Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-09-02
CRACKING OUT"


indulging in, because Of Gen. Packers refusal
to meet Mr. Wilmot before the people to dis
cuss the issues of the campaign, and an at
tempt is made to excuse the valiant General,
by system of ratiocination generally known
as ssup-hill pulling" The term .'backing-
out'' is objected to as not being expressive OF
the position of Mr.. Packer in this affair; we
may, therefore, if it should prove more accep-
table, hereafter speak of the esbacking- out" as
Mr.. Packers declination '.in pursuance of the
advice of the Democratic State Committee"
though, by so doing, we do not lay aside our
opinion of the applicability of the phrase, es-
pecially when not over eight weeks ago If was
boastingly asserted in the editorial columns Of
the Republican, that, s'immediately upon his
nomination Gen. Packer caused it TO he an
nounced through his friends that he was ready
to meet his competitor, whoever he might be,
before the people," We do not find fault with
the Democratic papers attempting to excuse
Mr.. Packers declination, ssby advice,' &c. ;
but still we think they should lay aside sophis-
try and give the true reason-that it was the
fear of losing votes, if the candidates discuss
ed the principles of their respective parties
before the people, that superinduced the re-
jection of Mr. Wilmot's proposition. 1t is all
fol-de-rol and CANNON to talk about it being
contrary to established usage" for can
didates to canvass the State, when they arc
competent to do so. Johnston and Bigler did
it, and, if we are not very much mistaken, Mr..
Bigler did so at the request or solicitation, or
a1via = Mo Cf ha tso
State Committee. At all events, if there is
impropriety in ssexecutive candidates appear
ing at all before popular meetings to solicit
votes,'' as Mr.. Buckalew, the chairman of their
State Committee, fntimates, how does it come
that they are sending out Mr.. Packer to make
speeches TO ''popular meetings ?'' Truly, it is
ssa tangled web they weavei''
The allegation is also made, though some
what equivocally, that Mr.. Wilmot advocates,
what our uptown neighbors term s.the mon
strous doctrines of abolitionism.'' We will
here, in 4 few words, state what is NJ. Will
mot's position, as well as that of those who
support him at this time, on the question of
slavery: lst. No interference with the insti-
tuition of Slavery in the States where it exists.
tion into the Territories belonging to the Uni
ted States. Or, in other words, we wish to
coHline slave labor to its present limits, and
give the virgin soil of the territories to free,
white labor. We wish to exclude slave labor
from the territories-we want the negroes to
be kept where they are. That is our position,
and that is Mr.. Wilmot's position. There is
no ''abolitionism'' about it; it is opposition
to the extension of slavery and common cour-
tesy should induce men to refrain from attemp-
ting to force words into our mouths, and from
endeavoring to foist erroneous views upon our
candidate or our party. We hope no editor
will insult the intelligence of the people by
hereafter intimating that Mr.. W. is an advocate
of ''the monstrous doctrines of abolitionism, .
as 1t is expressed in the Republican, more par
ticularly if he should have sailing at the mast
head of his paper the name of James Thomp-
son, of Erie, who claimed in 1913 TO be the
originator of the principle Of the proviso
which has given Mr.. Wilmot so much renown.
The objection that Mr.. Wilnot was holding
an Office Of high judicial responsibility, has
been removed by his resignirg the Judgeship
and the conjecture that, if be should fail to be
elected Governor, he would be appointed to
fill the vacancy, is also groundless for his sue
cessor has already been chosen. We can see
nothing that this latter presumption argues
unless we are to infer from it that such would
be the way modern Democrat would manage
matter of that kind.
The article in the Republican concludes with
the following sentences:
ssOreven if they Fcandidates1 occupy respon
sible official stations, when they art not candi.
dates for other or higher positions, we hold thai
while Mr.Wilmot occupies the position he does
Cor has until lately,) no honorable man should
condescend to meet him in political discussion
any where. Tho man who will thus deliber
ately bring reproach upon that exalted body
the Judiciary of Pennsylvania. by voluntarily
descending from the Forum of Justice TO tn,
political hustings, and announcing from the
Bench the appointments of the demagogue
(Which Mr.. Wilmot has repeatedly done,) de
serves only the contempt of every honest anC
high-minded man,
We wonder if His Honor, Judge Barrett, ans
other Democratic members of the Jtfiicia-y
win feel any way highly complimented by til,
conclusion which the editors of the Republica,
have arrived at, that by ssdescending from th,
Forum of Justice to the political hastings o
in plain English, by making political speeches
they "bring reproach upon that exalted body =
that they ssdeservc only the contempt of ever,
honest and high-mfnded man, - and that ssn.
honorable man should condescead 70 meets
Judge ssin political discussion anywhere.''-
Really, we think, the editors of the Repabifca,
| should be more careful Of how they ssslosh'
about, for in this instance they seem to hav,
acted upon Pats advice, when Introducing
| friend to TipPerary row, ssWheriver you Sc.
head bit it!'' s. ~