The mountain Democrat., 1865-06-03
open letter rrom senator connsss.

Open Letter KrOm Senator COMnesS'
HoN. JAMES j. OwEN-DeaF Sir:-
What propose to say in this letter is
addressed to you, because you are one Of
the oldest representatives Of the Republi-
cans, who make up q large part Of the
Union party of California. l write be-
cause of what read in the California
press, from time to time, concerning my
self and my relations to the Union party,
and because would like to be better un.
derstoOd by all.
was a Democrat, will say, by nature,
by instinct, and by reason Of the differ
ences which existed between the old
Wing and Democratic parties, as Iunder-
stood them. 1t was alleged against the
Democratic party, that they aided and ahet-
ted in the encroachments by the South, to
strengthen and extend slavery. did not
see it at an early day. have no doubt,
now, having the whole past before me,
that the allegation was true; although it
may be truly said that all parties did that
by turns, and whenever and wherever
they could strengthen themselves by do.
ing SO.
Thus the Wing party in California was
pro.slavery, and led by Henry A. Crabb,
the ablest Southern man, as a leader, that
California had within its limits, The
Know Nothing or American party be-
came pro, slavery at once. and in our State
very nearly elected Henry S. Foote to the
Unite States Senate.
| The Democratic party, though pro.
slavery, on the other hand, in California.
initiated in the State Convention of 1853
an amendment to the State Constitution,
which was completed and adopted in 1856.
providing for the submission Of any re.
vised Constitution that might be subSe.
quently made to a vote Of the people, thus
substantially disposing of Constitution.
al Convention. which had been persistent
ly urged by the pro-slavery men in Cali
foania for the purpose OF introducing slav-
cry there.
When the Republican party was form.
! ed, in 1856, the question Of restricting
slavery to the States in which they exist
cd was the issue upon which it was built.
That remained the issue until 1860, VI hen
Mr.. Lincoln was first nominated for the
Presidency, and until after the war begun.
Anti. Lecompton. Douglas, Broderick, or
Union Democrats, as they were respec-
lively called, believed that the question Of
slavery in Territories was perfectly safe
if left to fair vote of the people; and
when the vote was not fair, as in the case
Of Kansas, they opposed their own party
administration on that issue. They new
err wavered, if we except few, the like
of whom every party contains. who have
no doctrine worth living or dying for, and
whose sole attachment to party consists
OF desire to get office through and by
its means.
1t must always be conceded that after
Mr.. Lincoln's election, and from the mo.
ment at which the South undertook to
deny his right to govern where the people
had invested him with the power, the
great body of the Union Democracy Of
California were true and steady to the
Union and the law.
When at a later period, the Republi
cans, as such, abandoned their organza
tion as a party, and invited such citizens
Of our State TO join them as would stand
by the Union and the Administration, the
great body Of the Union Democracy Join.
ed with them; for. when few Of them
subsequently undertook TO keep up the
Union Democratic organization bv name,
they had no followers and bat few lead.
eTS.
Some Republicans there are who haze
been prone to parade the vote cast for
Governor in 1861 as an evidence of the
relative proportion of Democrats and Re.
publicans the Union party contained; and
they have claimed that Gov. Stanford had
Sc, 900 votes, while had but 81 900. II
they were more candid they would not
forget that within the last two weeks OF
the canvass then made, at least 10000
votes changed from our side 10 theirs, to
made certain that Mcconnell should not
be elected. Those were not in any sense
Republican votes, and they were not then
claimed as such. But the qneSti N OF
which gave most to the Union larty is OF
little consequence. The Union party has
saved California, and shall always be.
lieve that peace in California has sa7ed
the Union. No man can tell what the
consequences to the national cause would
have been had the peace of California
been broken, and the product of precious
metal stopped, and that great support Of
the public credit cut off. 1t was not tho
power Of the General Government that
kept the peace in California. but the over.
whelming patriotic sentiment of the peo
| pie, acting together, with the aid, think
it ought to be said, of sound and devot
ed Union press.
Now, if there be credit in this, whoever
did any part Of it is entitled to credit, and
in proportion to what they did. do moi
think that it is wise contending as to who
did most. trust. as am willing to be
licve, that each did all he could.
AT later period. there was an election
of q United States Senator. After an ar.
duous contest between the competitors,
was elected. Neither I, nor any one act
ing for me. did any mean or corrupt act
to promote that election. No human be
ing had promise of office or favor in case
Of my election. Every base proposition
that was made to me, pending the contest
was instantly repealed and rejected My
worst enemies said that had merely
adopted honesty as policy. Twere bet
ter if all should adopt it. defy contra
diction of these things. If any know tc
the contrary, let him testify.
My senatorial duties had not yet begun
when there was canvass for an entire
new State Government. owing TO the