Year: 1863

+ VI 't0HSSNaH 1c4e, tlC EcoPic Vi OaAiloa
MIA viii be called upon to decide, so far as the
influence Of this State is concerned, the most
I important question ever submitted to them.
/ The question is not as political weathercocks
demagoging for Office, would have them believe
one of patriotism or treason-of supporting
the Government or aiding the rebellion. The
Democracy are fOr supporting he Government
and the war, for the preservation Of the Uuion.
The question then Is, whether California will
say. through the ballot box, that, the war shall
be conducted solely for the supremacy of the
Constitution and laws over the rev0lted States,
or, whether il shall degenerate into a war for
the suppression of State rights, and the en-
forcement of sectional partisan doctrines
That the Administration is determined to
make it war for the enforcement of sectional
partisan doctrines, is evidenced by its refusal
to re admit Louisiana until her State Consti-
tuition has been changed That is the question,
and the only question


Before deciding to extend the war beyond
the extent necessary TO bring back the seeded
States, for the enforcement Of q sectional par
tisan policy. We ask the people Of California to
reflect moment upon the realities and hor-
rors of the strife. Go, where your brothers
are lying -begrimmed with dust and blood and
baltle-smoke-i trenches under the torrid sun,
beside the beleaguered cities of the Southern
coast-stand beside the grassy mounds that
rise Ike those OF another Marathon beside
Corinth, Shiloh, Wilson's Creek Vicksburg
and Port Hudson, or in the military cemeteries,
where sleep the lights of many distant home,
thick strewn as the furrows Of new plowed
feld, far away from the footsteps and fearful
eyes that should have visited their last rest.
Listen to the groans from countless hospitals,
with their pale, anguid, mangled forms hear
the signs that come like mighty night wind
from desolate homes and hearts that are break
ing all over the continent. Hear the wall that
miugles with the rush of the Potomac, Kappa
hammock, ard Cumberland, and the melancholy





purple with nations life blood to the man,
or blends with the solemn dirge Of the Gulf
ani the Atlantic over the glorious dead-a
wall for the noble, the beautiful, the loved, the
gifted, the brave that shall return 10 more.
Go, be bold, listen aud if all this was necessary
for the unity Of the nation, breathe sorrow
ful Amen-so mote il be - And while this
feeling of humanity is upon yuu, ask yourselves
il it is necessary to redOube these narrowing
scenes and sufferings for the advantages afford
ed by The triumph OF a partisan policy, urged
only by a minority of iutolerant and prejudiced
leaders. Do not be deceived Let not fanati
cism control your patriotic devotion to your
country. Do not continue the struggle beyond
its necessary duration for the preservation of
the Union, for the mere qualification of par
ti-an hatred Let the people compel this Ad-
ministration TO abandon this sectional partisan
policy in the conduct of the war, and labor only
for restoration of the Union, and when this
hour, with lis mighty issues, has gone TO a far
eternity and you shall stand upon the shores
of another life, and meet this vast array of
martyrs in the presence of the ages that shall
come after us, and before the Great White
Throne, the justification for the shedding of
this heroic blood and the endurance of this
mighty tide of suffering, that shall appear, will
be, not for the qualification of a malignant and
partisan hate, but for the preservation of con-
stitutiOnal liberty among men. Meet the aw-
ful issues and duties Of this crisis of life or
death to a great nation not under the lead Of
sectional fanaticjSm but under the glorious
and sublime principles beqreathed to US by the
founders of the Government.