Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-23
WHO ARE YOU FoRl

This question has been asked US frequently
of late, in regard to the several candidates for
the Presidency 4 short time since we re-
marked that we should give the matter ample
thought before deciding. We have done SO,
and now present the result of our delibera-
tiOns.
JAMES BUCHANAN, the nominee of the DEM
ocratic party, stands upon platform which
we regard as anti-republican and dangerous to
our institutions, and destructive to the peace
and perpetuity of the nation. 1t regards hos
tility to the principles of the American party
as a cardinal yirtue-recognizes and adopts the
principles of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, thus
sanctioning the repeal Of the Missouri CON-
promise and all the outrages committed by the
border ruffans in Kansas-fayoTs free seas and
progressive Tree trade-and asserts that the
Democracy expect the next National Admin
istratiOn to secure American ascendancy in the
Gulf of Mexico, which, when rid OF its spe-
cious verbiage, means to annex Cuba. and thus
add so much more territory for the Slavery
propagandists to lay hold of. In sbort-the
Locofoco platform is conquest-fayoring, fill
clustering, slavery affair-and,
such, is sectional; and it is upon this stIuc-
ture that James Buchanan, after laying aside
his individual identity, has placed himself, a.
dopting the whole unqualifiedly. Besides
this, he has antecedents that we regard as per-
Dicious to the interests of the mechanical and
working classes of our country, and calculated
to peryert the most wholesome of our domes-
tic interests. 1t cannot, therefore, be expect
ed that we should do aught else than oppose
James Buchanan's election to the extent of
our ability, when his views are directly at va
rance with our convictions.
MnLARD FILLMORE was placed before the
country a candidate for the Presidency, by
the Southern Americans, and few north Of
Mason & Dixon's line who sympathized with
them. With one Of the principles of Mr. Fill
more we agree-and were that the only ques-
tion at issue, or were he the only opposition
candidate in the field, as between him and Mr..
Buchanan, we have no hesitation in saying
that Mr.. Fillmore would have received our
support.
But there is third candidate-JoHS c. FRE-
MONT. In him, we believe we see a man who
will not only maintain that principle to a pro-
per and practicable extent-for he is present
ed as the candidate of the American party
North, as well as that of the Republican par
ty-but we also find in him the firm, yet liber-
al advocate OF the rights of the people at large
against the pretensions of 2 small privileged
cIass-a class constituting but the oae-sirtieLh
part Of the population of the United States,
for the whole number of slave owners in the
South is, in round numbers, only 3i7 ,525-
and il is for the special benefit Of these few
that the virgin soil OF our territories is to be
thrown open 10 an institution that degrades
humanity, generates Incidence, builds up an
aristocracy, TetaFds general improvement, sub
verts the teachings Of the Declaration of In
dependence, and conflicts with the principles
Of the trainers of the constitution.
There is no use in attempting TO dcay the
fact that the Slavery question is the most pro-
minent one in the present contest; that it viii
absorb all others that the great problem to be
solved, is: Shall the Institution of Slavery be
extended over our territories, and that, too,
by force on the part of desperadoes and non
resident ru1fianS from the South sustained by
the National Administration OF shall Kansas
be admitted with a free constitution, and leave
the matter to be decided by her own legal cit
izens7 1t is plainly manifest that the design
of the founders of the Republic and the fra
mers of the constitution was against the ex-
tension of the Especuliar institution but the
influence of the compact and powerful class Of
men interested in it, is now directed to turn
back this impulse of the Revolution and re-
yease its principles, and the extension of sla-
very across the continent is the object OF the
power that now rules the government. From
this spirit, Col. Fremont thinks, have sprung
the kindred wrongs in Kansas, and without
piedging himself to any particular policy that
mas been suggested TO terminate the contro-
Nersy, suggests that the admission of Kansas
as Free State would be a practical remedy.
which the South itself should earnestly desire.
as 1t would vindicate its good faith correct
the mistake with regard to the repeaI of the
missouri Compromise; it would satisfy the
Nof'h; and the measure would be perfectly
consistent with honor to the South and her vi
'"' Interests. This, certainly, is a liberal view
ho' eonhicting with the rights of any section,
ana peaceable in its design. Nor can il in anv
way De construed into "A Abolitionisrn. - tern,
In'sapp'ehended and misnsed by all the small
-! Locoioco Journals and politicians for. be