Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-09-29

and accompanied by man well known to the
country, Mr.. Stanton, who went out with SIM
liar pledges.
Now, after this plain statement of the facts,
/ will come down to my part of this
campaign. My ambition to assist and build
up my good old State, to push forward her
great interests, and assist in the developement
of her industry-to do that which we must
all do, at least if we desire Succession the
older You grow you should be stronger at your
own home-to build You: selves up IN your
own counties and own State, and when you
do that You will be respected and strong at
the seat of the Federal power. Therefore, it
was that in the year 1857 started the news
paper which now bears my name at its mast
head. did this forthc purpose of advocat-
ing Mr.. Buchauan's policy throughout. l had
abundant pledges as TO his course, but before
publishing that paper / took care to write to
Mr.. Buchanan's Cabinet, and to himself, and
told them on what ground intended to stand
on this question of Kansas. They SO
good as to send me sufficient written testimony
strengthening me in the position had as
sumed. ! went on with Walker and Stanton,
until the Oxford and McGee frauds took place,
when there was hurst of execration through
out the country. The whole Democratic press
had argued constantly the policy of the Ad-
ministration up to that time; but when Gov.
Walker rejected these frauds, there was silence.
y pail fell over the columns of The FGshiRg
ION Union. Nothing WAS said upon the subject
OF the Oxford and McGec frauds. No voice
was heard in Washington against 1t but l
supposed some malgn influences for the mo-
ment, had surrounded that journal that it
had an attack of some peculiar insanity,
which has lately become chronic with it, and
l allowed it 10 pass by. But when the dark,
damnng deed of Lecompton was pcrpetratcd,
then saw for the first time that those gallant
men in the Territory, Walker and Stanton,
and those who acted with them, had been de-
serted. j saw that Democratic principles had
been carried out by them, and we were now
called upon to turn our backs upon our pledg
es and bctray our manhood. Applause.
Gentleman, there was something too much
of this; and when the cup was presented to
my lips | refused it. ICheers.l Administra-
tionS may change, Presidents may change,
but had been too fully committed on this
subject to go back to Pennsylvania and turn
my back npon pledges which had both spo-
ken and written to thousands of men. did
not for a moment believe that the Admins
tration had concluded to abandon the princi-
Piles which had put them into power; that
they were resolved to make their policy test;
so when went to Washington and called up
on my old friend, l said to him, s'Mr. Buchan-
an, for the first time in our lives we at
variance find myself standing by one prn-
cipe having followed your lead, and you have
deserted it, .sWcll,'' said he, sscan't you
change too 7-[Laughter.l If 1 can afford to
change, why can't you afford to change?
Renewed laughter.l If you and Douglas and
Walker will unite in support of my policy,
there will not be whimper of this thing; it
will pass by like Summer breeze" i toll
him that it was very we'll with an Administra-
ton surrounded by Office holders and living
all the time in the atmosphere of fiattery,
that was followed by thousands of gentlemen
hp tod hat pnnid
to him and say, ssYou are right. Mr.. Buchan-
an; we are down bellies; please to
walk over us-please trample upon us and we
will be happy and content, and hope You will
belinvn ynnr -pnlicy is right-s s.But L tell
vou'; said /, s'that there is still, small voice
in the pee pie that instinctvey rejects frauds.
and this is not only fraud but 4 diShonor.
do not claim to be more honest than any
other man. l have done as all politicians have
some things which may not square exactly
with the rules of religion and right. and which,
if have, l regret them but these things
will not do. Loud cheers l have reached
the stature and years of mamie cd, and can
not go back to Pennsylvania to eat my own
words and become the slave of power. Re-
newed cheers.l / cannot. But then, Mr..
Buchanan, you must tolerate this difference of
opinion. Gen. Jackson tolerated differences
of opinion in his friends. Col. Polk tolera-
ted differences of opinion. and you differed
with him in his views the tariff and yet
you remained in his Cabinet. Mr.. Pierce
tolerated difference of opinion. But here
you are. Men who put you where You are
who ask nothing at your hands-who have re-
fused yOur favors-haye trampied all the pat
ronage that has been offered them under feet;
here they are. asking to be tolerated in the
indulgence of an honest opinion.'' The re-
ply to that was, ssSir, intend TO make my
Kansas policy test" swell, Sir" said |,
ssI regret it; but if you make il test with
your officers, we will make it test at the
ballot box.'' ILoud checrs.l
Repeated efforts were made to heal the diff
ference. But it seems to me, gentlemen, that
when the Presidency is conferred upon poor
mortal, it transforms him into god, in his
own estimation, or a lunatic. Laughter. J.
Nobody is permitted to approach power to tell
the truth. Power never hears the thunder
voice of the people, sitting as it does in its
cushioned chairs, between the marble walls.
The independent man, loud and bold, with
clear eve, who comes to tell the truth, is
waved from the Presidential presence a rude
intruder. Then We went home. As l said,
repeated efforts were made. and made in vain,
to heal the differences. The comforting of
this Presidential patronage-of vast millions
more than the monarch OF Great Britain en-
Joys, and nearly as much as The French despot
wields-this patronage induced Mr.. Buchanan
to believe that he could make his test success
full How was it made 2 Gentlemen, when
the chapter which shall detail the manner in
which the Administration has used its patron
age is written it will be black one. When
our children and our chidren's children come
to read it. they will not believe that an Amer
ican citizen, elevated to the Presidential chair,
in the faoe of such a people, covered with
such an armOr of pledges, would have gone
into that chair to have used his army-aye, his
army and the treasure-your money and mine
your officers and mine-for the purpose of
putting down gallant band of men for stand