Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-08-21

| it is held in the hands of Washington, in that
bronze column now before us representing
the Father OF his Country, and whose lips now
open and urge upon us, as his Farewell Address,
to maintain the Constitution and the Union.
And now, whilst l address you, the news
| comes that the City of Washington, founded
by the Father of his Country and bearing his
sacred name, is to be seized by the legions OF
dsunion. Never. Never must or shall this
disgrace befall us. That capital must and shall
be defended, if it requires every Union man
in America to march to its defence. And now,
then, fellow citizens, desperate effort is made
to make this party question: question be-
tween Democrats aud Republicans. Well, fell
low-citizens, l have been Democrat all my
life, and never scratched Democratic ticket,
from constable up to President, but say to you
that fhas is no party question. lCheers.l 1t
| is question of maintenance of the Govern
ment, and the perpetuation of the Union. The
vessel of state is rushing upon the breakers,
and without asking who may be commander,
we must all aid in her rescue from impending
disaster. When the safety of my country is
involved, will never ask who is President,
nor inquire what may be the effect on parties
of any particular measure. Much as love
my party l love my country infinitely more,
and must and will sustain it at all hazards. In
deed, it is due to the great occasion here
frankly to declare that, notwithstanding my
earnest opposition to the election of Mr.. Lin
coin, and my disposition most closely to scru-
tinize all his acts, l see thus far nothing to
condemn in his efforts to maintain the U mon.
And now, then, my countrymen, one word
more before l close. [Cheers.] was trained
! to devotion to the Union by patriot sire,
who fought the battles of liberty during the
| war of the Revolution. My lite has been
given to the support of the Union. / never
conceived thought, wrote or uttered
word, except in its defence. And now, let me
| say, that this Union must, will, and shall be
perpetuated that not a star shall be dimmed
or stripe erased from our banner, that the
integrity of the Government shall be pre-
served, and that from the Atlantic to the Pacif-
ic, from the lakes Of the North to the Gulf of
Mexico, never shall be surr rendered single
acre of our soil or a drop of its waters.
Loud and long continued cheers.]
THE CHEROKEE Isp1ANs.-We have a report.
by way of Kansas, that John Ross, Chief of
the Cherokees, has been killed. Some cores
pondence which recently passed between him
and Ben McCulloch shows that he was so
strongly opposed to the schemes of the Srces-
sionists that they had good reason for wishing
to get him out of the way if possible. On
June II McCulloch wrote to Chief Ross from
his head quarters at Fort Smith, Ark, that he
| had been sent ssto take command of the dis
! trict embracing the Indian Territory" and to
| protect it from ssinvasion' by the people of
! the North. He concluded thus: ssIn the
meantime, those of your people who are in
favor of joining the Confederacy must be al
iotced TO organize into military companies
Home Guards for the purpose Of defending them
seires in case Of an inrasion from the North.
This, OF course, will be in accordance with the
views you expressed to me, that in case of an
invasion from the North, you would lead your
men to repel it. Should abody of men march
into your territory from the North or if l have
an intimation that body is in line of march
for the territory from that quarter, must
assure you that 1 will at once advance into
your country, if l deem it advisable
To this, Chief Ross replied in quite an able
letter, stating that he had no reason to believe
the United States desired to do anything what
ever to their prejudice, and that his tribe must
remain neutral. These were the reasons which
he gave for refusing to consent to the organi-
zation of Home Guard
ssl 1t would be very palpable violation of
my position neutral
ss2 1t will place in our midst organized COM
panes not authorized by our laws, but in viola
tion of treaty and who would soon become
efficient instruments in stirring up domestic
strife and creating internal difficulties among
the Cherokee people,"
Evidently fearful that McCuloch's bluff tone
would not suit Chief Ross, David Cubbard,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, wrote him at
the same time, making the following sugges-
tion among others:
ssYour debts, annuities, etc., school fund
due you-nearly all are in bonds of Southern
States, and held by the Government at Wash
ington. and these debts nearly all forfeited
already By the act Of ,car made upon the STATES
| By that Gorernment. These wiU secure you
beyond question, if you join as. If you join the
North they are forerer forfeited, and you have
no right to believe that the Northern people
would vote to pay you this forfeited debt"
To this gentle hint the Chief replied IN the
same tone, and this rumor probably gives the
sequel to his loyalty.
INsoLENCE REBUKED.-A correspondent of
the New York Herald, writing from Bedford
Springs, narrates the following incident: can
interesting little occurrence took place at the
Springs, few evenings since. secession
family from ST. Louis came here for safety
and to spend the summer, but made them
selves obnoxious to visitors by the offensive
parade of their traitorous sentiments. One of
the young ladies of the family paraded the
hOuSe and walks with a esSacaShs badpe- and