Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-05-27
CLEARFIELD, PA, MAY 27, 1857
THAT SAME OLD TUNE y

Whenever Locofocoism finds itself short of
reasonable objections to a candidate opposed
10 il, the leaders and journals of that party i'm
mediately call him an esAbolitionist,' - and the
time was when there was potency in this cry,
and doubtless influenced many persons, who
may have been favorably inclined towards a
candidate, to cast their votes against him.
But that period, we think, has gone by. 1t
would, indeed, be reflection upon the much
lauded intelligence of the masses of the pres
ent day, to assert that they could be diverted
from the support of a candidate by bringing a
charge of this kind against him, and we have
an abiding confidence that no man who reads
and thinks for himself will be swayed by it.
To endeavor to bias mems opinions in this
way, can only be regarded in the light Of re-
proach from those who attempt it, on the good
sense of the people and yet, though it is not
very surprising, we find Locofoco papers as
serting that Judge Wilmot is an 'abolitionist.'
We will be charitable enough to suppose that
they do not Intentionally, in making this as
sertion, ssbear false witness against their neigh
bor," but rather that their zeal for party eth
or induces them to condemn Mr.. Wimot with
oub tVcbiuS MS fAS"Ss III thah, iSauibE u
pinions, it blinds their understanding to such
degree tha. they do not comprehend the
sne.ning of plain English words. In his let
ter accepting the nomination of the American
Republican convention, Mr.. Wilmot reiterates
his views on this subject, in the following ex-
plicit and pointed language:
alt is not true that the defenders Of the
rights of free labor seek the elevation of the
black race to an equality with the white. They
do not propose the emancipation of the slave.
but leave that question, both to time and
the mode Of its accomplishment, with the
States in which slavery exists. They wish to
deal with this great and embarrassing evil in a
spirit of friendly forbearance towards those
States; but they cannot carry their forbear-
ance so far as to become slaves themselves
as 10 surrender the soil and government of the
nation into the hands of an arstocracy found
ed upon property in slaves.'
And again, in speaking Of the Shareholder,
ho says -
"He and his bondmen already occupy by far
the most fertile and genial portion of this con-
tinent. Let him rest content with bis terrific
rial possessions and power. We do not seek
to disturb him. We neither assail nor defend
his asserted right to hold his peculiar kind of
property. We simply affirm that we have
nothing to do with it, and propose to let him
and his slaves alone where they are. We
make, therefore, no question about the aboli-
tion of Slavery in the South. We but stand
in defence OF Freedom in the North. Kansas
is in the latitude of Philadelphia. In geo.
graphical position it is q Northern Territory.
1t was dedicated By n solemn compact IN 1920
TO Freedom forever. We claim the fulfment
of the bond. We defend the integrity of free
Northern soil against the cupdity that would
subjugate it by violence into plantation for
slaves"
Could anything be palmer? Mr.. Wilmot
does not express himself favorable to the Gto-
iision OF slavery in the States where it exists
no merely opposes its extension. And who
does not