Year: 1863

morllIylug lact, tnat parVlZanS OF the government
were rewarded with contracts for army and naval
supplies which, resulting in vast fortunes for the
| contractors, have deirauded the public treasury
and entailed calamity and dishonor on the national
arms. 1t is significant fact, illustrative of the
lmbecillty which has characterized the action of
the federal government, that six military chief
tains have successfully commanded the great
army of the Potomac in period of less than
twentyfour months, and that while repeated mis-
tunes have befallen the Union forces only one of
these cheftains has been subjected to the ordeal
of court Indeed, information of military move
ments has been studiously suppressed, and truth
itself when published has been prescribed as trea-
! son. 10 such an extent has corruption prevailed
in the ranks OF the administration, that Repub-
lican Congress, in order to shield from exposure
and punishment official delinquents, enacted, and
the President approved, an Act to suspend in Ger
tain instances the penal laws for the prosecution
of public officers. At the same session Senator
Of the United States, from the State of Rhode Is
land was proven to have been guilty of the grave
offence of receiving brbe to use his official
influence in procuring the purchase by the govern
ment, of arms for our troops; yet the Senator
went unpunished, and a vcnal press which sup
ports the administration. CLOSED over the crime
without rebuke, and almost without a word of
comment. To such an extent does corruption ex-
ist in the highest political circles of the capitol
and so notorious had become the fact, that a re-
publican House of Representatives was constrain-
ed by the pressure Of public opinion to censure,
for maltesanse in Office, the late Secretary of War
yet the President Of the United States, with the
advice and consent of the Senate, appointed this
unworthy minister and dishonored man Ambassl-
dor 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 republic
and of all who seek to save their country from
certain destruction. Let US labor then for re-
turn of national justice, for strict adherence to
national honesty, and let us solcmnly resolve to
accord to all our people and to all the States
their sacred aud inalienable rights. This will be
the first advance towards opening the way for an
honorable peace for the aStng reunion of our be-
loved country and for the final adjustment Of all
the difficulties that have divided the republic.


The ID Democratic State convention, which as
sembled at Sacramento City on the Sth of the
present month, adopted and published the follow
ing resolutions. They enunciate in plain and un-
cquivocal language, principles which meet my
entire appreciation. II elected shall feel myself
bound, by every consideration of honor and duty,
to respect and maintain them


Resolued That the Democracy of the State of
California are in favor of an unaterabe adher-
ence to the Constitution of the United States,
with all its guarantees of civil liberty unim-
paired.


ResOlued, That we are in favor of the restora-
ton and preservation of the whole American
Union; that recognize to the fullest extent
the right and duty OF the Government to resist
by every Constitutional mode rebellion or insur-
recton against its lawful supremacy; but we re-
cognize that right solely for the purpose OF restor
ing its constitutional authority, and for no other
purpose whatsoever.


Resolved, That it is the duty of the State of
California. rs a member of the Union, to yield
obedience TO all constitutional acts Of Congress
and the Federal Executive, and that any indivi
dual of any party, who shall endeavOr to incite
inSu Or rpbplliOu within her bOrlprS n
dsafection and discord among her people, is IL
traitor to her best interests.


Resolved That the aim and object of the Demo-
cratic party is to preserve the Federal Union and
the rights of the several States unmpaired; and
they hereby declare that they do not consider the
dangerous powers not granted by the Constitu-
tion-the subyersiOn of the civil by the military
law in States not in insurrection or rebellion
the arbitrary military arrest, Imprisonment, trial
and sentence of American citizens in such States
where civil law exists in full reign-the suppress
sion of freedom of speech and of the press-th the
open and avowed disregard of State rights the
fanatical attempt TO place the negro on a social
and political equality with the white race-and
the employment of unusual test oaths-as calcu
lated to preserve or restore union of the several
States OF perpetuate government deriving its
Just powers from the consent of the governed"


ResolUcd, That we are opposed to all secret
political organizations and societies, us danger
GUS to the liberties of the people and destructive
to our republican form of Government.


Resolved, That we claim and demand as inal-
ienable rights, freedom of thought, freedom of
speech, and of the press and further declare that
government agents should at all times be held to
II strict accountability to the people, and that all
errors of such agents should be liable to full and
free discussion for the purpose OF correction by
the ballot-boX.


Resolved. That we denounce and unquainedly
nou ha Nno npip tion PrOcl, n, ,tjon nj fha
President Of the United States as tending it to
protract indefinitely civil war, incte servile in
surrection aud inevitably close the door forever
to a restoration of the union of these States.


Resolved, That we disapprove Of all Congress
sional laws tending to substitute paper curren-
cy in California in place of our own metallic cir
culatng medium.


ReSO/ued That the spirit and meaning Of the
Democratic Platform of this State are compro-
missed in the words "The Constitution as it is
and the Union as it was"


There are other subjects Of grave public impor-
tance, not directly embraced in the above resolu-
tions. Permit me, before closing this communi-
cation, to lay before you my views in reference
to them, soliciting that patient and serious consld-
Grafton which it becomes Il free people to bestow
on all questions that may vitality affect their
present and future prosperity


When California became a sovereign member
CT the American Confederacy, she was endowed
with all the rights and privileges enjoyed by any
of the original thirteen states. By virtue of that
sovereignty she is entitled to all the mineral
wealth within her boundaries. Such is the opin
ion of successive legislatures that have expressed
through various enactments, their views on the
subject. and such has been the solemn adjudication
of the Supreme Court of the state. Thus far the
state has guarded this ri ght with the most jealous
care. She holds it in trust for the benefit of hel
citizens, leaving them perfectly free to work ant
develop the mines their own judgments may
dictate exacting no tribute from parties in posses
sion, and acquescing in the local laws made by
the miners themselves for the management ant
government of their respective districts. Any in
reference with the mines then, by the fedora
government could result only in unmitigated evil
It would impair, if not destroy all mining title
now existing and check all future developments o
this the chef source of our wealth and prosperity
virtually striking at the foundations of our estab
| lished creatness and suhstituting for the presen