Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-23
WHO ARE YOU FOR!


This question has been asked frequently
of late, in regard to the several candidates for
the Presidency. short time since we re-
marked that we should give the matter ample
thought before deciding. We have done so,
and now present the result of our delibera-
tions.
JAMES BUCHANAN, the nominee of the DEM
ocratic party, stands upon platform which
we regard as anti-republican and dangerous to
our institutions, and destructive to the peace
and perpetuity of the nation. 1t regards hos
tility to the principles of the American party
as cardinal virtue-recognizes and adopts the
principles of the Kansas Nebraska bill, thus
sanetioning the repeal of the Missouri COM
promise and all the outrages committed by the
border rufians in Kansas-favors free seas and
progressive free trade-and asserts that the
Democracy expect the next National Admin
istration to secure American ascendancy in the
Gulf of Mexico, which, when rid of its spe-
cious verbiage, means to annex Cuba, and thus
add so much more territory for the Slavery
propagandists to lay hold off. In short-the
Locofoco platform is conquest-favoring, fill
clustering, slavery extending affair-and. as
ture that James Buchanan, after laying aside
his individual identity, has placed himself, "a
dopting the whole unqualifiedly. Besides
this, he has antecedents that we regard as per-
nicious to the interests of the mechanical and
working classes of our country, and calculated
to pervert the most wholesome of our domes-
tic interests. 1t cannot, therefore, be expect
ed that we should do aught else than oppose
James Buchanan's election to the extent of
our ability, when his views are directly at va
rance with our convictions.
MILLARD FILLMORE wasNplaced before the
country as candidate for the Presidency, by
the Southern Americans, and few north of
Mason & Dixon's line who sympathized with
them. With one of the principles of Mr.. Fill
more we agree-and were that the only ques-
tion at issue, or were he the only opposition
candidate in the field, as between him and Mr..
Buchanan, We have no hesitation in saving
that Mr.. Fillmore would have received our
support.
But there is a third contradictions c. FIRE.
MONT. In him, believe we see man who
will not only maintain that principle to pro-
per and practicable extent-for he is present
ed as the candidate of the American party
North, as well that of the Republican par
ty-but we also find in him the firm, yet liber-
al advocate of the rights of the people at large
against the pretensions of small privileged
class-a class constituting but the one-sirtieh
part of the population of the United States,
for the whole number of slave owners in the
South is, in round numbers, only 347 ,525-
and it is for the special benefit of these few
that the virgin soil Of our territories is to be
thrown open to an Institution that degrades
humanity, generates Incidence, builds up an
sristocraey, retards general improvement, SUBJ
verts the teachings of the Declaration of In
dependence, and conflicts with the principles
of the trainers of the constitution.
There is no use in attempting to deny the
fact that the Slavery question is the most pro-
minent one in the present contest that it will
absorb all others; that the great problem to be
solved, is: Shall the institution of Slavery be
extended over our territories, and that, too,
by force on the part of desperadoes and nom
resident rufians from the South sustained by
the National Administration or shall Kansas
be admitted with free constitution and leave
the matter to be decided by her own legal cit
izens7 1t is plainly manifest that the design
of the founders of the Republic and the fra
mers of the constitution was against the ex-
tension of the sspeculiar institution but the
influence Of the compact and powerful class of
men interested in it, is now directed to turn
back this impulse of the Revolution and re-
yease its principles, and the extension of sIa-
very across the continent is the object of the
power that now rules the government. From |
this spirit, Col. Fremont thinks, have sprung |
the kindred wrongs in Kansas, and without |
pledging himself to any particular policy that |
has been suggested to terminate the contro- /
versy, suggests that the admission of Kansas
as Free State would be practical remedy.
which the South itself should earnestly desire.
as it would vindicate its good faith correct
the mistake with regard to the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise it would satisfy the
North; and the measure would be perfectly
consistent with honor to the South and her vi
tai interests. This, certainly, is liberal view.
not conflicting with the rights of any section.
ana peaceable in its design. Nor can it in anv
way De construed into ssAbolitionism, ,, a term
A'apprehended and misused by all the small
''y Locofoco journals and politicians: for. hs