The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-06-20

so many Southern officers and men from
tie Army aud Navy, since the breaking
out of the slave rebellion, has taught The
North . lesson from which they should
derive much counsel, and station guide
posts along the road Of government pre-
fcrment, whose hands, pointing out a diff
ferent course from that pursued by Pierce
and Buchanan misrule, would avoid the
difficulties under which the government
now labors. Men who have been suppl
cd, from their youth, with education, pc
cuniary support and the advantages which
are acquired by high civil and military
positions, have, when the time Of greatest
need come upon the country, proved
themselves TO be open traitors, or seeking
refuge behind the-nimsy veil Of "not de-.
sling to fight against their friends at
home" Lave resigned-thus aidirg and
abetting in the work Of treason.
This has been caused in a great mea-
sure by their fealty to slavery the curse
TO themselves and their country, the great
miasma that has foated over their States
preventing their advancement in c~i7iliza-
ton and internal improvement, cloggirg
the wheels Of emigration, laying waste the
most fertile of soils, and for which they
axe now attempting to dismember their
country. But, let us look at the causes
which have produced this great majority
Of Southern officers. Wherever slavery
exists, labor is considered disgraceful ;
hence, young men, especially Of the mid
die classes, who have not the means to
establish themselves in a business or pro
f%ession, seek Offices under the government,
and for That end their education is Of the
particular kind best suited for such ro3i.
tons. From their childhood up they are
made to understand that such is to be
their life and that the better the prcpara-
ton the greater the probability Of being
promoted. Acting upon this principle
the South has become one great nest Of
office seekers, and we are sorry to say it
is a very successful one and as slavery
is ever suspicious, and Of late years been
much alarmed by the progress of free
principles in the North, she has been put
ting Into the hands Of her children the
very best positions,-and we lave the
result. The Northern youth whose life
Is labor and who delights in the excite
ment Of carving for himself a name, has
heretofore looked with somewhat of con
tempt upon the "blue coat and brass but,
ton; positions, choosing rather those posi-
lions which will best qualify him fer ben,
citing his fellowmen and gain for himself
an honorable position in the civil world.
BY these means the South have here
tsfoce held the majority Of Offices, aitho'
not equal to the North in population. The
question now is, shall this state Of things
continue? Will not the North endcayor
hereafter to occupy those positions which
in justice belongs to her, and for which
her sons can easily qualify themselves.
Thus, the North, not from inability,
but for lack of desire for such pursuits.
has been giving into the hands Of the
enemies Of her country the very advan-
tages she should improve and use for the
preservation CT her liberties. in the
future would it not be we'll for every Mem
Der Of Congress, from the North, to see
that his district is represented in both
Army and Navy, and by those who will
make the proper efforts to successfully
compete with those Of the Southern sec
tion of our Union. Such young mcn can
be found. Let them not be taken, as
they mostly are, from wealthy families,
but let them come from the people and
be those who have to lock to their own
individual energies for a livelihood, aud
will soon find a different state Of af-
fairs IN our country; we will then have
men who will pay some respect to their
oath of allegiance, vino will not sacrifice
their honors for the spread of slavery, but
who when the time come for action viii
be found true to the principles of right
and humanity, and true to their Country.
60
re- As the Fall Election is approach