The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943, 1864-12-17
RrassAsnt's 10asaRo.

The Message OF president Lincoln Is not
. remarkable State paper. 1t is not above
mediOcrity. 1t is safe to say that . weak.
er document never emanated from Pres
ident Of the United States Improves that
VIC are either sadly deficient in men emf
nent for ability and craftsmanship, or that
We recklessly elevate small ones to exalt.
ed positions. In either case the fact is
discreditable to the American people and
q reflection on free institutions. The mess
sage is wanting in dignity, inaccurate in
statement, slovenly in style, feeble in ar.
gument aud dintatorias :. +tss=s7,; "a SO So
merit consists in ite brevity. It's sugges-
tons are crude and old, and have been
discussed by petty politicians before.
Abruptly and briefly, as IL the subject
were'nwOrthy his august attention, the
President commences his message by
grudgingly expressing gratitude to Al
mighty God for health and abundant har-
vests. He then branches of on our for.
eign relations; says q few words about our
relations with Mexico, but studiously
avoids the slightest allusion to the "Mon.
roe Doctrine; :" speaks considerable about
the South American States; devotes a
good deal Of space to Liberia, and merely
mentions the great powers Of Europe. -
He briefly notices our financial affairs and
refers the public to the report Of the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury for further infor-
nation. He speaks encouragingly of the
National Banking system, and says that
ION the 25th of last November FIVE hun
dred and eighty-four national banks had
been organized" lie briefly touches on
the War and Navy Departments, on post,
al affairs, the admission of the State Of
Nevada, the Interior Department, the
Pacific Railroad, Indian affairs, and the
Pension system. He has but little to say
about the rebellion, and that little is mere
ly q repetition Of what We find in the or
gAns Of his party. 1t is neither forcibly
expressed, elevated in tone nor original
He congratulates the people that Mary.
land has adopted "free Constitution
and be insults the intelligence of the PEG.
pie by doing SO. He knows, every intel
ligent man knows and the official vote Of
the State proves that nine-tcnths of the
legal voters Of Maryland-the people of
Maryland-scornfully repudiated what he
is pleased to call "free Constitution. -
He has ten thousand office. holders in
Maryland to do his bidding, not one thou
sand Of whom are entitled to vote, being
aliens, and yet they all voted, and forced
upon the legal voters of Maryland, who
were, by order of one of his Generals, de-
prived the privilege of voting and driven
from the polls at the point Of the bayonet,
q bogus Constitution. He ought to be
ashamed to allude to such an outrageous
fraud, but instead of that no gIories in it.
He again recommends to Congress the
passage Of an Act to amend the Constitu-
ton to abolish slavery. He boasts that
the sentiment of the people, irrespective
of party, is unanimous for the integrity of
the Union, and in stating it administers
whitening rebuke to his supporters for
denouncing the Democracy as traitors
He thinks negotiation with the rebels use
less, as it could not result in any good
He alludes to his amnesty proclamation,
says I" it is still open to all, but the time
may come, and probably will come, when
the public duty shall demand that it be
closed, and that, in lieu thereof more Wig.
orous measures than heretofore shall be
adopted" 1t is an idle threat and will be
disregarded BY the rebels, who received
his proclamation with provoking indiffer-
ence. In conclusion, Mr.. Lincoln haught-
lily informs the people, whose servant he
is, that be "shal not attempt to retract or
modify his Emancipation Proclamation"
and if the people should, by whatever
mode or means, mako it his duty" to re-
turn fugitive slaves, he would not perform
it! A cool specimen Of arrogance, truly
In so many words be tells the people that
not the Constitution but the will Of Abra-
ham Lincoln is the supreme law of the
land; that he is master and they are slaves;
that they must "bow to Gesler's cap;'
that in utter disregard of their wishes and
contempt for their feelings, he shall do as
be pleasesl Surely this ought to con-
vince the most incredulous loyalist that
we have "a Government |"