Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-10-06

soon convinced that unless | debased my man
hood, and recalled all that had said IN favor
of the Cincinnati platform aad the doctrine OF
popular sovereignty, j would be called upon
TO bear the brunt of violent collision. And
from that day, from Januarys 1888, mp TO Sep
tembsr, when | spoke at Tarrytown, there was
no caiumny too vile to be coined and cirsuia-
ted by the organs of the Administration a.
gainst the journal of which | AM the owner
and the editor, and the gentlemen with whom
| am proud 10 corporate in this great cause.
Every friend who had been appointed to Of
fice and who still dared to sympathise with
me. in my struggle tor principle, was c.
iectcd from place. l was denounced, not
only as false to my party, not only as false to
the issues of 1886, but was declared ''to be
under the pay OF The Black Republicans -
aud, to cap the climax, the same Administra-
tion organs were kind enough to allege that |
had proved myself ungrateful TO JAMES b.
ou4SAN by refusing to follow him IN his be-
trayal OF Democratic principles Appeals
were made to postHasters throughout the
country TO attack me in my business, and 10
leave no effort untried TO cripple my enter
prise. In word, there was an ingenuity OF
prescription, fertility of falsehoOd, reck-
lcssness of persecution, which induced me
more than once TO inquire in the language of
Gov. Walker, whether indeed '.we were liy-
ing in the last year of American Independence,
the first year of the American monarchy ~
L saw the DaSeSt WretcEeS, men VINO DaU DcN-
er been recognised by the Democratic party
in this State, and who in 1886 had scarcely AN
opinion TO avow, ready to go for Fremont or
FuLMoaE-I saw these men not only clothed
with the power of the Federal Administration,
but authorized to Speak in denuncIation of
men who had created it. | saw the money OF
the Federal Government expended 10 break
down the regular organization OF the Demo-
cratic party whenever and wherever that Or
ganiZatiOn was not committed to the scanda-
lous Kansas policy of that Administration
| saw Senators turned into spectators in or
der TO induce them TO desert their written and
spoken promises TO the people: | saw Repre-
sentatives purchased to betray their constitu-
entS, as Southern STAKEHOLDER purchases his
slaves | saw newspapers openly and actiysy
engaged with me on the side of conscience
and the Constitution. threatened or bought
into silence acquiescence; | witnessed an
of official despotism, and an organization
OF official insoience, such as, had II taken
place under an opposition Administration, and
against the Democratic party, would have
hurled that Opposition into perpetual ohscuri
ty. IL was in vain that patriotic Democrats
in all parts of the Union, North asd South,
East and West. held up their hands in terror
at this abandoned spectacle. 1t was in vain
that WISE, Of Virginia. protested, that Dot
GLAs protested, that PACKER protested, that
BANCROFT protested, that RYERsos protested.
that KNOX protested, that the nearest and
dearest friends of Mr.. BUCHANAN protested
the crusade went on. | saw the Democratic
party of Illinois, standing uuder the flag
which marshalied us in the great victory two
years ago, traduced IS traitors 10 that flag;
| saw STEPHEN A.DOUGLAs leading the regular
organization of the party to daily conflict
with the ayowed enemies of that party, and
yet attacked front and rear by the AdminiStTa-
tion | saw HICKMAN contending against the
mercenary hosts of office in his district, HAsK
N struggling against the custom house in his,
MONTGOMERY with the regular nomination at
his back opposed by the officials in his, and
JouS q. DAVIS upholding popular sovereign
ty in his, against frantic horde of mercena-
ries; and it seemed to me that silence on my
part would be grievous cowardice. Accord
ingiy L spoke as l did.
So much for the causes which induced ME
to pronounce my TarrytOwn speech and now
for the accusations which have been called forth
against that speech by the hirelings of the Ad-
mipistration. The first to which | shall call
attention is that Of the Washington Union.
which. in its issue of September 9TH, uses the
following language:
sour purpose, however, was not to censure
this statement for the want of honor implied
in making it, but TO denounce it, as we now do
most emphaticaliy. for its unmitigated and to-
tai destitution OF all honesty and truth. No
such conversation took place, nor any CONVEX
sation at all, between those parties on that sub
JcCl MT OIncN never nal lI!e 3l-
dress Mr.. Buchanan in that strain, and he GER
tainly had not the impudence 10 offer mis- adj
vice to the man of whose personal character
he had been the habitual traducer for months
before Lecompton or anti-Lecompton was
thought of.
ssNo such conrersGfioa.' SAYS the Union fooI;
place, nor any conversation at all, tei17cen those
parties on The subject"
To these general words l beg to reply by
dates and facts l visited Washington early
in December of 1857, and had Gsl iaterriesr of
some three hoars trith Mr.. BUCHANAN or the first
day of the meeting OF Congress at its late session.
That such an interview took place is proved
by the fact that il was announced in the New
York Herald and New York Tribune. shortly
after it occurred, and in The Press on the 18th
of December.
Not only did the conversation as detailed
take place, but. as the many friends to whom
| related it after left the Presidential mansion
will remember. many other things were omit
ted in the statement which l gave at Tarry-
town. Among others, the President said to me
ssIf You and Walker and Douglas will unite in
support of my Kansas policy the people OF
Kansas will vote at the election which is to
come off on the 2lst December; ;" THAT cleo
ton, it wi be remembered, having been called
under the auspices of the minority Legislature
for the purpose of putting through the Lee
compton Constitution, and was held under cir
cumstances OF fraud and infamy which will not
soon be forgotten.l lie SAID further Il knos
that you have the strong side of this question.
| know that you can carry of the people, but
| appeal to you TO stand with me, because if
| do not adhere to my new policy. Alabama
| Georgia and Mississippi will probably secede
| from the Union.'' 1t is probable that the
memory of Mr.. BUCHANAN will be stimulated
when he reads these sentences. As tor the
! Washington IuiOu whether IL sD,aEs for him