Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-08-28
rur CARNIVAL OF TREASON.

THE CARNIVAL UF T6EASVN.
Whoever shall write the history of this most
memorable era of our Republic, this ordeal of
Democratic institutions, will bear witness that
the chief among our National trials and perils
was not weakness in council, incapacity in the
field, nor yet inadequacy of means, but auda-
cious, truculent, all l-pervading treason. Trea-
son in court and camp-treason in the Minis
ter's bureau and the Generals staf-treason
flying a commanders flag and neutralizing the
blockade i. makes show OF enforcing-trea-
son drawing thousands from the Federal Treas
ury for services as ambassador near Europe
an throne-treason goading regiment to mu-
tiny by in6aming its jealousies or stealing its
provisions-treason paralyzing the efficiency
of well-served battery by filling its shells
with sawdust-treason to-day robbng mint
and tomorrow surrendering an army. Such
are among the agencies and influences which
have darkened with disaster the outset of our
country's struggle for existence, and brighten
ed the visage of every hater OF Republican
Liberty with the broadest grin of exultation,
even though he be q deniZen OF some far-of
corner of the Old World.
We have no right to complain of this exulta-
tion. We had no right to expect anything
better. The aristocracies and hierarchies Of
Europe hate and fear our past conspicuous
example of general comfort and rapid growth
under institutions which rested on the consent
of the People and left Religion absolutely free
from political control. They had right to
hate us, provided they had right to exist.
But that men whom the Republic has lifted
from Obscurty to eminence-who have been
nourished on her bosom and pampered by her
partiality into consequence and fame-that
those who have most reason to honor and love
the American Union should be most active
and malevolent among its would be destroyers
this is enough to make patriot loathe man
kind.
Among those now conspcuously laboring to
divide and DESTROY the Nation are John Tyler,
ex-President of the United States, Jefferson
Davis, Howell Cobb, John B. Floyd, Jacob
Thompson, and others who have been Cabinet
Ministers, Francis W. Pickens, Richard K.
Meade, John NJ. Daniel, d. NJ. Barringer, and
many others who have been ambassadors, with
scores of ex-Members of Congress, ex-Gov-
ernors, ex-Colonels in the Army, &C., &c.
| OF all who have received Military education
at the expense of the Republic, majority in
heart and full third in act are to-day among
| that Republics deadly foes. Thousands who
have sworn fidelity to the Federal Constitution,
and been honored and enriched thereupon, are
to-day scheming and fighting to subvert that
| Constitution and establish the jeff. Davis in
| strument in its stead. While the poor and
the lowly, except that small portion of them
who have been utterly deceived and perverted,
love and cherish the Union of our fathers and
| the Government based thereon, the proud and
powerful are widely disaffected, and are intent
on our National subversion and ruin. For the
Republic based on Freedom, Equality, Popu-
lar Education, and Popular Votes, they seek
to substitute one grounded on Caste, on the
| degradation of Labor, on the ignorance OF the
Poor, and on the revisal by Bayonets Of what
has been decided by Ballots; for all this is
involved in the triumph of the Rebel Con-
| federacy.
The whole ground on which our fabric of
| Popular Government stands is mined by trea-
son. Traitors meet and plot in our great
| cities with scarcely affectation of conceal
ment. Women stepped in treason fit across
the boundary which separates Jeffdom from
the loyal States, carrying letters and cnnfden-
tial messages from skulking traitors to armed
| rebels, with trunks full of cartridges and
percussion caps designed to slaughter the de-
tenders of the National Integrity. Thousands
in the loyal States the veriest tools of trea-
son; hundreds have been caught in the act,
but not one of them has yet received the legal
punishment of his crimes. 1t is deemed an
exhibition OF vigor to dismiss detected trail
tor from the public service, and many have
been kept in office after it was notorious that
they were the willing accomplices of gigantic
| treason.
We state these facts in no censorious spirit.
The popular mind has never till now been ripe
for summary dealings with traitors. When
the New York Police undertook last Winter
to stop the transmission Of arms to the already
seeded or revolted States, the movement was
not sustained by public opinion. Had Presi
dent Lincoln ordered the first hundred traitor
spies (male or female) who were detected to
be tried by courts martial and shot or hung
there would have been general shrek OF
horror. But events hasten, opinion ripens
and the guilty must beware. There wiH be
hanging for treason on this side of the Potomac
ere long, and it is very likely to be wholesale
We warn those who are affording ssaid and
sscomfort'' to the enemy to desist utterly and
at once. Their own safety imperatively de-
mands it.