Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-08-27
ANOTHER UNION MEETING.

John K Mcfarland was chosen President, Wm.
Summeryille, John Bish. Esq, Capt Henry
Groe and Samuel Sebring, Esq, Vice Presi-
dents, and VIM. S. Bradley and W. A. Camp
bell, Secretaries. After the meeting was full
ly organized, Hon. /. T. Hale was loudly call
cd for and took the stand. He said there were
so many reasons why James Buchanan should
not be supported that he hardly knew where
to begin. He then referred to the campaign
of 1874, when Buchanan held that Polk was
better Tariff man than Henry Clay, by which
Pennsylvania was carried for Polk, and yet as
soon as they were in power the Tariff of 1872
was repealed at his uggestion-which was
direct thrust at the interests of his own State.
And now we are asked to support Buchanan,
because, forSooth, he is q Pennsylvania! He
then alluded to the all-absorbing slavery ques-
tion, and showed the position of the Locofocos
in regard to it. Some pretended to be oppo-
sed to the extension of the institution, and yet
asked US to support their candidate, who had
denied his individuality and thrown himself
upon proslayery platform. The Richmond
Enquirer, he said, held that the extension of
slavery was the only issue to be decided but
the speaker thought there was another issue
with the Democrats, and that was the perpet-
uation of their Offices. Give them these, and
they cared little where slavery would go. He
next alluded to the constant prating of the
Locofoco leaders about a dissolution of the
Union-if we but said we would vote for the
men of our choice, we were at once told that
we were disunionsts. The speaker said he
would always sustain the Union-he would
raise no parasidal hand against it-he wished
only to maintain our rights-and there were
no Gorgon terrors for him in the cry that we
wished to dissolve it. He concluded by urg-
ing all to go forward as one man. Let US be
united-let US lay aside our personal feelings,
and show united front in support Of our tick
cts at the election in October.
j. B. McEnally then took the stand and de-
liyered a somewhat lengthy speech, in which
he fully reviewed the great issues involved in
the present contest, aud urged the Importance
of concert of action.
After he had concluded, Samuel Linn, ESD.
was called for. He scarcely knew where to
begin to discuss-there was so much to say on
the questions before the people. There was
one thing upon which we can all agree-that
Americans should be free. If a policy is pur-
sued by an Administration which strikes at
our liberty, then it is time that patriots ought
to resist Free discussion is guaranteed to us.
and he loved to hear men inquiring what is for
the good of the people, and the institutions of
the country. Let them examine the various
platforms, see where the right is, and then
pursue it. There is question before Us not
eror nr,r IN day
stealing upon us-it has been forced upon us.
and we must meet it face to face. When the
Tariff question was before us, where was the
South The opposition to Tariff arose in
the South, and dough-faces in the North as
sisted them to destroy it. Hostility always
came from that section. And thus free labor
was to be brought down to slave labor-our
labor was to be made uniform with theirs, and
then came the 10-cent speech of Buchanan
The theory may be nice one, but practically
it won't work well. Labor is the destiny of
man-''in the sweat Of thy face shalt thou eat
bread''-and to reduce wages was to strike at
our most vital interest. Elevate labor and YOU
are freemen. Liberty, he said, was the prnci-
pie that God has impressed upon everything
1t is seen in the stream that ripples through the
va!e-the bird that carols in the forest, feels
tit was the watch-word of theRevolution-it
is inscribed upon the obelisk that rears it's lofty
head heavenward-it is liberty that binds this
Union, and every thrust at it, is thrust at our
country's honor. Enslave the body and Won
enslave the mind-fnd slaves and you find
imbecility of mind. That is not
the true eagle that is chained to the rock |
you must see him as he scars aloft from his |
eyre and tips the clouds with his WINGS
That is not the true lion that is restrained by |
the iron bars of his cage-you must go to his |
native jungles and hear him roar in all his ma
Jesty in the forests of the east. And that is |
not the true man who is in bonds-but if |
you would see him in all his nobleness of cha |
racter, You must see him unfettered and free |
as he came from the hands of his Creator
And yet the effort was made to spread slavery
over our fair land in the west. 1t is a blot-a
olemish to our country-it has made our states
men to fremble and feel that they were sitting
on the orator cf a volcano. And now we are
called upon to say whether we shall extend
this institution to Territory now free. He then
referred to the fact that if q single citizen a.
broad is maltreated, the administration was
ready to plunge US in war; but when num-
oers of American citizens are shot within our
OWN borders, it is passed by as an idle tale
he concluded by urging all to unite in resist
ng the Locofoco party.
II. b. Swoope was then called for and in
'esponse showed up Buchanan in his true light
and urged all to assist in defeating him.
lie said he hoped all would go to work for the
Ininr Stafn ficl-of |