Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-01-14
The RAFTsMAN's JOURNAL,

1 Influence and strikes a fatal blog 81 the cher
ished rights of freemen- These evils are al
legged 10 exist in orr large citIes-the rural
districts OF the State are comparatively free
! from such corrupting abuses 4 remedy. CO
extensive with the evil. should be provided
I Fverv defence should be- thrown around the
! isaIloI-box and whilst the rights OF legal vo-
/ tiers should be secured and protected, fraud in
/ every form should be prevented and punished
I Whether judiciOus registry law, or some o.
iher measure OF reform, adequate TO the ne
cessitIes Of the case, should be adopted, Is
ierrel to oihe wisdom Of the Legislature.
As appropriate 10 this subject, the reform oi
the naturalization layTs-ihs prevention by the
National Government. of tie importation of
foreign criminals and p2upers, and 4 more
careful. rigid aud personal examination, by our
courts, 81 all persons coming before them
applicant. fUr admission 10 the rights Vf ciii
zeHShip, would. 90 some extent correct exist
ing abuses. and relieve the baliOi-box from the
pressure OF corrupting and dangerous Infa-
eHces.
To the policy and acts oi the National Cor
crnmenr, affecting, as they do, the rights and
Interests Of the Commonwealth. the people Of
the State cannot bg Indifferent. Pennsyiga-
MIA, occupying high conservative position IN
the sisteThoOd of Sfates--leyOted TO the Con-
tsiiufion and the Cnion. IN their integrity and
h1rmoay, has been. and viii ever BE-, ready
| 20 recognize the rights OF her sister States as
to defend her oWn. These sentiments she has
never aiandoued-tbese principles she has
never violated. Pledged to the maintenance
Oi the rights Of the north, as well as those oi
| the soutli-siuc-reiy dvsirUus 10 promote the
pace, harmony and welfare Of our whole
coun'Tv-and disclaimiag all intention or de-
sire TO interfere with the constitutional rights
! nf the States. or their domestic instructions
tine people Of this Commonwealth viewed with
/ alarm and apprehension the repeal OF the Mis-
souri Compromiss-a compromise rendered
sicTed IN public esteem by its association and
connection with the great cause Of national
/ harmony and UuiDu-TrgarCiing IL a. Falp2-
/ Le violation Of plighted faith and honor Of the
nation. and as UUwarraniatie attempt 20 ex
I tend the Institution Of domestic slavery TO
I territories then free This reckless and indie
/ leusibe act Of our National Congress, has not
J only aroused sectional ie1lousies and renewed
/ the agitation Of yexed aud distrsctng qucs-
I lions. hut. as consequence. il has flied Kan
I sas vith fraud violence and stTife-has stain
Cd It's soil with blood, and by q system of ter
riiOrial legislation justly styled infamous
( las made freedom of speech and Of the press,
/ = felony, and periiled the great principles Of
Z liberty and equal rights. Ii the doctrine oi
/ ..pOpular sovereignty IS in good faith TO b.
applied TO that TerriJory-if the people there
I Of are TO he left ''periectly free to form and
regulate their domestic Institutions IN their
! Own way. subject only to the Constitution Of
! TIE United States" then t!le obstruction o;
] lsr great - 4tiDid4 u4sAHdN5 70 me northern
! eni-raut-ihe employ ment Of the National
! forces, and the subversion Of law and justice
alike by tis officials in Kansas and washing
/ ton. to force slavery upon al unwilling people,
/ cannot be too severely condemned.
| Freedom is the great centre-trIIth OF Amer
! lean Republic1nism-ihe great Law Of AmeTi-
/ can Nationality slavery is the exception. II
/ is local and sectional and its extension be-
! yond the jurisdiction creating it, or to the free
/ territories OF the Union, was never designed
! or contemplated By the patriot founders OF the
/ Republic. In accordance with these senti-
/ ments, Pennsylvania, true to the principles OF
! act Of 1880, which abolished slavery within
/ her territorial lmiis-true to the great doc
! trines Of the Ordinance OF 1887. which dedi-
! Gated 40 freedom the northwestern territory
Of the Union-true to National faith and Ma
! iiCnal honor, asks and expects. Is due TO her
Owu citizens who h7ye, in good faith, settled
1 in the territory Of Kansas, and as due TO the
| industry and energy OF tree people, that Kan
sls should lie free.
In this connection, and rs a consequent upon
! thc repeal Of the Missouri Compromise, refer
| ence to proposition made by some Of the
/ leading southern journals, and more recently
| ssctisned by high official authority in sister
! State, to reopen the African slave trade, will
/ not be deemed improper. That such 4 traffic
| declared TO be piracy, and eXecFated by the
| civilized worli-so crowded with horrors in
I every stage Of its pursuit-sO revolving to ey-
/ cry sentiment OF hHmaDjty-everv impulse of
| pure and noble feeling. should be advocated or
/ approved. in This nineteenth century, with ap-
/ parent sincerity. and urged IS measure Of
/ political economy and Of Justice and equality
! to the southern States of the UuiOn, are facts
! that find their ouly explanation and apology
/ in will enthusiasm. or still wilder flnaticisn
! that orerwheius alike the reason and the con-
/ science. The wisdom and humanity Of 4 pro
I position so startling and InonStrOus mnst seek
! their parallel and Illustration i'm the dungeons
| Of the InquiSition or in the hold of the slave
/ ship. amid the horrors of the ssiniddle las-
| sage Equally repulsive to~thc intelligent
j and virtUpus sentiment Of the souih as we'll as
+ tie north, II should receive the indignant re-
/ buke % every lover of his conntry-of every
/ friend of Justice and humanity. The history
! Of the wurij and of crime does not reveal a
! traffic more lithuanian atrocity mere horri-
I bic. Against Il proposition 50 ahhorreIt and
/ against the principles it involves, as the rep
resentatires Of a free people, and in their
name you should enter their unanimous and
! emphatic protest.
The union of the States, which constitutes
! MS one people. should he dear to ynJi-to eve
! ~ American citizen. In the heat and excite
ncnt Of political contests--in the whirl Of sec
! tional and conflicting inJcrests-amid the sur
| ging Of human passions, harsh and discOrdJnt
| voices NAV be heard. threatening its s1tegrity
! ind denouncing its doom but in the calm
sssobcr second thought'' OF patriotic and vir-
| tuOus people, will be found its spcur ~ and
defense. Pounded in wisdom, and cherished
| by the Intense affection Of pure and devoted
| patriotism, il will stand, safe and undsturbed,
amid the insane rage of political demagogism,
| and the ftfnl bowling of frantic fanaticism
| and when il fIlls-if fall il mUst-it will be
| when liberty and truth, patriotism and virtue,
| have persisted. Pennsylvania tolerltes no SEN
! timeniS OF fdisuniOn-She knows not the word