Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-12-21
WHO'S TO DO TT

Mariners always anticipate stormy weather
in passing the Great Capes. 1t is alike true
of Hatterns and the Horn. The Ship of State
has similar perils to encounter. We We're
launched upon the stormy Atlantic of our
present voyage, and plunged into its biilows,
by those two renowned political navigators,
Commander Pierce and Pilot Douglas. We
have had a stormy, but on the whole sue
cessful passage thus far. We have passed onr
Hatteras, and are now facing the gales and
Drawing the storms of our Horn. There is
commotion among the passengers, and a little
threatened nutiny but the good ship is tight,
stauuch, and strong, and the voices of a vail
ant and indomitable crew ring loud and clear
above the tempest, esCheery, Soysi' '.Cheery,
boys - sAlfs right, all's well!'' We are
rapidly passing on to the broad Pacific, where
the mistS and SHOWS, the winds and the storms
of our voyage will be forgotten in placid and
peaceful waters. We cannot hearken to vol
ces that exaggerate our peFils, nor to couDSels
that bid us turn back. With Ioins girdcd and
spirits high, and craft that has hitherto borne
the brunt of every conflict. without opening a
seam or Shivering spar, we confidently count
upon successful and happy termination to
our present enterprise.
This fgurative exposition of the condition
of public affairs needs no Interpretation. In
our political concerns, there always plenty
of people to magnify small national disorders
and to create imaginary ones. Just now, the
effort to DO this is in very busy hands. But,
as heretofore, it will soon die out. John
Browns ghost Will soon be laid, and then all
will be quiet again. So soon as our more
youthful and ardent members of Congress get
fairly warm in their seats, and begi TO feel the
sedative physical Influences that flow from
luxurious eating and drinking, when the christ
mas holidays shall come, we shall witness a
marked abatement of the existing furry of
speech at Washington. And when the nlon-
saving meetings in our large cities shall be
over, our agitated responsibilities and CULVER
ing devotees Of Trade will subside into their
usual dull routne. People profess to be fright
ened, and TO see portentS in the sky, and to
tremble for some imaginary future Of insur
rection, and rebellion, and diSunion, and civil
war, and we do not know what other eXtray a
gance. But it is the tremor of chronic timid
ty, the apprehension of very dull minds and
very weak nerves. Who is to be the authors
of these calamitieS, whence they are to come.
how they are to come, nobody tell, nobodyJ
knows. Certain it is, the fifteen millions of
people in the North propose nothing, abso-
lutely nothing. but TO mind their own busi-
ness. There is not a bomb, nor she'll. nor
pike, except intellectual ones,) preparing in
all our borders for any illegal or improper pur
pose whatever. People have said John Brown
was brave man, and exhibited moral quail
ties that were an ornament to human nature.
This is the head and front of Northern offend
ing-no more. How is it with the nine mil
lions of the South Are they going to pro-
woke or bring on conflict, to cry havoc, and
let slip the dogs of war Do they want any
more agitation at home than they have got
Is not all nIggerdom sufficiently excited alrea-
dy p? Does not Mr. Wise say that neither life
nor property is worth having in Virginia in
the existing state of alarm and trepidation
Does not Mr.. Senator Chesnut say that the
South lies bleeding and poweriesS Who,
then, is to bring on these imaginary horrors
that torment the Imagination of our terror
struck old women in pantaloons2