Year: 1861

| am in receipt of your letter of the 3Oth of
Sept, in which you call my attention to cer-
tain rumors in tie public prints to the effect,
that am "endeavoring to bring abou n re
Cancellation among the leaders of the two
Democratic wings" You desire me to "en-
tighten my friends as to my position" and to
say whether or not there is any foundation
for such a statement; and whether or not you
would advise your old Democratic friends to
associate themselves politically upon any
terms whatever, with those who were active
and leading supporters of John X. Mcconnell
at the last election"


| confess that your letter and enquiries sur
prise me very much. | cannot conceive how
any man who pays attention to public aft'irs,
can fail to understand my position in regard
to parties, or in regard to the question to
which these matters directly refer, that OF
feaity to the Government.


Those Statements" are made 10y uniform,
ed, or idle persons, for sensation purposes; or
for the meaner purpose Of iriuring me. Were
Iuot convinced of your friendship for myself,
rs well as of your devotion to the cause Of
Union, | woull not respond to the interroga'
tions made. But lest my silence on the sub
ject now, should mislead any one, will frank
ly tell you how | stand. If every man in
California were against the Union, and
against using the power of the Government

to preserve itself, would be for BOTH against
the people and | would seek some other
place of abode. My opinions do not grow
out of the influence of my neighbors, but are
the result Of my love of country and my es-
innate of its value.


have not associated and will not, know
ingly associate myself with men who are Sc
cessionists, disunionist, or traitors; nor will
advise others to do so Treason is as foul Il
crime now, as it was in the time of Benedict
Arnold; and West Point was not worth more
then, than Manassas is now. Any opposition
to our present nationality is treasonable,
pending war; and ought to Lc punished 10y
banishmcnt from the State, or incarceration n
in prison, Upon the terms of Union, can
have political association, and upon none
other. l care not whether my associates come
from one party or another, so long as they
are true upon the one vital point. No party
can now be useful except to the extent to
which they contribute to this great cause
To the Democratic party as Buchanan made
it, | am opposed. To the Democratic party as
Douglas would redeem it, | ain firmly at
tached and devoted; but my attachment and
devotion to it goes no further than the extent
to which it can be made useful to the univer-
sal cause of civil liberty. You will perceive
that with me the U MON is above party. 1t
is crime now, TO raise party above country;
or to consider personal interests, pending the
greatest danger to all we have, as people,
that is worth preserving That there are
partizans base enough to do so we know
Many of them show more talent for getting
office, than patriotism or taste for war, but
these things will be, no matter how much
you and may regret them.


Attempts to make political parties by spe-
cifc agreements, and division Of spoils, will
always fail; and are only made by narrow
and bad men. Parties must grow out of cur
rent necessities and great causes as well as
continue to serve them, or they cannot con-
tiuue to exist.


To conclude-however others may bel
have but one desire, which is, that this Gov.
ernment may be more firmly established in
the fear and love of our peoplr; that its pros
perity may be continued; and that it may be
securely Transmitted to those who are to sue,
ceed us.


l remain, truly, your friend,


JoHN CoNTEss.