Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-03-05
TIE EArIovAL NoM1NArIoNs.
From the Harrisburgh Telegraph

of the action OF the American NATIONAL OOn-
yention held in Philadelphia. 1t will be seen
that tie proposition TO proceed to make nomi-
nations prevailed by decided majority, and
that Millard Fillmore, of New York, was Sc
lected as tie candidate for President, and An
drew J. Donnelson, of Tennessee, for Vice
President.
The result of this Convention viii startle
the country, and but for some such considera-
tions as are suggested by our Philadelphia
correspondent, as having been potential in
precipitating the selection of national ticket
at this most inauspicious period, it would ut
terly defy explanation in the minds of most
prudent men, who honestly and earnestly de-
sire to wrest the government from the reckless
plunderers and perfdious betravers who have
brought upon the nation such hideous train
of evils. We had everything to lose by hasty
action, and nothing to gain. The elements
which must unite in support Of one ticket if
we would hope or wish to succeed, are just
now in the worst possible condition to have
candidates flung upon them from any quarter.
They are infamed, Jealous and but too justly
suspicious of the-Sood faith and integrity of
each other, and sanysact looking to struggle
for supremacy in shaping the course of the
campaign, is but the act Of suicide. Adhere
to our distinctive party prejudices or prefer
ences as we may, and ciouded as may be the
judgment of many when called to suggest the
way to success, yet there can be no midnight
of prejudice so starless as to shut ont the con-
viction that in UNION alone can there be VIC
TORY!
We have no w. - ,-y- ~1~. tl.o ticket of
the Philadelphia Convention-far from IL
We have no time and as little inclination TO
censure those who have strewn the already
difficult path to success with new and more
formidable barriers; but the emergency de-
mands bold hearts and unfinching nerves TO
cure the evils which we cannot now avert. II
we should falter, with enbarrassments thick
ening around Us, and our political sky cloud
ing deeper and deeper by the works of our own
friends, we could not be held otherwise than
faithless to urprinciples, faithless to ourselves
and faithless to our country. The work of
"Union for the sake of the Union,'' SO auspi-
ciously commenced in Pennsylvania, should
have been the basis of national movements
touching the Presidential struggle and the
battle will now bear heavily upon our friends
in perfecting it, with direct antagonfsm COM
ing from the American Convention. Did that
antagonism give but the remotest hope of sue
cess, with Wings and Republicans driven into
the position Of foes, then we could commend
the party that took the field relying on its own
strength and defiant Of all; but it is worse
than madness to reject or even disregard that
strength that alone can avert disaster.
We would not have the American party Alb
olitionized, or in any degree subordinate to
that dangerous element; but we dare not dis
regard the aroused feeling in the North that
demands simple Justice. 1t is not narrow,
sectional or disuniOn sentiment TO which we
would defer--it is the growing convictions and
goaded spirit which are the natural offspring
of free people, when the government is lend
ing its best energies to spread the curse of
Slavery into territory consecrated to Freedom
by the plighted faith Of the nation To this
sentiment we must yield or fall, and fail justly,
through intestine conflicts. With a common
canse and common foe-with a common pa
triotism to inspire us and with a common
country to redeem, we should at least consent
to be just to the great North when Justice on
ly is demanded to secure concert of action and
a common victory. The Wing party was once
proud and powerful. 1t marshaled in its no
ble ranks the brightest intellects of the age,
and, whether in power out of It, exerted
controlling influence in shaping the destiny Of
the nation. 1t was the true national party
Side by side with our northern statesmen stood
the CIays, the Bells, the Prestons, the Critten-
lnps nd ~ bp- iv,S ~ ne ba
that Slavery should not be extended bv the
government. But gradually it yielded TO the
demands Of the ''peculiar institution,'' and fl
naily in an evil hour sought to compete with
the Democracy for sectional strength, and from
thence it exists only on the dim canvass of the
past. Its greatness only made its wreck the
more terrible and complete. And vet with
the fate of the Wing party still fresh in tie
recollection of all, the American party seems
| not to have profted by the lesson. In 1851,
| the American party was triumphant in ere1q
northern State, because it was clearly and un-
qualifiedlv identified with the Nebraska
sentiment-not ttheAbolitionism--ofth the orth,
and the popular agencies which brought victo-
ry to its banner are as potent to-day as they
were then. We should not, therefore, if We
could-brt we DARE NOT now forget that there
is North!
Tho time is not yet for us to determine
how we shall vote for President. We shall
stand firm TO the position assumed by the U
Mon sentiment in Pennsylvania, and where II
leads We shall follow. We have no war to
ware against any ticket but the one to be pre-
sented by the Cincinnati Convention, and a.
49, - l,ast aner0ias shall ha directad
and in support of that opposition ticket most