The Placer herald., 1870-02-26
LETTER FROM BLUE CANYON,
BLUE CANYON, Feb. IS, 1870,

| lehN' ~ ~ liiLL-Co" b0.
Your kind letter of the 18th was received
but yesterday and its contents duly noted.
That portion Of my letter published in the
Placer HERALD to which you take excep-
tons, is certainly predicated on facts and
can be substantated by little labor. You
agree with me that the war was prosecuted
| for the object Of maintaining the integrity
Of The government and enforcing obedience
to the law. If that was the object of the
war; it cannot be said that that object is ac-
complished till all the States are reclaimed
and restored to their proper and former re-
lations which they had prior to the tempor-
ary dismemberment of the Union. Can it
be said this is the case9 l presume that
you will not hazard your reputation as a
posted man by an affirmative answer. am
not insensble of the fact that the Radicals
affected a great aversion TO speaking of the
war, yet in all cases where their political in
terest are concerned, as an expiation for
their unconstitutional dealings with the
Southern people. they, without any besitau-
war. They say the Freedmau's Bureau is
right, it is consequence of the war. The
military governments are right-they are
consequences of the war; freeing govern
ment bonds from taxation is right, they are
consequences of the war; the fifteenth
amendment is right, it is a consequence Of
the war; admitting negroes to seats as Rep
reseutatvas 10 State Legislatures is right,
because it is a consequence of the war;-in
fact everything is right that pertains to the
advancement of their party, and to personal
aggrandsement. But have said that the
Government has failed of the purpose for
which it was created, aud you say, that sen
tment is rtdolept with secession; let us now
examine the facts. Did not all the States
reserve the right to make and legislate laws
affecting their domestic interests? Did they
not reserve the right to elect their own ex-
ecutive and Judicial oflicers9 Did they not
enter into the original compact with an
expressed guarantee of an equal taxation Of
all property! Were they not assured that
the military should be subordinate to the
civil authority? Undoubtedly, all these
things we're guarantees and reservations, and
it is equally true that they are now partially
denied, and in some cases entirely abroga.
ted. But again. the period is not remote
when Territory, having requisite number
Of population, were permitted to frame
Constitution, and if not conflicting with
the Federal Constitution were admitted into
the ssterhood Of States. State Constitu-
tions are now framed in the halls of Con-
gress. without consulting the interests or
wishes Of the people Of those States. This,
| presume is another consequence of the war,
and is discussing a defunct ISSUE These
principles, sir are foreign to the written
Constitution, and if the people could have
an impartial hearing by the ballot, they nev.
er could be adopted. 10 view Of the facts
have just stated, do not hesitate to reter-
ate the expression made in my letter, in
dispute that the Go sernment has failed Of
the original design, and We are now living
under new and a different system. The
people Of France changed their Government
alternately from Republic to a Monarchy,
and vice versa, but always by the people.
Ours is changed by the servants of the peo.
pie. Napoleon the III was elevated to the
head Of Government by d majority Of 8,OOO,.
900, and could incur but little danger Of
the peoples wrath by making even some
changes Of importance while our Ruling
Powers, elected by lass than one half of
million now presume 10 change our system.
They have abridged the rights Of States set
aside the decisions Of the Supreme Court
and obterated State lines; beautiful poll
cy indeed to be pursued by ruling minor
ity. You say the object of the great Rebel.
lion was was TO change or destroy the Gov.
ernmeni; without denying the fact | will
simply ask you has not the policy OF Con-
gress the same tendency. True, We caused
Lee, Hill, Beauragard, Longstreet and Bragg
to sheath their swords, but the pen Of Butler,
Sumner, Wilson and Stewart are doing
what the sword failed to do and, all their
wrongs, in less than one score Of years can
be traced in bloody characters. No power
except that which resurrectsd Lazarus from
the tomb can avert the direful consequences
that will ultimately flow from the policy of
these men. | agree that we are in an age
of progression aud the policy and necessity
OF extending our boundary, some Amend
ments and alterations in the fundamental
law are expedent and right, but not such as
to change our system or affect the liberties
of the people, or sacrifice the interest of
one section of the country to the advance
ment of the other section, but these changes
should always be made with great caution
and with an eye single to the interests Of all
the States, collectively and separately, but
in the present case this was not done. 1t
is iu fact flank movement cutting of the
supplies of one section and giving a redund.
ancy 10 another; an attemp, to perpeluaie