Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-04-01
nARRrsprncu. March 9th. 1857.


Ny DEAR JOURNAL AT about this season of
the year, there is an annual food or something
else, brings to this place the driff-the very es-
sence of blood suckerdom-from all parts of
the State. At the close of each session, when
business becomes pressing, and members have
not time to give to all the bills that come up,
that particular examination which should be
bestowed upon them, they try to get their ia
voritc bills passed, to get favorable sec
tiou in some other bill adopted, or to carry
their object in some other way. 1t is the gen
eral impression, that before they will be per-
mitted to bleed the State, they must first sub
NIT to be bled themselves. One of the men of
our own village (Clearfeld) was heard to say,
in reference to the bill to prevent the floating
OF loose logs :-'sIt is in a fair way now; ; moth
ing can prevent its passage but the money the
logmen may bring" &c. fear that for some
reason, the logmen will come off victorious.
l spoke of blood suckerdom. Well now, is
not the leech dirty animal? 1t lives By
sucking the blood of others. And yet there
is a dirtier animal than it it is that reptile,
rather common in some places, that puts salt
on the leech to make it disgorge, and then it
self swallows that filthy discharge as its own
natural food, and grows fat upon it. What a
pity that this beast has, externally, so strong a
resemblance to man! But the food that brings
down the drift. often brings down the lumber
that is really valuable.
On Tuesday evening last, it was my pleas
ure to hear the celebrated Henry Ward Beech
er deliver his lecture before the Young Mems
Christian Association. 1t was a very remark
able lecture, and distinguished for its sound
sentiment and common sense view of things.
The subject was, 'Tho Christian Common
wealth" The basis of all Christian laws
should be love to our neighbor as ourselves.
Monarchy has its source in our corrupt and
selfish nature. The Christian Commonwealth
has its source in the bcnevolcnce inculcated
by Christian principle. The religion Of devo-
tion without the religion of principle was not
the kind worth possessing. He administered
withering rebuke to those ministers who are
so much engaged in the devotional duties of
religion, but don't understand any thing of its
controlling power as principle of righteous
ness. lie also claimed to be a citizen of this
christian commonwealth, and had no sympathy
with those politicians who deny ministers the
privileges and rights Of citizenship, making
them something better, or something worse
than men. Mr.. Beecher also spoke of the
Democracy in no very fattering way, ASST
ming that the leaders, instead of trying to ell
evate themselves and the people, seemed TO
labor to sink both, as il there was some pecu-
liar connection betreen Democracy and dirt.
His description of a ship was most poetic
and grand. No man but Beecher himself
could give correct representation Of this part
of the address. While he was proceeding to
describe the ship, built without foundation,
contrasting it with building on land, the au-
dience began TO lean forward, TO open their
mouths, TO lose selfpossession and involun-
tsrily hold their breath, and sit with fixed