Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-10-01
THE RAFTsMANss JOURNAL.

most blinded by drift of hard froze snow, !,
through which they had to walk waist-deep. |
They gathered their little forces together |
he and his thirty-three men, and sheltered
themselves for the night. 1t was the 24th OF
December. In the morning they made their
way back over the peak to get its shelter
against the wind. Their mules huddled to-
gether as by instinct to keep themselves warm,
and fell one after another, making the nucleus
of snow bank. Their implements were lost.
and such unexpected dangers and difficulties
had encompassed them that dispair seemed to
be oyertaking the men. He rallied their spir-
its, and he spent that Christmas reading Black
stone, to show them that he was not diseoncer-
ted and that he did not feel disheartened by
danger. When cut off from all resources,
misled by his guide. deceived by one in whom
he trusted, with the hearts Of his men curdling
in their bosoms, and the dumb brutes that
could not be inspired by his bravery, sinking
around him, he calmly took up avolume of
Blackstone and by that decision of character,
that apparent indifference of the circumstan-
ces that surrounded him, he assured his men
that their detention was after all but a mere
Christmas halt. When they had sufficiently
rested he dispatched detachment on the
backward track for assistance, and when they
did not return in time, he himself with KNAPP
sack upon his back, sought relief, and found
his poor men maddened with hunger and eff
fects of the cold. He hurried on, and on, and
on, until he found relief, and saved the great
er body of that company of men. We have in
him man who has exhibited the character of
Napoleon for energy-the character of Jack
son for firmness, for decision, for coolness-a
man who has never been President, il is true,
but who has never been called to perform any
duty, civil or military, in which he has not
shown himself sup to the mark'-[long con-
| tinued, enthusiastic applausel-a man born in
the South, reared in the South, but has served
his whole country familiar with all
history, and especially familiar with Ameri-
can hisIory-the first enlightened man that
traversed that region of Kansas-the man
who gave not only to America but to the world
| the knowledge-the complete knowledge, 1
| might say of the Rocky Mountains, their pas
ses, their various scientific disclosures he
revealed them all and with wonderful rapiditv:
| the man who gave freedom to California, and
| ity for short time in the councils of the ma
| tion-the man [and mark itl whom the lead
| ers OF the Democratic party one wear ago
! sought to make the candidate of that party
| for the Presidency. The proof is clear and
| undoubted, that rather more than a year ago.
Governor Floyd. Of Virginia, and other distin-
| guished Democrats sought to make Mr. Frc-
| mont the candidate of the Democratic party
He listened to them, and when he found that
| they would ask him to approve of the repeal
| of the Missouri Compromise line, he said
s'Neyer;' that he had been Democrat; that
he owed to the Democratic party all the polit-
| ical preferment he had ever-had that he had
no political aspirations but were the Presi-
| dency of the United States twenty times that
Presidency. he never would consent to see
| slavery extend by the abolition or abrogation
| of the Missouri Compromise line. [Great ap-
| plause.l He is man fit for any and for ey-
the Vice-Presidential chair, will stand one of
the youngest and ablest jurists of New Jersey
| man who has distinguished himself upon the
| bench as lawyer and a chancellor, and who
has rendered himself eminent in the councils
| OF the natlon-a safe mana cautious mana
| firm man. They are both the friends of free
dom; and L ask you, let your party prediIec-
ton hitherto be what they may, to unite with
one common consent and vote for your own
common doctrines-yote for the doctrines of
Washington, and Jefferson, and Polk, and
Harrison, and Taylor-vote for the freedom
| of the North-for the enfranchisement of Ia
Dor and the preservation of its freedom-vote
for men, as men-vote for Fremont aud Day
ton, and leave other issues to take care of
themselves hereafter. Americans cannot "gov-
ern America" until we have a free America
to be governed. Raptureus applause, which
! continued for some time.