Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-11-27
THE PRESIDENT AND A "sERvILE WAR.
IA Forney's Philadelphia Press.


Before Mr.. Lincoln was elected President
the Southern politicians, aided by number of
sym mpathizers in the free States, predicted that
in the event of Republican triumph, an ap-
peal would be made to the slaves OF the South
to rise against their masters, and that large
bodies of the free colored men OF the North
would be mustered into the Federal army, for
the purpose OF awakening an answering sympa-
thy among their brethern held in servitude.
Mr.. Lincoln was elected. He was supposed to
belong to the ultra Republicans. He had made
memorable speech, in which he was quoted
as declaring that the country must eventually
he all free or all slave-and yet, from the day
of his inauguration, he has taken no step
which can be construed either into an attack
upon the institutions OF the South, or into an
endorsement of the exaggerated construction
given to the platform upon which he stood.
Iu fact, the very responsibilities and troubles
of the position have made him an eminently
natioral Executive. Charged with being
sectional man, he has looked upon the arhoie
country, and has done no one thing which can
Justly be regarded as favortism for his own
particular region, or undeserved opposition to
the Southern States which so bitterly antagon-
ized him.
Let us recount few Of his acts to show how
well he estimates his obligations and antici-
pates his destiny. He waited long and patient
ly before accepting the awful reality of war
wit h the South He listened, with singular
indulgence, to the appeals and propositions OF
the Peace Congress, and, even when Sumter
fell, he spoke of the Southern traitors in lam
guage Of moderation and magnanmity. With
| the fierce opposition of the pro slavery leaders
| ranking in his mind, and surrounded by the
bitter enemies of these men, he nevertheless
instructed the chiefs in our military service to
do no act that might awaken the prejudices
of the Union shareholders in the South against
his administration, and the cause in which the
American people are now engaged. General
Fremont, man born in the South, whose
proclamation against slavery was received
with electrical enthusiasm by tho Republicans
of the Northwest, was advised by this Repub
lican President, Abraham Lincoln, to modify
his proclamation, in accordance with the laws
of the United States, and in response to the
| appeals of such patriots as Holt and Critten-
den of Kentucky, and Gamble and Phelps of
! Missouri And what else To prove that this
is not a war upon the institutions of slavery we
need only ca II the attention of readers to
the fact that whenever slaves have escaped
| from their masters, and have gone into Union
| camps-instcad OF being assisted on their way
| to Canada-they have been detained, set to
| W ork and an account kept of their labor, SO
| that they may be returned to their loyal own
| ers, and in many cases hundreds have been
returned whenever their owners have come
| forward to prove their loyalty to the CoDstitu-
| tion, and their right to this description of
property.
| So much for the accusation that one part of
Mr.. Lincoln's theory, and one object Of the
| present war, was an appeal to the Servile pop
ulation of the South Now as to the charge
that the free people of color were to be used
by the North not only has no appeal been
| made to the free people of color in the free
States, but nothing has been done to induce
them to rise in the slave States. In the Dis
trict of Columbia, and in the border State of
Maryland, there are nearly forty Thousand of
this class, and yet i'm all the capture of prison.
ers no single free man of color has been taken
in arms. Nor has any effort been made to in
duce them to enlist against the Southern peo-
pie. We hare repeatedly said that if Slavery is
destroyed in the South it trii NOT be by any act Of
MIR. Lincoln, or the Federal army, but ,cholly
because of the ingratitude and rectessness of the
rebel leaders themselves. The only instance in
which the free colored people have been invok-
ed to take arms has been that OF General Jack
son, when he called upon the free negroes of
J Louisiana to arm in defense OF New Orleans.
General Jackson was a Southern man. He
, was defending Southern city, and, in max
ing this appeal, he was defending the insttu-
} ton of slavery. Mr.. Lincoln has frequently
: been asked to initiate the example OF jackson.
J What if he had followed this example, and is
sued proclamation, copying the words OF the
following memorable proclamation, issued
, only a few weeks before the great victory on
the plains of Chalmet, in January, 1857 1t i:
significant that, in all the charges against the
: present Republican Chief Magistrate, he ha.
never issued such proclamation as the full
lowing:
ANDREW JACKSON.
Proclamation 10 the free colored population O
Louisiana:
Through mistaken policy You have beer
heretofore deprived of participation in the
S glorious struggle for national rights in which
!. our country is engaged. This no longer shall
I exist. ~
!, As sons of freedom you are now called upor
s to defend our most inestimable blessing. A.
: Americans, your country looks with conf
: dence to her adopted children for valorou
Q support, as a faithful return for the advantage
g enjoyed under her mild and equitable Govern
v errment. As fathers, husbands, and brother!
5 You are summoned to rally around the stand
). ard of the eagle to defend all which is dear il
s existence.
Your country, although calling for your ex
9 ertions, does not wish you to engage in tn,
II cause without amply remunerating you for tn,
!. services rendered. Your intelligent mind
b are not to be lead away by false representa-
: tions. Your love of honor would cause yol
" to despise the man who should attempt to de
n ceive you. In the sincerity of soldier an(
Q the language of truth address you.
e To every noble-hearted, generous freeman
9 of color volunteering to serve during the pres
s ent contest with Great Britain, and no longer
j. there will be paid the same bounty, in money
9 and lands, now received by the white soldiers
d of the United States, viz one hundred anC
r twent-fout dollars in money, and one hundred
q and sixty acres of land. The non-commis
stoned officers and prlyates will also be en-
titled to the same monthly pay and daily ra
Q tions and clothes furnished to any American
), soldier.
!. On enrolling yourselves in companies, III,
. Major General commanding will select officer