The weekly Butte record., 1866-03-24
vALEDICTORY.

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With feelings of unfeigned regret. We bid
farewell to the patrons and friends Of the
UNION RECORD. with whom we have enjoyed q
political friendship and business intercourse
OF over two years duration. We assure our
friends that no ordinary circumstances would
have induced us TO relipquish pursuit which
ii not profitable, was at least pleasant and
familiar, and one which we were able to con.
tribute, to the extent OF our ability, in the
support of measures which We deemed neces
sary TO the preservation Of our free institutions
and our National Government. But failing
health, which was, OF course, entirely unfore-
seen, had admonlshed US of the necessity oil
change, aud now alone, has forced US to aban-
don business beginning to assume more OF
permanency and profit in this third year of its
existence than at any previous period.
Regrets, however, are useless and unavail-
ing; and q glance at the eventful history OF
the past two years, and our humble connection
with the great party which, under Providence,
assisted in shaping those events, will close our
brief farewell, and We trust will be excused.
At the period when we commenced the publ
cation Of the UNION RECORD, the result OF the
great struggle between the National Govern.
meut and its enemy. the so called Confederate
States, was considered by many as extremely
doubtful. Much time was believed to have
been wasted in disastrous campaigns, and
skeptics as to the resolution and patriotism of
the people, feared they would refuse to make
the sacrifices necessary to achieve victory.
Happily, no such skepticism prevailed among
our great leaders, and the struggle continued
with increased vigor and determination on
their part as the power of the enemy appa
Sently increased, and the lukewarm or positive
ly adverse spirit became bolder 10 expression
at the North. 1t is impossible at this time to
calculate or form an adequate idea of the de-
lays and disasters that resulted from the bitter
opposition of o minority at the North, whose
ezertions to throw obstacles in the way of Ma
tfonal success were untiring AS a conse
quence, in addition to confronting the enemy in
the field Of war, nearly equal formidable enc
my. under the guise of opposition to certain
measures had to be met and overthrown at
home. This rendered every State, county and
hamlet of our country scene of strife between
the defenders Of the Union and their malignant
foes. Political warfare naturally assumed
6ercer, less tolerant aspect-in fact, in the
language of the lamented Dougas-"T
were but two parties in the war-patriots and
traitors'-aud those in opposition TO the pat
riotic majority at the North, contributed no
small share 10 the disasters which marked the
early part Of the war.
10 California, at distance from the theatre
Of war, the opposition to the Government was
not attended with the same difficulties and
dangers to the National authorities, as were
experienced in the Eastern States, but serious
apprehension of a conflict on this coast pre-
vailed during the first years, and were only
dispelled by the prompt action Of all loyal
men. in obiterating party lines and merging
ali party organizations in the Union Party
Notwithstanding this, the opposition marshall
ed their hosts, and, in two campaigns uuea
qualled for energy and effort, demonstrated
that they were by no means. harmless, in
significant minority. 1t required the utmost
exertions of the Union organization to rout
them. In this county, at the beginning of the
war, strong opposition, then in power, made a
determined effort TO maintain their control ::
but, notwithstanding, men personally popular,
went before the people, asking their support,
they were rerudiated and defeated, and the
Onion party at once proved its self strong
majority. This result was not achieved with
out united aud continued effort, in which the
members Of the Union party We'd with each
other in battling the common foe. Both in
the campaign Of '63, for State and County
officers, and in the great national campaign
of GA, resulting in the election of onr mar
tyr President, Abraham Lincoln, the great
question of Country or no Country" was
fully discussed in the presence of the citizens
of Butte, who gave their decision at the polls :
"The Union must and shall be preserved. -
Nobly has this decision been maintained by
the loyal armies and people of the United
States-how nobly and bravely is attested by
the thousands of sad and desolate homes
throughout the land, the blood of whose mar.
tyred heroes and that of their immortal Com.
mander-in Chief will, let US hope and trust.
prove the seed of an iniestruetible Union,
founded upon the principles of human freedom
enunciated in the Declaration OF Independence
To the friends and patrons of the UNION
RECORD, We now bid cordial farewell. trust
ing they may believe our efforts to uphold the
right and advance their interests have been. at
least, earnest and impartial
JAMES WAGSTAFF.
BUTTE. We have thought proper, after
due reflection and consultation, and upon the
recommendation of various prominent business
citizens OF the county, to restore the word