The Placer herald., 1865-07-01
LETTER FROM BENJAMIN WOOD.

AT dinner given in New York, on the
anniversary OF Jetferson's birthday, the fol,
lowing letter from Benjamin Wood, of the
New York News, was read:
SIR: | regret that my health is such as to
prevent my attendance at the anniversary
dinner OF your society, in honor of the birth
day OF that illuslrlous States Rights Demo.
crai, Thomas Jefferson | cannot, however,
refrain from expressing my sympathy with
the Object OF your association. The clouds
OF war dispensing do not reveal fair and
promising horizon. A greater misfortune
can beial a republic than even disin,eera-
ton; it is the annihilation Of repuLlicaulsn.
We are about to enter upon a struggle; less
bloodless, perhaps but not less earnest and
important than that from which our country,
shattered, bleeding and exhausted at last
emerges-if it, indeed, as ierventiy hope and
pray; the promise of peace is about to lie re
deemed. Capitalization, amid the throes of
civil strife, has found its opportunity. and
Will use It, 1t is not strange that internal
dlscords have undermined the pillars of our
Slate sovere>gntles for when, in the history
OF republics, have not civil wars resulted in
political revolution? When has civil strife
swept over land, without eaving in its path
OF desolation the germs of despotic power,
the elements Of revolution hey ond a revo.
lutionl Civil strife has ever been school
for tyranny. Successful parlisanship is there
trained to dependence upon military power,
aud is taught The fatal rudimenls Of usurpa,
tion.
1t has been said that the Democratic party
is no more-its occupation gone. But | say
never before has the Democracy been eulrust
ed with mission upon whose faithful and
complete fuftllment so much depends Of
honor to itself, of safety to the Republic
Never has responsibility so great, so press
ing, so sacred, devoved upon a party. The
Democratic party dead! Why, Sir 1t is now,
to day, in the presence of the insidlous spirit
of centralization that threatens our political
system, that we appreciate the necessity Of
IT'S vitality. Can Democracy die while lives
the memory of Thomas Jefferson? Can it
throw off its aimor and depart from the
arena consecrated by its former glories, at
the very hour when the principles expounded
10y Its great oracle appeal to us for their pro
,eution! No, Sir; 1t IS not written in the
history of the Democratic power that it has
ever been listless, liteless, or emascuaed
when there was great work before il-when
there was great enemy to encounter and
great peril to be ayerted from the liberties
OF the people.
Sir, in our generation it has become the
glorious privilege of the Democracy TO cham.
plon the lights Of States against the most
formidable anlagon;sm that has vet assailed
them. Hamilton preached no such extreme
doctrine OF centralzation as we hear to day
openly proclaimed 10y the friends Of the Adj
ministralion, encouraged no such usurpations
as have within the past four years invaded
the sanctuary of State sovereignty. Yet he
was charged by Jefferson with designing the
subverson of the Republic and the erection
OF monarchy upon its ruins. We have no
Jefferson today 10 combat this doctrine of
Federal encroachnent but the principles
that he advocated sill exist, and it shall not
be said that in our day they were lramped
upon without a struggle for their vindicallon.
| need not tell you what are those princi-
pies They are familiar to my fellow Demo
Gratis. God knows that we have had too
many occasions of late to assert them. 10
make us one nation as to foreign countries,
and keep US distinct in domestic ones, gives
the outline of the proper division of powers
between the general and particular govern
ments." So wrote the patriot and statesman
upon the anniversary of whose birth you are
assembled; and to the Democracy his expo.
sitiun is law.
In conversation, recently, with members
of your society, they were pleased to compli'
ment the Stale Rights press. trust the
hour will come, when, secure upon the now
shaken foundations Of State sovereignty, the
whole country will acknow edge the devotion
of that Spartan band who stood untlinch
ngly in the darkest night and stormiest day,
in their political 1hermopyIa Faithful
among the faithIess." But their labor is not
done. Tier sacrifices are not ended. The
hour Of deIuson and danger is not past
When the war mist is dispeled, the balefu
star OF Capitalization will be clearly seen,
aspiring to its zenith The trial at arms
decided, then comes the tug of the political
war. In the impending strugg e-it is nev
liable and must he decislve-the State Rights
press can. if it will, become the tower of
Democratic strength. And that it will who
doubts that have seen it in the forlorn hope,
confronting popular frenzy and braving the
strong hand OF arbitrary power And, sir,
when the conflict shall be ended when Dem
ocralc principles shall have prevailed, as
they must if their followers stand fast by the
banners of State Rights, then, when the
States again are sovereign, and the Republic,
as it ever has been under Democratic rule,
shall be great, and prosperous, and free then,
in the smile of peace, in the enjoyment OF
republican institutions, in the appreciation of
ledeemed people, the State Rriyhts press
will be rewarded hundred fold"
RETURNING REAsoN-An evidence of re-
turning reason as gratifying as it is unex-
pected, is the important fact that Boston
jury, in the case of StuItevant VS.. Allen, Tor