Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-05-21
Tag RAFTsmANss JOURNAL.
DEMOCRATIC ABoLITIoNIsM.

There is a certain class of the Locofoco
press who are constantly deserving what they
are pleased to term ssAbolitionism, :" ssNigger-
isrn,'' &c. To these we would specially COM
mend the following paragraphs from recent
speech of Hon. II. NJ. Fuller in Congress, as
they may serve to brighten up their memories
in relation TO few facts which they seem to
have forgotten. Every reader when he con-
trasts the present position of the gentlemen
referred to with what it then was, will at once
be struck with the truth of the adage that
ssmen change, principles never.o Mr.. Fuller
says:-
AS that canvass (1SI9) has been referred to
and made the subject of so much epistolary
production, it may be refreshing to our DEM
ocratic friends briefly to oreview the past history
of Pennsylvania politics. Let US inquire who
are without sin, and therefore permitted to
cast the first stone. As gentlemen interested
in my antecedents have only gone back to 1S49
will refer them to an earlier period. l
would have been willing, as remarked early in
the session, to let the dead past bury its own
dead but, as Members have indulged them
selves in antiquarian researches, 1 ,rui read
u fsU tomb stone inscriptions also. Passing a
long the political graveyard of buried opinions
l find it recorded that on the 23d day of No
vember, 4. D. 1919, no less distinguished
parsonage than James Buchanan, in Lancaster
county Convention, presented the following
resolutions:
''ResolUed, That the Representatives in Con-
gress from this district be, and they are here
by most earnestly requested, to usc their ut
most endcavors as member of the National
Legislature, to PREVENT THE EXISTENCE OF sLA-
VERY in any of The Territories or States ,chich
may be erected by Congress.
e'Resoired, That in the opinion of this meet
ing, the members of Congress, who at the last
session sustained the cause ofjustice, human
ity and patriotism, in opposing the introduction
of slavery into the State then endeavored to
be formed out of the Missouri Territory, are
entitled to the warmest thanks of every friend
ofhumanity.'
1 am charged here, and by somo of the Bu-
chanan organs in my State, with being an alb
oltionist, because of my alleged anteccdents.
Surely, in this respect, in view of the resolu-
tions just read, may yield with respectful
Difference to 'Pennsylvana's Favoritc Son.
's In 1919 he declared against the Missouri
line. In 1917, in his celebrated Berl's coun-
ty letter, he declared in favor of the extension
of that line to the Pacific, and his solemn be-
lief that the stability of the Union itself de-
pended upon the passage of such measure.
In his last bulletin, recently issued, he de-
clares the repeal of that compromise must be
sustained, in defiance of any and ,of every
a. I
e'The political rs well as the physical world
has undergone many extraordinary changes:
Here are three revolutions in a short half CEN
tury. Has not his H'5ack6one been wonderfully
shfencd 2" Has not he, too, like the blind
man in Scripture, been staggering about these
many years, waiting for that miracuous vision
when he should no longer see men as trees
walking Hoping that the scales of error may
all fall from his eyes-that he may no longer
look through a glass darkly-and recommend
ing him kindly to the generous consideration
of the Cincinnati Convention, pass to anoth-
er chapter of PennsylvaniaD Democratic history.
''In 1917, find, by reference to the public
Journals, that on tho 18th Of January rcsolu-
tions were introduced in our State Legislature
instructing the Senators from Pennsylvania to
vote in favor of the Wilmot proviso, by gen
tleman who is now a delegate to the Cincinnati
Convention. Among the names of gentlemen
who supported the resolution, / find that of
Senator Bigler of Thomas II. Forsyth, now
President of the Democratic Board of Canal
Commissioners John C. Knox, since then G.
lected one of the Judges of the Supreme
Court upon the Democratic ticket Timothy
Ives, now the Democratic candidate for Sur
veyOr General. In 1919 when my SHINING
commenced, and those terrible enormities |
were committed by me, similar resolutions |
were offered in the State senate, and suppor- |
ted by j. Porter Brawley, who has been since |
twice elected Surveyor General by the De-
mocracy, and by Col. Maxwell McCaslin, now
holding an appointment under the present Ad-
ministration, as well as certain other gentle
men, who, doubtless, would now prefer their
names should not be mentioned in this connec-
tion.''
AMERICAN STATE CouNCIL.-The Pennsylva-
MIA American State Conncil met at Harrisburg
on the 18th. Resolutions endorsing the Phil
nj Oor, i,,o4; |