The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943, 1865-02-18
Party striHs and Personal AnlmosIt,

their ability to freely discuss all matters
Of public importance, which was general.
ly conducted in such q manner as not TO
create any bad feeling, or in any way
compromising the sincerity or good mo.
tlVes OF either party engaged in the con-
troversy. Those were the good old days
when statesmen and patriots were called
upon to preside in the councils of the ma
ton. That was time when broad and
hoeral views were entertained by those
in authority aud wheO C~0aI NStG" .o~sr--
tWds, or War importance 10 tie people OF
different sections Of the Union, were ven.
tilated and discussed By master-spirits.
Then no man was declared the privilege
of presenting his wrongs and seeking a
proper redress-theB the press was I'M
trammelled and fee speech resounded
throughout the land But how changed
since the commencement of our present
unfortunate troubles. No man has yet
been found among the peculiar friends
OF the Administration possessing sufh.
cient independence to rise up and throw
off the shackles Of party and declare him
self the firm friend and defender of the
rights of the people Of the whole country.
In an important crisis like this true
statesmen are wanted. Are they heard
in our councils? Should one take the
liberty to stand upon the floor Of Con-
greSS and advocate broad stateSmanlke
principles, such as were entertained bv
Clay and Webster and Calhoun and JEFF
ferSon and Polk and Pierce, he is insulted
by persons who have heretofore been un-
known in public life, but have been
thrown to the surface among the scum
which has been accumulated by recent
agitation, and BY the force Of circum-
stances found place in those halls which
formerly rcSounded with the voices Of pa
triots, statesmen and gentlemen. Nor
has this alone been confined to public
gatherings. We find among the masses
Of those who constitute the Abolition par
ty men who entertain narrow, contracted
views, who view great National questions
but from one standpoint, aud who are I'M
willing TO give standing ground to pollt-
icnl adversary, under any consideration.
Have We not all witnessed this contempt
BILE spirit made manifest during the last
! four yearsP Have not Democrats been
asSailed, their motives impugncd, and ma
ny Of their number consigned to dungeons
| or banishCd from their homes, for no other
reason than that they advanced arguments
at variance with those Of the AdminStra-
I ton, which it was feared would serve to
mould public opinion in such a manner as
TO contribute to the dissolution Of the Re
publican party? Has not the press been
muzzled and sudden quictus placed up
on the freedom Of speech Has not the
good feeling pervading the social circle
been destroyed by bitter political rancory
Al this and more has been engcndcrcd
since the commencement uf our present
, ho>tii,icS.
On the 22d day Of last January Cover
nor Seymour, Of New York-a gallant
patriot and brilliant statesman dely-
cred his farewell address in the capitol at
Albany, and in taking leave Of the people
Of that great State, in his official capacity
ms Governor. and passing over the robes
Of office to Governor Fchtnn, his success
sor, a Republican, he took occasion 10 re.
mark
YOU and lock upon pablo affairs from, dit-
irg views, and We have reached different con.
I clnsinns, with regard Ia the method, Lv which
our country can best BE- saved from III" ptIis
which "verhaug II but none the less. SIR have
you my best WISHES iur your personal welfare
aud success in ali the utihrs II pubic and pri.
( waite lite. In these ditA>, when We nrr called
upon Ia confront Problems - great, so vital,
and 50 i..r-reachng in their effects. lie who does
not speak out his earue-; convictions lacks
manhood; aud he who "annut treat With respect
and tor0carance the CONVICTIONS Of others lacks
SENSE and patriotism.
To the last two sentences Of the Above
we add our most hearty endorsement
lie who does not speak out his earnest
convictions lacks manhood" Are there
not many such in this land, which has
heretofore been held up as an example 10
the nations CT the earth as the abiding
/ place If freemen-aS a land where every
man was in the full enjoyment Of his re-
| lisious and political views, with none to
nolcst nor to make him afraid As Gov
ernor Seymour remarks, the persoa who
does not speak out his earnest convictions
lacks manhood. 1t is with sorrow and
shame that we are forced to say that ma
nv men, or persons protesting to retain
their manhood, have through fear of being
visited by the petty anmoSities Of their
political foes, refused to even whisper
their political sentiments, when such were
entertained as were at variance with those
Of the Administration. Many of these
timid individuals have been driven into
/ the Abolition camp, or halter has been
placed around their neckS, and they have
! allowed themselves to be dragged within
TIE secret confines Of the halls Of the 10y
al Leagues, and there sworn to vote the
Abolition ticket. L. this what is called
the Land of Liberty? Are these the
scenes which arc 10 be witnessed bv those
who are invited to our shores and told
that they shall no longer groan under the
shackleS Of monarchy? G9d 70 bid that
we shall ever lose our manhood in such
degree that our views, however feeble,
shall not be freely and earnestly given, in
regard to what We conceive to be for the
welfare of our country, irrespective Of the
notions or opinions Of Abraham Lincoln,
or any o.hrr man. The Governor further
remarks that, abe who cannot treat with
respect and forbearance the convictions Of
others, lacks sense and patriotism" We
meet men who are deprived Of these cs-
sential requisites every day of our exist
encc. We hear them from the stump,
from the pulpit, in the streets, in pnblic
and private gatherings and they take &C.
casion to expose their ignorance and mar
row, contracted spirit on every occasion
where opportunity offers. They speak
through the columns OF the public press,
and this coast is cursed with some Of the
worst of the kind. Let no true high
minded Democrat he swaycd in any man
ner by either the threats or insults ofsuch
men. They are unworthy Of notice.
They know not the first principles of the