Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-07-20
The Spirit of Democracy.


which is impeding the advance of the car of
progress. and by all the means in its power
is obstructing the final settlement of those
questions which they waged war upon the
Government to determine. Six years ago
the Democratic lave-holding aristocracy of
the South, and their allies, the Copperhesds
OF the North, beaten by the ballot, appealed
to the higher court of the bayonet. Its de-
cision was also adverse to their cause. De-
feated, humiliated, and crest-fallen, they
were compelled to lay down their arms and
sue for peace at the hands of those whose
courage they had :mpugned. and whose mo-
tives they had ridiculed. For the chivalry
OF the South, naughty, arrogant, brave, and
hospitable by nature, educated in the belief
that slavery was a divine institution and
laboring under the misapprehension that their
rights were about to be invaded. those who
having thrown down the gauntlet cheerfully
sacrificed their lives and fortunes in defense
of cause which they thought to be right
eous, there may be some extenuaton but
the cowardly Copperheads of the North-the
Democracy of to- day-who secretly incited
rebellion, and when the fratricidal strife
which their Vaccinations had kindled burst
forth into the blaze of war, shrank basely
back into their holes, leaving their Southern
brethren to their fate, are deserving of moth
ing but scorn and contempt. Not possessing
the courage and manliness to face the storm
which they had been chiefly instrumental in
raising, like cloud of vultures lowering over
the track of beaten army, these mercenaries
distracted the attention of the Government,
by keeping up "fre in the rear" while their
masters struck boldly at the very foundation
of our free institutions. At the door of the
Democratic party is clearly chargable the in
auguration of the rebellion and its disastrous
consequences; but the Northern Copperheads
are responsible for its extended continuance
and the non-settlement of the questions in
volved in the contest. Democrats now at
tempt to divest themselves of the stigma by
saying that "the rank and file of the South
ern armies were composed of all political
parties" True, perhaps; but the frank and
tile" are not the ones who lnaugurated rebel
lion. Representatives in Congress from the
Southern States, elected by Democratic votes
and protesting Democratic principles, volun-
tarily withdrew from that body, returned to
their homes, and assisted by State officials
placed in power by the same party, expo
nents of Democratic doctrines, passed fraud
ulent Acts of secession, fired the Southern
heart" and threw wide open the doors of the
Temple of Janus. Taking good care not to
expose their precious lives, the Northern
portion of the party, by aiding and abetting
the traitors in arms as openly as their cow
ardly natures would permit, prolonged the
contest several years beyond what it would
otherwise have been. Not only this, but
whenl the rebels laid down their arms and
announced their willingness to accept any
terms which the victors might propose, lead
ing Democrats, including the recreant john
son. advised and urged them to oppose the
reconstruction measures of Congress, prom
isinS them every assistance in their power.
In consequence the rehabilitation of the Sc
ceded States has been stayed, the Amend
ments to the Constitution abolishing slavery
have not been ratified by the requisite num-
ber of States and none of the objects for
which Union men fought, except the disarm-
ing of the rebels, have been gained.
The spirit of Democracy is as bitterly hos
tile to the Government to-day as it has been
during the past six years. The principal
plank in the platform adopted by the party
in this State is, Opposition to reconstruc-
ton : the party press breathes it and their
speakers announce it from the stump. En-
couraged by the action of Johnson and his
satellites, they refuse to accept the decision
of the wager of battle which they invoked,
and they are exerting themselves to the ut
most to again assume control of the rens of
Government. True to their benighted in
stinets, cropping about amid the dead issues
of the past, they make no secret of what line
of policy will be pursued if they are success
full. Do Union men wish to see the ballot
placed within the reach of those whose hands
are still dripping with the blood of their
friends and relatives, and who are constantly
breathing vengeance against the Government
whose mistaken magnanimity permits them
to live: Shall the chains of slavery be again
riveted around the necks of four millions of
freedmen Shall the star of liberty which
has arisen in the West, cheering the hearts
and Strengthening the hands of the oppressed
of all nations, bearing the inscription, "All
men are created free and equal" be again
eclipsed by the dark shadow of African slav-
cry! Shall the crack of the bloody lash Of
tho man-driver's whip and the baying of the
bloodhound be again heard and the auction.
block, drenched with the tears of separated
husbands and wives once more be seen in
: our midst From the sterile hills of Maine,
rolling along the Atlantic sea board, gather
ing volume as advances. echoed back in
laundering tones from the broad plains of the
great West, mingling with fervid response
from the golden shores of the Pacific, comes
7 up mighty shout of ..No" Union men.
remain stcadfast. and on the 4th of Septem-
Der next the corpse of Democracy, inclosed
in its coffin of false principles, enshrouded in
the eerements of dead issues, unwept and
unhonored. will be buried so deep in the
D grave of political oblivion that 1t can never
s be resurrected.
NATIONAL ..REvIsoRs, or 6ftv