Year: 1863




peculiar significance TO our people as PROPOSE


tiops have been advocated by leading states


men Of the Republican party to dismember


California BY creating two pew States within
her limits: q measure which would add TO the
burdens Of our lax ridden citizens, without any
corresponding benefits.


Finally, the President of the United States,
by bis emancipation proclamation, has attempt
| ed TO interfere with an Institution exclusively
under the control of the individual States, and
has thus erected an almost impossible barrier
to the reconstruction of the Union. By his
plan of compensated emancipation the
President and his party propose to tax the
laboriDg white man in order to purchase the
freedom of the negro race. and place their Ia
Dor in competition with that Of the white citi-
zens Of the North, thus taxed We cannot
| hatter ourselves that California, if her people
acquiesce in, and by their votes at the ensuing
election approve these outrages, will escape
| from the thraldom which exists in many of our
sister States of the Atlantic. Our duty as
American citizens, regard for our freedom, ard
the sacred obligation incumbent on US to be-
queath to our children the free institutions un-
der which we have so far eminently prospered
admonsh rs to register at the polls our earnest
protest against these tyrannical and most un
warraDtable usurpations of power.


Within the last two years more than two
thousand millions of dollars have been expend-
ed, and upwards of two hundred thousand of
our citizen soldiers have perished on the bat
tie fields or in military hospitals. 1t is no ex-
travagant assertion that more than half of this
been sacrificed through the imbecility and cor
ruplon OF the Administration at Washington,
and its subordinate officers. Reports of con-
gressiona committees. at an early period Of
the war, disclosed the notifying fact, that
partizans of the Government were rewarded
with contracts for army and naval supplies
which, resulting in vast fortunes for the con
tractors, have defrauded the public treasury,
and entaed calamity and dishonor on the ma
tonal arms. 1t is significant fact. ilustra-
tive of the im5eciity which has characterized
tie action of the Federal Government, that
six military cheftains have successively CON-
manded the great Army of the Potomac in a
period of less than twentyfou months, and
that while repeated misfortunes have befallen
the Union forces, only one of these chieftains
has been subjected to the ordeal OF a court.
Indeed, information Of military movements has
been studiously suppressed, and truth itself
when published has been prescribed as treason
To such an extent has corruption prevailed in
the ranks of the Administration, that Re
Psblican Congress, in order to shield from ex
posure and punishment official delinquents, en-
acted, and the President approved, an Act to
suspend in certain instances the penal laws for
the prosecution of public officers. Al the same
session Senator of the United States, from
the State of Rhode Island, was proven TO have
been guilty Of the grave offense of receiving
brbe to use his official influence in procuring
the purchase. by the Government of arms for
our troops; yet the Senator went unpublished.
and a venal press, which supports the Admin
istration, CLOSED over the crime without re
buke, and almost without word of comment.
To such an extent does corruption exist in the
highest political circles Of the Capitol, and so
notorious had become the fact, that Repub-
lican House of Representatives was constrained
by the pressure of public opinion to censure,
for nafeasance in Office, the late Secretary of
War: yet the President of the United States,
with the advice and consent Of the Senate, ap-
pointed this unworthy minister and dishonored
man Ambassador at the court Of the Russian
empire.


All these accumulated evidences Of alarming
national degradation should claim the serious
consideration Of every true citizen Of the Re-
public and of all who seek to save their coun>
try from certain destruction. Let US labor
then for a return to national justice, for a
strict adherence to national honesty, and let Us
solemnly resolve to accord to all our people
and to all the States their sacred and inalien-
able rights This will be the first advance to-
wards opening the way for an honorable peace
for the lasting reunion of our beloved country,
and for the final adjustment OF all the difficult
ties That have divided the Republic.


The Democratic State Convention, which
assembled at Sacramento city on the 6th of
the present month, adopted and published TO
the world the following resolutions. They
constitute the basis of the Democratic organ-
zation in this State. They enunciate, in plain
aud uuequivocal language, principles which
meet my entire appreciation. If elected shall
feel myself bound, by every consideration of
honor and duty, to respect and maintain them


Resolred, That the Democracy of the State OF
California are in favor of an unaterable adherence
to the Constitution of the United States, with all
its guarantees of civil liberty uninpaired.