The Shasta courier., 1866-03-03
SHASTA COURIER.
Let us Choose Promptly.

Let US Choose Promptly.
The present Congress of the Uuited States
has never had its equal on this continent
but once, and that was in the Congress of
l776, which put forward the Declaration of
independence as new political code. We
may liken it to that English Parliament
which SO energetically resisted the assump.
tions of Charles I, and created whatever of
liberty there is to day in the English Con.
stitution. Our Congress is free from malice
and vindictive feeling. 1t looks only to the
success of such measures, through legitimate
means, as will secure to the American people
the great objects which have been for the mo.
ment won from rebellion, slavery, and aris
tocracy, by war. Over two thirds of each
House are agreed that this can only be ac-
complished by and through certain amend
ments to the Constitution, making uniform
and by general and uniform rule regulat-
ing representation on the other. No power
is usurped in this proposition, no ground left
ness to the South. All that is demanded is
that certain caste of freemen shall by law
be protected in their rights to life, liberty
make them voters. But if the Statesl to
whom this question of the election franchise
is surrendered. choose to disfranchise them,
then the second proposition deprives the
States so doing of representation in Congress
and in the college Of Presidential electors.
for all classes so disfranchised. We say
these propositions are fair and just to the
South and the North they are supported by
thnv, kvrn ID SC IL e
gress, they will soon be submitted for ratif
cation, as amendments to the Constitution,
to the State Legislatures now in session !;
pends, not only the fate of the Union party,
but the future destiny of the country.
five are true to the brave men of Con-
utive usurpation, the opposition of the Pres
ident will sink into utter insignifcance.-
Congress will continue for all time to be, as
was designed by the trainers of the Consti.
tuition, the law unto this Nation. But if
the State Legislatures fail in their duty, no
future event is surer than that the Union
party will crumble into contemplate frag.
ments. and that the Copperheads and late
Secessionists will, with the President at their
head, form a political alliance that Will
sweep the land. We do not accuse the Pres.
ident of being either Copperhead or Sc
cessionist but when the solemn lessons of
history admonish us that the principle of
rulers change with the character of their
surroundings and counsellors. We cannot
forget that John Tyler, the idol of the
Wings in 1910, was Democratic leader in
1871. He possibly did not dream of the ex-
tremes to which bad company would lead
him, but once in their company and separ-
ated from his old party, he found resistance
impossible. 1t is not at all likely to fare any
better with President johnson, who has
clearly set his Office up against Congress and
the loyal majority of the country Already
his hackers begin to talk of a coming change
in the Cabinet, the Herald leading off and
indicating such men as Guthrie, of Ken
lucky, Reverdy johnson, of Marylond, and
Dean Richmond, of New York, to fill the
places of Stanton, Speed and MeCuloch.- =
Other reports assign John Minor Bolts.
John Van Buren,, the recreant Doolittle.
Governor Parsons, of Mississippi Holden of
North Carolina, Raymond of New York. and
Maynard, of Tennessee, to Cabinet posts in
the anticipated change.
These may be only rumors without foun-
dation in fact; but the prophesy coming
from the Presidents supporters, shows that
his friends are dissatisfied with the present
loyal Cabinet, and seek to build up for him
new party that will consolidate the late
rebels and Copperheads and make war upon
those who have saved the Nation from de-
struction. If the loyalists would save them.
selves and secure the future they must act
promptly; must take sides with Congress
and smash the head of this new political
serpent before its folds are wound around
them Politics is merely war without bay
onets and cannon. Each is alike inexorable,
and in politics as in war, whole campaign
is often decided by the moral effects of sin
gle battle. The battle which Congress must
win now, is the success of the proposed
amendments to the Constitution. Give us
that much and the opposition is foored for
ever If we lose, chaos will have come
again. Cannot the California Legislature
stiffen the back bone of our Congressional
delegation. Independent.
FAST YOUNG LADIEs.-The New York
Home Journal says the divorce court has
shown US the social end of several fast
young ladies. They begin their career by
being very jolly, rolicking girls. amusing
enough. no doubt, as long as they are young
and irresponsible; but their brothers come
nome IrOm COlicSc, ouu tucy emulaIe Lnelr
swaggcr and their slang, They affect taste
for 1nwomanly things, and soon acquire
real love of excitement, unknown to respecta-
BILE ladies, thirty years ago. I have heard
of girls smoking cigarettes and carrying bet
ting books. The surroundings of ali this
sort of thing need no comment. If the girl
marries sensible man, he will at once put
an end to everything of the kind; if he is a
fool. he permits it-and reaps the conse
quences.
As the husband is, the wife is thou art mated
with clown,
And the grossness of his nature will have weight
to drag thee down.
But the misery does not end in the nine
days scandal the real sufferers, at least
the only sufferers worthy of pity, are the
children who, in later life. blush to hear
their mothers name, and. if daughters, they
themselves never quite escape the shadow Of
the family disgrace.
A LADY. describing an ill-tempered man,
says: