Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-08-27
For tie Rgdsma3's Journal.
THE PEOPLE AR0UsE3i
The largest Political gathering Ct tie People
ege- heI5 "a Woodward tc191sh12

49, -
In pursuance Of an invitation given, the
people OF Woodward and adjoining townships,
who are opposed to the Pierce policy and
the election of James Buchanan, assembled at
the residence Of C. JeiIries, in mass meeting,
to more eifectUalIy unite their forces against
the cncroachmcnts Of foreign influence and
the extension of slavery over territory now
free At the hour appointed, over seven hun-
dred persons, ladies and gentlemen, were IN
attendance The meeting was organized 10y
selecting JOHN NJ fAELASD, Chairman Geo.
M'Cully, John Coulter, ". SmiIy and John
Weld, Vice Presidents, (the Secretaries think
there were other Vice Presidents chosen, but
could not ascertain the names,) /. ". Weld
and q. D.Cathcart, Secretaries, and Rev. II. KEEP
hart, Chaplain. a splendid u. s. Flag, and a
number OF appropriate banners were on the
ground. The meeting WAS opened with an ap-
propriate prayer by the chaplain, after which
the glee club, composed Of thirteen young
men IN beautiful regalia, sang an ode to free
dom. &. Jefiries then addressed the people,
and showed that il was as necessary now, for
the ladies to inspire by their presence the
hearts Of American freemen, as it was in the
days Of the Revolution, when they stood by
thousands near Bunker I'M and other battle
fields, and like protecting angels waved their
banners of liberty, until their fathers, brothers
and lovers, had given freedom TO America
That the same principles, the freedom Of
Speech, the right of the Press, and the cleo
tive franchise, as In the days of the Revolu-
tion were Involved in the present contest, and
he hoped that the ladies', by their presence,
their smiles, and their blessings, would every
bere cheer and urge American frcemca 10
aWset at the ballot-boE and overthrow forever
the march Of FOREIGEIsI and the EXTENSION
or SLAVERY on our soil. After which lie re-
viewed the history Of the Pierce outr3ges in
Kansas, and the inroads Of PCpery under the
TrpSpDt i o4a1 c1pcrl9 sfr
ing that buchanan, the LOc9foco candidate for
President, had endorsed the Pierce usurpa-
tion !; bat that the union Of the Fremont and
Fillmore forces, was destined 10 cOnsign. lHIn
TO & solitude, from which no political power
VIII ever call him.
An ode to the Union was then sung by the
glee club. After which, thirty-one young Ia
dies, all dressed in white, emblematical OF Our
principles and as the representatives Of the
thirty-one States Of our Union, We're seated in
circle in front of the audicncc, when young
lady (nisS Susan A.kephart) dressed in mour-
ming as the representative Of injured Kansas
arose and in clear, loud and eloquent man
ner, addressed her sister representatives, as
follows:
Daughters Of America, aud representatives
of the States Of orr glorious Union apDear
before you to-day, as the representative Of
your Iilustrious, but now wounded and cnslav-
cd sister territory Of Kansas. We were once
~ e''iS& A4tE'E- d. tis Alt t44i IAltiS ildN =
destroyed the solemn compromise OF our ia
theirs, and removed the barriers that were fer
ever TO hold slavery mOorcd within the con
fines of its chained and groaning millions, and
have sent it on its march of blood and an
guiSh, over all the free and fruitful soil OF orr
fair and lovely Kansas. Your lab0ring sons
and daughters, both of the north and the south,
hastened to become the citizens of our noble
cline. The sound Of happy industry began
the march of its glory. Farms, villages and
cities, began 10 iliumine our blooming plains.
Art, Education and Religion were bearinEru rs
on TO immortal fame. But the vampires of IN
human bondage beheld our ascending star.and
their forces Oh the plains Of Nilsson
n, they entered our happy Kansas, and robbed
us OF all the Constitutional rights Of frecmcn.
destroyed our elections, took possession of
our hailot-boxes, and drove Us from the polls.
and after eiccting from their own armed
oanGs, pro-s!ayeTy Legislature. they procee-
ded TO make laws TO govern the free people Of
Kansas, among which the freedom Of the
Pass, and the liberty OF SPEECH, were for
bldden under the penalty Of DEATH. And yet
those cruel, lnaumdn and Unconstitutional
laws were sanctioned by the President Of the
\ nIted States, and forced upon rs by the bay-
onetS and cannoa Of the federal troops Com
panIes OF the lowest order Of armed men were
sent among Us from the slave States, who shot
down our cattle, took away our horses. robbed
our houses. demolished our homes, burned our
towns, destroyed our printing presses, and
our citizens, until our whole land is
now become scene of violence, desoIation
and woe. We have called to the Government
for help IN vain. They have only hcaped in
suit ana violence upon us. And now nv sis
ter States, from the deep anguish of our desc
lation, we stretch cur hands TO You. and in the
name OF those stars and stripes, and in the
name of our endeared Constitution. we appeal
10 yoR TO help Us through the baiiot-box, and /
let not our star Of empire sink beneath or-
DTesSlon'S eternal wrong, TO rise no more for I
ever. ., for the sake of the wasted blood
ana treasure OF the illustrious and heroic dead
Ind for the sake of the bleeding cause of your |
aatlye country, we urge you TO help rs. O, |
ior the sake Of him whose path is embossed |
5ith eternal orbs, and vino viii suprernelv |
udge the world, we ask y0u 10 set US free /
rom the chains that now bind Us ia slavery |
md death"
An ode to Kansas, was then sung by the glce /
;lub, after which the audience were cordially /
invited TO pGrtalIe Of an excellent free dinner /
provided by the friends OF AMERICA and FREE
Dom for the occasion. Dinner being over the |
people were called together By an ode TO sour
jountry,S freedom from the glee club. NJ.
Frank, Esq, was then called for and res
'onded IN short, but an appropriate speech.
Il which ne exposed the Union-slying hum
,ug. of the locofocos, that at every election
he democrats must have their candidates e
ected or the Union will be dissolved, Vet Big
er was beaten over thirty thousand and the
Jnion is still safe. He urged the union of the
pposltlon against the worthless old states
nan James Buchanan, for the Presidency.
ne AntI-Buchanan ode WAS then sung by
ne glee club, at the close of which Col. James
). Myers, the nominee fer Congress. was cal
ed Tor who on rising received three cheers
rom the audience. He commenced his speech
y showing the Anti-American policy of the
fierce administration, and the foreign Rome
ard tendency of the preSent So cllled Dernn= |