Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-08-10
Stand to Your Principles.


There never has been time in the history
of our country. not even during the rebellion,
when it was more incumbent on Union men
to stand by their principles, than during this
campaign. 1t is trus, the rebels have been
conquered, their armies dispersed and their
bogus government completely demolished,
but the spirit which actuated them still ex-
lists, and they are endeavoring to transfer
the contest from the field to the ballot box.
During the war there were thousands of cop
perheads throughout the North, who SYM
pathized with them, and would have fought
under their banners, had not their d scretion
been greater than their valor. But now that
they can assist them peacefully with their
votes, they will do all in their power to re-
store to the chivalry that political supremacy
which the South has so long held in the
country. This election is but the precursor
of the presidential campaign, and gain now
will tell heavily against US next year. The
leaders of the Democracy are far seeing, willy
jesuistic; they believe that everything is fair
IN politics, and that the end justi6es the
means. Their object is to restore the party
to power, reestablish slavery in the South,
and the assumption by the Government, of
the confederate debt. Four years ago they
were ultra, vindictive and defiant; now they
are mild, conservative and concilatory.-
They say the war is over the rebellion has
been crushed, and we accept the situation.
Yet, with the guile of the serpent, are en-
deavoring to seduce Union men, who sustain
ed the administration of Lincoln during the
fearful struggle for the preservation of our
nationality, from their posts of duty, and
would have them vote for Democratic nomi-
nees. Is the war over is the Union restor-
ed: Not until the States that went out of
the Union are once more in their old places,
can it be SAID that peace prevails. Do the
Union men of California endorse the recon-
struction policy of Johnson: if so, they
would virtually re-establish slavery, for in
those States where mis- policy prevailed, laws
were at once enacted to re-enslave the negroes
freed by the Proclamation and the Constitu-
tional amendment. The 39th Congress
recommended another amendment to the
Constitution, which provides that the federal
debt shall be paid; that Confederate scrip
shall be repudiated; that the prominent
leaders of the rebellion shall be disqualified
from holding office; and that represen-
tation shall be based upon the voting
population unless citizens of all colors
are allowed the rights of franchise.
On this proposition our members of the next
legislature will be called upon to vote; the
Union nominees will all vote for its adoption,
the Democrats will vote against it. Will we
elect men from this county, who will vote
against measures which for the past six years
we have been sustaining and which have
cost the country so much blood and treasurer ;
Will we desert our principles before they
are firmly establisheds Will we go over to
the enemy after having met and defeated
them in the wager of battle? We trust the
Union men of Calaveras who have vested
from the Democrats political power in this
county, will not now tamely allow them to
resume the offices which for years they filled
with fre-eaters and Copperheads.
We hope that no Union man will allow
his prejudices, against any one candidate, to
carry him so far as to scratch a name on the
State or County ticket. You are, this year,
voting for principles. not men. In this age
Of progress and rapid changes, We cannot
tell what may come before the next legsla-
lures; our Senator is elected for four years,
our Members of Assembly for two; before the
expiration of their terms of Office. affairs of
great political moment may come before that
body, and only Union men, staunch and
true, should be allowed to control the des-
TIMES of California. We may find mo-
mentary satisfaction in scratching candidate
we do not like, but if he is thereby defeated
and Democratic elected in his place, we
may bitterly regret our folly for years. No,
let US stand by our principles, and those we
have nominated to express them, and not
| give up all we have gained after long and
bloody war, in order to indulge little per-
sonal spite or crafty passing passion.
In answer to letter of inquiry addressed
to him by 6. N. Swezy, Esq, of Marysville,
as to whether he had or intended to accept
the nomination for Governor at the hands of
the National Republicans. General Bidwell
replied, positively declining to be a cand-