Year: 1862

contains recommendations which we hope 10
see acted upon with unanimity by the Union
Democracy:


4 copy of the proceedings and resolutions
Of the caucus composed of . Union members
of the legislature presided over By yourself,
was received by me yesterday. 1t is not my
province to criticise the actions of those hon
orable gentlemen, for whom | have a high
regard believing them, as loyal citizens, to be
acting from the best of motives. have read
the resolutions with great care, and while /
cordially endorse every Union sentiment con-
tained in them-for 20 man can be q Democrat
who is not for the Union and against this most
unholy and wicked rebelon-yet l have no
disposition, even if had the power, (which |
have not as Chairman of the Union Demo.
cratic State Central Committee of California,
to abaudon the organization, or through it to
construct new party.


As no good reason has been advanced in
favor of such step because no man would be
ex;ravagant enough 10 say it was necessary to
do so in order to keep the State out OF the
control of the Secession element No sound
can awake them to glory again To day.
either the Democratic or Republican party
could outvote them three to one in this State
1t is true, that at the last State election, the
Hon. John R. Mcconnell received large
vote but who does not know that hundreds Of
as true and loyal men as there were in Califor.
MA voted for him, believing him to be true to
the Union and Constitution of our country
and the most available man to defeat the Re
publican nominee. Hence the cry by certain
politicians of " Union men to the rescue" comes
many months too late We have long since
passed the crisis, and those who short time
ago were doubtful as to the result of this IN.
fortunate contest, now concede that this huge
mob will be dispersed and We will soon, thro'
the generalship of such noble spirits as McClel-
Ian ard Haeck, be a united and happy people.
And while these great men, both belonging to
the Democratic party. are leading to battle
two the most powerful and effective armies the
world ever saw. and while more than half of
those under their command are also Democrats.
ready to pour out their life blood at any mo-
ment in the defense and perpetuatoa of onr
glorious Union, let US not forget our duty in
the meantime While our fathers brothers and
sons are making every sacrifice that the mind
of man can conceive, in order again TO plant
the old Flag upon every fort and every inch Of
soil that is American-hghtiDg not to make
a neic Union but TO perpetuate the old in all
its grandeur and power, it seems to me, that
as little as we can do is TO sympathize with
and pray for them during their absence, and so
conduct ourselves that when they return again
to their homes they may see that we have
faithfully maintained the honor, dignity and
strength of the Old Democratic party they
loved so long and fondly, and which party
alone they feel has the elements and power to
administer the Government in such a manner
as to secure the confidence of our people al
home and the respect of nations abroad. Let
us, therefore, who are Democrats, do DO act
from which, when they shall return they shall
feel that while they were upon the field of bat
tie. in hand TO hand struggle against the
enemies of our country we. at home, were en-
gagged in a political peculation-swapping
away their old party under whose rule we have
become the greatest nation Of the earth, and
whose history runs almost to the moment of
the formation of this Government, for new
one. through which we, at best may only be
enabled to derive a temporary political ad-
vancement.


Thus far have assumed that your action
would lead TO the formation OF a new party
but am far from concluding such to be the
case On the contrary, the direct result would
be. if your policy were successful, to dissolve
the Democratic organization, and carry US into
the Republican fold. We could never assent
thus TO place our party in jeopardy by listen
ing for moment to either proposition. There
are hundred good reasons why we should not,
the most cogent of which is that when peace
is restored, the people of this Government will
as inStinctvely look to the Democratic party
to guide and control Us, as would mariner
after a frightful storm, turn his eyes to the
compass to direct his course. With the tenn
porary dismemberment of the Democracy came
national troubles and civil war, but thank
God they viii soon be ended, and the
nation and the Democracy be restored to
their original strength and purity. The argu-
ment that the Democratic party is forever
gone and destroyed, because there were bad
men holding leading positions in it amounts to
nothing. You may just as well say because
the traitors Davis, Floyd, Toombs, Beaure-
gard and Wigfall held prominent and high po-
sitions in the Government, that it is impossible
for this nation ever again to occupy its former
position.


If there are bad men and traitors in the
Government, stand by it and drive them out.