Year: 1860

extract published by the Union;


There is to be "a meeting of all the Pacific
representatives so coon as Senator Latham
arrives, with a view to harmony of action in
the event the present Confederacy breaks up.
These gentlemen will favor an independent
Republic on the Pacific. aud hope to carry
with them Utah aud New Mexico. Sruor
Otero has already written his opinions to his
constituents, in which he urges that they at
tach themselves to the Pacific division should
a dissolution of the Union take place Sew
eral preliminary meetings have already been
held, in which Gen. 10 Lane and Governor
Stevens have taken part. ] doubt not Ore
gon. Washington ana California will be a
unit on this proposition


"These gentlemen" says the letter, "will
favor an Independent Republic on the Pa
cfic, in the event the present Confederacy
breaks up Will they, indeed2 They will
make no exertions, we suppose to prevent a
breaking up of the Confrderacy, but will
just stand back with their programme in
pocket for the establishment Of Pacific Re-
public, SO soon as tie crash, which they have
done nothing to delay, comes Marvellou:
patriots 1t would be an excellent thing fol
them, doubtless, to be the great men of an
upstart government upon these shores Will
the wisdom of such men at the bottom of the
experiment, what government would We
not have! 1t would live till it died, at least


We desire very briefly to give our views
about this question of Pacific Republic
Such a Republic, according to the notions Of
those who have it in hand, seems to depend
upon the contingency of breaking up of the
Confederacy What We think is this: When
al attempt is made to break up this Con-
federation, those who try it will be rebels
and traitors-so recognized by the laws and
rulings of all governments, since the begin
ming of social organizations Those who re-
bel may think that they are right, and that
they have justice on their side, but they have
no moral strength upon which to fall back,
but that which is derived from the ultimate
right of Revolution. If they fail, they will
be hung as traitors or in some other manner
treated assuch. If they succeed, why then
they have founded a new government and
entered upon a new experiment There will
in case of such an attempt, be a Government
party and Rebel party. Those who advo
cate Pacific Republic will belong to the
Rebel party, because, an attempt to esta blisf
Republic on this coast would necessarily be
a Withdrawal of the Pacific States and Terri
tories from the limit of the Federal authori-
ty, and such withdrawal is precisely the same
in effect, whether it be for the establishment
of Southern Government or Western Gov.
ernment The question is one of fidelity to
the Union or rebellion against it. For our
part we are with the Union, and we are for
its maintenance at all hazards, and if need be
at the expense Of blood We have more con
tidence in the great men who founded this
Union (forever honored be their memories y
than in the upstarts of this Coast who, with
their pigmy strength, would undertake the
task of an Atlas, sustaining a world upon his
shoulders. They are not equal to the bus;-
ness, and the sooner the people know it the
better. Joe Lane wants to 90 out "and
stand" Great God, what protector of new
and untried government Who would not
follow such leader2 Or rather who would ?


The time has arrived, when the true
strength of this Government is to be tested.
1t remains to be seen whether there is a
power in this organization to put down re-
bellion If each State of the Union and each
county ofa State, and each township of
county is to be at liberty to set up for itself
whenever 1t happens to feel like it, the fact
should be known at once and forever de
termined. If the theory of our boasted gov
ernment is such an absurdity as this, let us
know 1t now and be done with it. Let US at
once become ridiculous before the whole
world, and not postpone the conclusion of
the farce, by any unnecessary delay in the
shifting of the scenes


Either there is such a thing as treason a.
gainst the Federal Government, punishable as
treason should be, or we have no government
that is worth the name Peaceable secession
and peaceable treason are synonymous. Dis
gulse 1t under whatsoever title, secession or
notification or whatsoever you choose, and it
is treason still. Said Webster in his celebra-
ted reply to Hayne:


"To resist by force the execution of law.
generally, is treason. Can the Courts of the
United States take notice Of the indulgence
of State to commit treason The common
saying, that State eaunot commit treason,
herself, is nothing to the purpose Can she
authorize others to do it? Talk
about it as we will, these doctrines Tthose
eonceding the right of State to decide con-
stitntional questions for itself-ED) 90 the
length of revolution. Ifany thing be
found in the National Constitution. either by
original provision or subsequent interpreta-
ton, which ought not to be in it, the people
know how to get rid of it. If any construc-
ton unacceptable to them, be established, So
as to become practically part of the Con-
stitution they will amend it at their own
sovereign pleasure But while the people
choose to maintain it as it is, while they are
satisfied with it, who has given, or who can
give to the State Legislatures a right to alter
it, either by interference, construction or
otherwise Gentlemen do not seem to recol-
lect that the people have any power to do
anything for themselves. They imagine there
is no safety for them, any longer than they
are under the close guardianship Of State
legislatures. Sir, the people have not trusted
their safety in regard to the general Consti-
tution' to these hands. They have required
other security and taken other hnnds Thnr