The Shasta courier., 1863-02-28
Letter from French Guleh.

FREScH GULcH, Feb. 2lst, 1868.
Mr.. EDITOR When l psnned my last
communication for the CouRIkR I did not ex-
pect ever to trouble you with another. But
being bachelor, mot of arts, and mayhap
doomed to hours of loneliness, my mind be-
comes absorbed with passing events. And if
1 should be presumptive enough to transmit
to you the result of my cogitations, you of
course exercise your prerogative in regard to
their appearing in your valuable paper.
1t seems to be an ingredient of our compo-
siticn to vibrate alternately between hope and
fear, joy and SORROW, especially when sur
rounding circumstances potently urge us to
adopt the one or the other And most en-
phaticaHy is this true in regard to the efforts
which are being used to quell the rebellion,
and preserve the sacred blood bought legacy
bequeathed US by our ancestors. from the
blighting, blasting, destructive hand Of mod
ern democracy, of which JEFF. Davis, Vallan-
digham, and, / like to have said, Satan him.
self, were its acknowledged head. And
though we may sigh to think that the above
persons, backed by their ligionary hosts, have
we'll nigh accomplished their nefarious ends,
yet, sir, are we not guilty of looking too
much on the dark side of the picture? Are
we not too easily tempted to magnify the
success of our enemies, and thus render less
potent the victories achieved by the Federal
army?
IT'S true, and sigh to record it, that the
ar-famed, yet fair and beautiful fabric Of
American liberty is trembling for its very
life. while the accursed hand of treason is
raised to pluck it from its envied height. May
Heaven forbid that Ichabod should ever be
written upon the chosen temple of our iiber-
ties Were angels susceptible of tears, and
were it possible for those angelic hosts to
weep, methinks the very streets of Paradise
would become saturated with their limpid
tears, to think that earth was cursed win
met so debased, so wicked and so diabolical
as to stretch forth their hands to raze, and
beneath their unhaliowed feet to tread the
sacred emblem of our nationality. Yes, me-
thinks Washington would weep were he to
visit these mundane shores and witness the
sanguinary contest that is going on between
Civilization and Barbarism, Liberty and
Despotism, Honor and Dishonor, Right and
Wrong.
Were we to fail, or were it possible for us
to fail in our efforts to subdue this monstrous
rebellion, the star of hope, whose benignant
rays are to enlighten the yet unborn millions
of earth, would set in total darkness, and hu
manity, clad in sack cloth, would mourn to
think that Despotism must reign with su-
preme control
But we shall not fail. Though the darkest
hour the country has ever seen is upon her,
yet will she live.
Truth crushed to earth will rise again,
The eternal years of God are hers;
But error, wounded, writhes in pain.
And dies amid her worshippcrs.
There is hope for us in store. When we
have subdued the rebellion and destroyed its
cause.-The dire incubus Of slavery and con-
cumitant evils-and when the masses of these
prosperity and happiness is only to te found
in virtuous actions and moral bearings, then,
with the compass of intelligence to guide us,
the ship of State will enter in safety har
ing, thinking men and women will enjoy
life to its full fruition.
Then, should we not take care, aye, should
we not cheerfully and willingly make the
kIok ho ~
dure for the restoration of peace mot by
compromise) and tranquility to our now per-
turbed country? The blood of thousands and
tens of thousands of slain patriots, the green
grave of departed worth, the signs, tears and
bleeding hearts of the disconsolate, the wild
ows' moans and orphans walls, together with
the mangled bodies of our heroic brothers,
all conjure us to act wisely and faithfully in
our country's struggle.
But must hasten to close The election
of Hon. John Conness to the United States
Senate, meets the hearty approval of all
loyal men in French Gulch.
The public school here re-opeued on the
ID of February, with 26 pupils, under the
care of VIM. S. Kidder
A grand ball, in honor of Washington's
birth day, was given by the gentiemanly
proprietor Of the Empire Hotel, which was
largely attended, "and all went merry as a
marriage bell."
Quite an amusing scene occurred here last
evening. 1t was whispered during the day
that Mr.. - and Miss were married,
and by dark the credulity of the outside
world" was wrought to such pitch that
horns, bells, pans, and variety of other
musical inssrumests were brought into requi.
sition. After the usual "toasts,'' at the ex-
pense Of the bridegroom elect, the mucisians,
much to the relief of the less credulous,
" skedaddled."
Ere close, would just say that Thomas
r. Land. the notable and indefatigable road.
master of this district, has the honor of do.
ing the best work that has ever been done on
the road. His constituents feel that for the
first time for years they are getting the worth
of their money.
Very truly yours, LOYAL.