The weekly Butte record., 1866-10-13

Hon. Cornelius Cole Senator elect from Califor-
MIA, now in the Eastern States writes to friend
In San Francisco as follows:
PHILADELPHIA, September 2, 1896
Dear Friend am here to look on at the Con-
vention OF loyal Sontherners, and if occasion re-
quires. to represent ia part my own State for it has
been announced in the kilograms TO the press that
among Others, have been designated by the State
Committee for that purpose.
Though you have no election in California this
season. doubt not you watching the progress
of political erents elsewhere with all the interest
demanded by their great magnitude. In these Al
lantie States the people find themselves reluctantly
forced into a contest of very peculiar character
1t is quite unlike any that has preceded it, There
ia less dissputation and more earnest feeling mani
fest than ever before observed in a political cam
paign In fact the nature Of the questions involved
will hardly admit of discussion because of the wide
and clearly defined difference in the views Of the
two parties. Fer example What chance is there
TOR argument upon the question to whether trail
tors shall be punished or rewarded especially when
the only punishment demanded is Temporary ex-
clnsion from Office until the loyal people can again
shape the policy OF orr distracted and war-torn
republic ? Or hos can men dispute over the ques-
ton as to whether treason shall be made odious
glorious; whether the patriotic portion Of the
people of the South shall be turned over to the
mereless crueltes of men who guilty OF tortnr-
ing their prisoners 10 death by thousands
The question IS by means one of Union or
disunion is alleged by the President and repeated
The Union has been preserved, the country has
been saved from dissolution, and the stars and
stripes feat over all the land from Canada to Mex
ico and from the Atlantic TO the Pacific. Bat the
question is rather, il to Shall those who
saved the Union those who failed to destroy it,
shape its destiny Does maGnanimty require Of US
that we should surrender the fruits of our costly
victory into the hands of the depressed but still
vindctire enemies of the Government? Shall We,
by hastily accepting them as States and again ced-
ing all power therein to the barbarous pupils of
slavery. give an unrestricted license to the dsper
sed graybackS to murder and destroy the citizen
soldiers who wore the blue? Shall We in peace
falsely TO our friends the solemn promises made TO
them in our extremity?
These are some of the questions before the conn
try but not all: others akin TO them are embodied
in the pending constitutional amendment and are
likewise Of the utmost Importance. Cpon one side
OF these questions stand threeforuths of Congress
all Union men of the South and, as near as | can
judge, an overwheling majority OF the persons who
upheld Lincolns Administration, including net a
few War Democrats; on the other side are arranged
the late rebels and Secessionists to a man, the
Peace Democrats, including all such in Congress
the President and so MANY Union men as can be
controlled by officers and The hone of office but
not including all in Office, though the work of
making them unanimous by removing the faithful
Is being prosecuted with zeal. Such is the aspect
OF the controversy IS deducibe from long series
of events, conspicuous among which are the
speeches and sayings of the President himself.
The strife is rendered the more exciting because
OF the unexpected ana unaccountabie course OF
johnson. who has made himself the leader of the
opposition. And here is a subject of marvel. He
was elected Vice President by certain party and.
10 use mild form of expression, became President
IN consequence OF great crime In the short space
which has elapsed since that event he is found in
strict political accord with his late opponents and
in direct antagonism with nearly all the persons
who voted for him. He was elected in opposition
TO rebellion and upon platform which called for
the punishment OF treason, but there is not trail
tor in the land Grcm Jef. Davis to the lowest who
does not now rely upon him for protection. He
was expected to shield and protect loyal people
and particularly those Of the South, as in his ele-
waited position he could do with word, he leaves
them exposed TO the unnumbered cruelties of their
secession neighhors, and actually. | will not say
purposely, encourages their destruction, which is
being accomplished AT truly horrible rate He has
been in no sense driven 10 this course, but has
chosen it against the gentle and persuasive aud
earnest and hopeful protest of his former friends.
and even against an overwhelming majority in
Congress which has treated him with all the
respect due his high office. | am fully aware that
he often complains in the most public manner of a
want Of courtesy on the part of Congress toward
him. but Congress is not responsible tor the utter
ance of two or three individuals, and the record
VIII verify the fact Congress As coordinate and
not subordinate branch of the Government has
never shown him indgnity. and in this it is clear
they have some advantage over his Excellencv.
But this Is NO idle controversy; no mere war of
senseess words. regard the sacce>s Of the pend
ing constitutional amendments OF the utmost
conceivable Importance. The day of their defeat
which heaven avert. vii prove to be the saddest
in all our history Without them verify believe
the fruits of the war. like the Dead Sea apple, will
be turned into ashes. | behooves every man to
carefully investigate and determine for himself
whether Andrew Johnson. who at different times
in the last two or three years has Endorsed every
proposition embodied in them, or whether he is
right now in repudiatng them.
But the world moves The long suffering
Union men of the South coming together and
much good is expected to flow from their meeting.
They have literally come up through great tribula
ton, and Will be PERMITTED to enjoy here what is
denied them at home-freedom of speech and of
Thought. They remiued one OF the men who as
semhled in this place ninety years ago. They are
IN Ike manner earnest intelligent and concsien-
siouS. Call them not 'mean whites; onr fathers
were likewise asperSed. Among them are Jeaer-
sens and HeHryS. and MadiSons and WaShngtons
and their contest is also for freedom and the rghte
Of humanity. They may suffer repulSon and all
manner Of Encouragement bur they viii not yield;
they viii triumph. C. COLE