Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-12-04
4aftsmaIr's s SournaI.
CLEARF1ELD, PA, DEC. 4. 1851.
IEFF. DAVIS, MEssAaE.

=
JEFF. DAVIS MESSAGE.
The arch-traitor JEFF. Davis, on the 18th
November, laid his message before the Rebel
Congress at Richmond. To say that it a.
bounds in faisehoods, is to speak charitably OF
It. He talks of the rebellion, as purely de-
fsusive War, when it is notorious that the re-
verse is the fact. He boasts offabundant har-
vests and increased ability to prosecute the
war, yet intimates clearly that the rebels must
expect to forego many of the luxuries and
comforts Of life. He asserts that Kentucky
was esinraded" by Federal troops, when the
fact Is that no Union soldier set his foot on
her soil until invited there by her fairly cho-
sen authorities. No paragraph, however, in
the message contains more misrepresentation
--barefaced lying, self-assuranee and impu-
dence, than the following:
s.If We husband our means, and make ju-
dicious use of our resources, it would be diff
cult to fix limit, the period during which We
could conduct war against the adversary
whom we now encounter. The very efforts
which he makes to desolate and invade us
must exhaust his means, while they serve to-
complete the circle and diversity the produc-
tions of our Industrial system. The recon-
struction which he seeks to effect by arms be-
comes daily more and more impossible. Not
only do the causes which induced us to sepa-
rate still last in full force, but they have been
strengthened, and whatever doubt may have
fingered in the minds of any must have been
completely dispelled by subsequent events.
1t, instead of being dissolution of league,
1t were indeed rebellion in which we are
gagged, we might feel ample yindication for
the course We have adopted in the scenes
s>l~ hot,, ,ka1 I, ,kaI
States. Our people no,c look toith contenptuous
astonishnent ON these Tith Dhom they hare been
so rscently associated. They shrink ,rith aper
sion from the bare idea Of rene,cing such a
nection. When they see President making
war without the consent of Congress when
they behold judges threatened because they
maintain the writ OF habeas corpus, so sacred
to freeman; when they see justice and law
trampled under the armed heel of military
authority, and upright men and innocent wo-
men dragged to distant dungeons upon the
mere edict of despot; when they find all
this tolerated and applauded by a people VIII o
had been in the full enjoyment OF freedom but
few months ago, they believe that there
must be some incompatibility between such a
people and themselves. With such people,
we may be content to live at peace, but our
separation is final, ind for the independence ,oe
hare asserted ,ce tciU accept alternative.
The nature of the hostilites which they have
WA&eU against US UuSt Ne CuaracteTlZeO as
barbarous whenever it is understood. They
have bombarded undefended villages, without
giving notice to women and children, to ena-
bio them to escape, and in one instance select
cd the night as the period when they might
surprise them most effetually, while asleep
and unsuspicious of danger. Arson and ra-
pine, tho destruction of private houses and
property, and injuries of the most wanton
character, even upon -combatants, have
marked their forayg along their borders and
upon our territory. Although we ought tc
have been admonished by these things thai
they were disposed to make war upon US ir
the most cruel and relentless spirit, yet We
we're not prepared to see them fit out large
naval expedition with the confessed purpose
not only to pillage, but to incite a servile wal
in our midst. If they convert their soldiers init
ineendiaries and robbers, aud inrolpe US in spe
cies of ,car ,sh,ch claims -combotants, ,come,
and children as IL, rictims, they must erpect Il
be treated as outla,cs and enemies of mankind
There are certain rights of humanity which
are entitled to respect even in war, and b,
who refuses to regard them forfeits his claim
1t captured. to be considered prisoner of war
and must expect to be dealt with as an often
der ageinst all law, human and divine"
Outrageous as this language is, it neverthe
less shows that the leaders OF the rebellion ART
determined to repel every suggestion OF set
Element by compromise-that they sswill &C
ycept no alternative''-and the concluding sen
tetence Of the above paragraph clearly indi
Gates that they are ready to raise the blaci
dag "cross bones and scull,' and murde
every Union man they take prisoner.
IA -.Fs r- >~~~--
- A ANorEEoRrHY FACr.-The Semi-Traitorou
Press in the loyal states, that chung to th
fortunes and attitudes Of John c. Breckinridg
until they were forced from their friendship
by the fear of halter, are now tuning thei