordinalion to the whites,
as a race in all the colonies-none but the
white race were admitted to that political
equality in the Government afterwards form
ed by these same men, and administered by
their successors until the year 1861. These
men also state what the objects and sources
of government are. To secure these ghs
of the individual, governments are institu-
ted among men, deriying their Just pocers
from the consey of the gorerned." In the
distorted philosophy of this day, the idea is
advanced that the Government OF States,
were created by the Congress and President
of the United States,-that States may be
severed or reduced to subjected provinces
by the Federal authority, but there is nc
authority for this in the acts or reasoning o
our great ancestors. AL Governments de
rive "ther Just powers from the consent
the governed" is the language OF these men
They never dreamed that the time woulC
come when Massachusetts would dictate tc
Virginia what her Government should be
or to Georgia what she should establish a:
her domestic institutions.
These are modern inovatons and destruc
tive of the whole foundation theories, o
American Governments. There will be nc
peace in the land, whilst our government il
administered upon these false theories.
NAV be that the government of New Yorl
is more enlightened and far superior to Cali
fornia, but for all that we don't want i
forced upon US. We will say to New Yorl
keep you your institutions, and we will keel
ours,-be happy in your choice, and we vii
live under our own. States are mate b5
the people thereof, and not by any other pore,
on EARTH. 1t was this very egotistlcal inter
ference with the domestic affairs of the colo
nies, by the mother country that they revolt'
ed against, and nothing else. The vanity
and usurpation of the crown and Parliament
sought to override the inalienabe rights
of the colonis,s by despotically debating
their laws, and impudently directing
their action in domestic matters Il
the charges made against George III
they declare "he has refused his assent t
laws the most wholesome and necessary 70
the public good. He has dissolved represer
tative houses repeatedly for opposing will
manly frmness his nvasions on the right
of the people. He has affected TO render ii
military Independent of, and superior to, Ii
civa poaoer. He has combind with other
to subject as to Jurisdiction foreign to OF
consultation, and acknowledged by our lar
-giping his assent to acts of pretended leg''
af;on. He has excited insurrection
amonor Nc atc aic" These are pronounce