Year: 1861

| than party call, party organization ana ii
/ party name. We confess that their action
has caused US surprise and regret We had
hoped that the spirit in which the Fourth Of
July Union Convention was called, the desire
of our committee to bury all old party plat
forms, for the sake Of the one great cause Of
maintaining intact the Union of the States
under all circumstances, and under not only
this but all future administrations would be
met by like spirit by all the sincere Union
men Of the State-incuding Republican par
ty leaders. We were then and still are un-
willing to believe that any considerable por-
ton of the Republican party were prompted
by the pride Of victory when they united
with others in public demonstrations Of pat
rotic devotion to the country. We knew
well enough that some virulcnt partizans
would advocate the prescribing of all men as
unsound who did not vote for Lincoln and
lIamln. Such men know nothing but slave
ry to party. We hoped however that they
would be unable to control the organization





meeting Of their State Central Committee
been possible no such call as the above could
ever have been issued Those members of
the committee who have been at the East
and have seen the obliteration of party lines
there, and the merging of all old organiza-
tions in the two armies of Union and Disun-
ion, would not, we feel certain, ever have
counseelled the course pursued by those
members who have taken upon themselves
the responsibility of calling a State Conven-
ton in opposition to the grand Union Con-
vention of all parties which has already been
called. And yet, perhaps it is better for the
cause that matters should stand as they do.
There is an element in the Republican party
in this, as well as in every other State, with
which ailliliation by National Union men
would have been difficult, ifnot impractcable
1t cannot be denied by any candid Republic
can that there arc many ultra men in that
organization, who now cry aloud for main
tanning the Federal authority, who would be
very differently disposed were the position of
affairs reversed. We know of men in the
Republican party who could be better relied
upon to fight under the Americon Flag
against South Carolina than they could
against Northern State, should one be draw
by fanatical leaders, into a rebellion. There
are Republicans here who say as Horace
Greeley did some months ago, that sepera-
tion of the States is inevitable. They declare
that every slave State will yet follow South
Carolina, and are at the same time applaud
ing the Government for resorting to arms to
oppose the action Of those States. There are
some who desire that the present troubles
shall not cease while any slave State is in the
Union. With this sort of men, the true
friends of the country really have nothing in
common. They are a convenience, because
they oppose rebellion while their enemies are
the rebels, Were they, themselves, the rev
olutionsts, the secessionists in the South
would be sa valuable allies of Union men.
Their aid is not to be desEised, but the motives
which prompt it are as far from patriotism as
is darkness from the light. In California
where the Union sentiment is so powerful, il
may be as well that the good work of crush
inc out the enemies of the Government should
be done withaut the aid of such conditional
Union men-men who are for the Union only
because its well-being is in the keeping of
party with which they voted. We do not
say that all who favor an adherence to
the Republican party organization are
of the class we have described.


There are many politicians who foolishly
think their chances for position will be better
with three tickets in the field. They could
not have monopolized the entire State ticket
in a Union Convention, whereas, under the
"close communion" policy they can at least
have the felicity of seeing their names printed
on tickets, whether they receive ten or
twenty thousand votes Then these politi-
clans have staunch party friends, who con-
ceive it to be their duty to support none but
Republicans for office, if a Republican ticket
is in the field, These counselled an ignoring
ofparty, and preferred to see the contest
single.handed one between the friends of the
Government and its enemies. But they
were overruled and will cling to the Repub-
lican name, the Chicago platform, and the
straight nominations, though such action
should result in perpetuating the rule of the
friends of jeff Davis in this free and loyal
State. But there are thousands of men who
voted for Lincoln solely because they thought
that the surest way of ridding the nation of
Cotton State rule, who have no regard for
party lines in this crisis They see but one
convention call which they can respond to-
and that is the one which sets up no particu-
lar administration" to be worshipped, but
which invites all who love the Union, and
who will stand by it foreoer, at whatever
cost and against whatever foes to meet and
unite upon good and true men, for the pur-
pose of showing that California is Union
State Let some future election determine
whether the Chicago platform embodies the
views of a majority in the State. Let the
"non.intervention' policy pursued 10y the
Administration and the Congress at the last
session, in the organization of Nevada, Daco
tah and Colorado territories, be tried mean
while. The President Of the United States
wants his proclamations for volunteers re-
sponded to by others than those who believe