Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-08-20

make the following extracts, as being worthy
of the attention of every voter:
New YORK, July s, 1856.
DEAR SIR IL beg to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your letter of the 26th ult. have
carefully reflected on its contents. In reply
beg to state TO you that deeply regret no
more perfect union has been effected by those
whose duty it was to have accomplished that
object-to unite the whole clements of oppo-
sition to the present corrupt administration,
welded as it is by the extreme Slave 0ligar-
chy of the South. For the last three years
this same oligarchy has used the entire power
and patronage of the General Government to
crush out all independent action and honest
Representation on the part of the North 10
purchase up Northern men to misrepresent
their constituents from personal motives and
for promises of favor from the present corrupt
administration.
All good men who have the love of their
country at heart, both in the North and in the
South, should unite cordially in common cf-
fort to destroy the viper that has coiled around
the freedom and independence of the Ameri-
can people. Freedom OF speech is prohibited
in the halls Of Congress; bowic-knives and re-
volvers daily appcndages at the capital as
a means of assault and defence. The Senate
declares itself not only powerless for punish
ment, but even palsied for protection. Its
members look quietly on and see member
stricken dowR in open day in the Senate Cham
Der, without even the common effort of HUI
manity that would be exercised in bar-room
to save a man that was prostrated, without AN
opportunity of defending himself. Thus You
see that those who represent their constituents
honestly, and by unanswerable arguments, and
who cannot be purchased by executive favor
must be awed into silence by bowie-knivcs,
bludgeonS and reyolyers. Such is the scheme
of government inaugurated by the Pierce dy-
nasty, and fostered by the Southern sectional
power that supports it. Upon this basis, and
into the arms OF this power, the nominee OF
the Cincinnati Convention surrendcrs himself
before the country, without the slightest reser-
vation or Individual independence of his own.
What has the country to expect if Mr.. Buchan-
an succeeds Nothing better than it has ex-
perienced under Mr.. Pierce, and perhaps some
thing worse. One is an old man without indie
pendence of mind or energy of character,
which the country is forewarned of by his dec
laration that he is no longer James Buchanan,
and has no views or opinions Of his own, and
is therefore the plant instrument of the Slave
Power that nominated him at Cincinnati, and
must reflect their views only. II will be well
for the American people to remember this
when they cast their votes fer Chief Magistrate
| in November next.
| The other came into office, a man in the
| prime of life, without any Submission or pied
ges, backed up by almost the unanimous voice
of the country in his election, and yet he was
not three weeks in Office before he surrendered
! himself to the same oligarchy that has welded
! his power during his administration, as abso-
lutely as if he had no will or mind of his own,
and had no responsibility to any section OF the
Union except to the $4,000 shareholders of
the South, who now control the Executive, the
Judiciary and the Senate. The only voic e
the Free States have in the Federal Govern
ment is in the House of Representatives.
Is it not fair to expect that if Mr.. Buchanan
should be elected, the evils that the country
has experienced for the last three years will
| go on increasing during his administration un-
| til the Northern mind win submit no longer
| to be cheated, bullied, defied and deprived of
| its just rights and fair representation in the
federal government?
As one of the leading features of the com
! ing administration, Slavery is to be forced in
! to Kansas. The rivers, the great highway OF
the Nation through Missouri, Slave State,
are to be closed, as they are at present, to the
! freemen of the North, who desire to cmigrate
| to that Territory. Those great thoroughfares
which have hitherto been looked upon as the
! pride of the nation, and that steam has rem
dered valuable for transportation of persons
or property, must be closed to the freemen of
| the North; or they must be subjected to ex-
animation, insult, loss of property, and turned
back, unless they proclaim themselves in favor
of the institution of Slavery in this Territory
Such means as these are made use of to force
/ Slavery into Kansas. When free emigrants
arrive there, after all these difficulties and de-
! lays have been surmounted, they must under
go another examination, and swear allegiance
to the government of the Slave Power organ
| lied in Kansas by the Missouri mob, or be de-
| prived of the right of franchise and of holding
office. This is the operation of squatter SOW
ereignty, which deprives man Of his citizen,
ship unless he swears fidelity to Slavery; and
all this is to be carried out and put in execu-
tion by an armed force, furnished from Mis-
souri-the adjoining Slave State; and the led
eral government, with federal troops IN the
Territory. will look on calmly without inter
fering. so long as the Missouri mob succeeds
to enforce Slavery upon Kansas; but if the
men from the free States, who believe in Free