The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943, 1864-12-24
THE MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT.
Prs,idant,a Ms..nra.

Owing to . press Of more valuable read
ing matter, We have no room, this week,
for President LincOln's late message to the
Federal Congress. The document is every
wav Characteristic Of its author, and there
Is no danger that any one will ever dispute
With the President the paternity of the
precious production. Mr.. Lincoln first
takes up the subject Of foreign relations,
and after dispatching briefly all questions
touching our intercourse with@Mexico and
the South American States, he leaps at
onca. ~ wiSht have been expected. to the
coast Of Africa, where he seizes by the
hand his black brother, the Negro Presi.
dent OF the Liberian Republic. No sooner
does Mr.. Lincoln confront bis sable males.
" than . broad grin almost decapitstes
our worthy chief magistrate. And who
Gao blame him! When freed from the
restraints Of respectable society, it is as
natural for Mr.. Lincoln to seek his social
level amid the huts Of Liberia, as it would
be for an uncaged monkey to reiein his
spish companions, amidst the jungles of
his forest home. There is no part Of the
Presidents message through which the
sunshine Of cheerful spirit beams so
brightly as that which treats Of Lberian
affairs. The following arc Mr.. Lincoln's
remarks, under the head Of LIBERIA"
"Ofical correspondence has been freely
opened with Liberia, and it gives u new and
pleasing view Of the civil and political progress
IN that Republic. 1t may be expected to derive
new vigur from American influence, improved
BY the rapid disappearance Of slavery 10 the
United States. l solicit your authority TO furn-
ish the Republic gunbOat, at a moderate cost,
to be reimbursed 10 the United States BY INSTALL
ments. Such o vessel is needed Cur the safety
Of that State against the native. African race,
and 10 Liberian hands il won Id be more effec-
tive in Arresting the African slave trade than
squadron in our hands. The possession of the
least organized force, would stimulate gener.
Gus ambition 10 the republic, and the confidence
which We should manifest by furnishing it,
would win 6rbearance aud favor towards the
Colonies from all civilized nations"
So it would seem that our worthy Presi-
dent is now resolved to "carry the war
into Africa" We have not yet sQuandered
enough money, incurred enough debt, dc.
stroyed enough property, on split enough
blood in the service Of the negro race. -
New fields Of adventure must now BE-
opened up flr Abolition enterprise Our
people already driven to the very brink Of
reputation, by the crushing weight Of
their national debt, must be take anew in
order to supply With gunboatS and place
upon war footing an African chief, " hose
only claim upon American liberaity con.
SiSts in the fairness Of his features aud the
ebony.likc blaekness Of his complexion.
No one is simple enough to suppose tina,
il Liberia had been a colony of white men
instead OF blacks, Mr.. Lincoln would ever
have made the above recommendation in
their behalf Throughout the message,
the negro is the burden Of his song.
Upon the subject of the recent election
the President remarks a. f,llowS:
Judging by the recent canvass and is re-.
suits, the purpose ot the people ithn tue 10y Al
States 10 MAINTAIN the integrity # the Uniun
was never more firm, nor nHtre nearly unani.
nous than nov. The extraordinary cAlmne,>
and good order With which The m'li"ns Of w.
ters met and mingled at the polls, gaveL strong
assurance Of this. N.tnnly those " hn SUPPORT
ed the Union ticket 50 called hut great ma
joriiy OF the opposing parry alSo, uiay be fairly
claimed tO be actuaied BY the same purpose.
II 10 An unansweraeie argument that NJ c4t.di.
date for any nifice whAtever, hugh or low, has
was FIR g,viog up the Uuipn. There Las been
much impngnng uf motives, and much heated
controversy, aSto the best means and best mode
Of advancing the Union cause but 10 the dis
tinct issue Of CHirn or no Union. the politicians
have shown their knoH ledge that there is 10
division among the people. In awarding the
peuple Q fair opportunity Of showing. one To-
another, and Ia the world the irmness aud una.
nimity If purpose. the election has been Of vast
value TO the national cause. The election has
exhibited another fact mot less valuable to be
known. We ITO not approach exhaustion in
the most important branch OF the National re.
sources-Ihat Of living men. WhIlcu is mel.
AnehOly fact the war has ii!ed 80 many graves
and caused mourning to 80 many homes, II is
some relief To- know, on a careful survey of the
field, that the fallen have been So few. While
cnrps aud divisions, brgGdes and regiments,
have turned. aud fought and bled. aud gone
out Of existence, great matprIty Of the nen
no composed them living. The same Is
true Of the naval service. The election returns
prove this. So many votes could not else be
fOund."
at is some relief" says Mr. Lincoln,
ito know that the fallen have been so few.
While corps and divisions, brigades and
regiments, have formed and fought, and
bIed, and gone QUE Of existence, a great
majority Of the men who composed them
are living. The election returns prove
this!
And is it possible that out Of near three
millions Of men who have been either
eajoled, hired, cheated, or forced into this
war ''majority," as you tell US, have es-
capped with their lives? Oh, wonderful
cause Of congratulation ....-
In another part Of his message the
President informs us that Of the vi lows.
orphans and dependent mothers Of those
who have fallen during the war, 22l ,90S
have been placed on the army pension
rolls, and 248 on the navy rolls, making
an aggregate of 222, 1856. And yet, with
his own startling and bloody figures star
ing him in the face, which tell of nearly
aquarter Of million Of weeping widows,
OF helpless orphans, and mothers left
childIess and in poverty, as the fruits Of
this diabolical war, Mr.. Lincoln has the
unparalleled cffrontcry to tell the Ameri
can people and the world that "it is some
relief to know, on a careful survey Of the
field, that the fallen have been so few
No doubt, our illustTious President will
always be able to "fine some relief" so
long as he can keep his own precious
carcass beyond the reach Of hostile bull
sets.
Even this fearful array Of pensioaed
widows, orphans and dependent mothers
furnishes no adequate basis from which
to estimate the number Of soldiers who
have fallen victims of this war. The list
of pensioned mothers only embraces those
who wers depending for support upon
the sons who have fallen. Now. it is but
fair to presume that by far the largest
part Of those. who have entered the ser
vice as volunteers or substitutes were
young men unencumbered either with