Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-05-21

on the 4th of March, 1901, the Democratic
pafry, with short intervals, controlled the
power and the policy of the Federal Govern
ment For forty eight years out of these six
| ty, Democratic men ruled the country for
hfty-four years and eight months the Demo
cratic policy prevailed. During this period
Louisiana, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, and
california were successfully annexed to our
territory, with an area more than twice as
large as all the original Thirteen States to-
gether. Eight new States were admitted un-
der strictly Democratic Administration-one
under the Administration of Fillmore. From
five millions, the popu lation increased to
thirty-one millions. The Revolutionary debt
was extingushed. Two foreign wars were
successfully prosecuted, with moderate out
lay and small army and navy, and without
the suspension OF the habeaS corpus; without
one infraction of the Constitution; without
one usurpation OF power; without suppressing
single newspaper; without mprisoning a
single editor; without limit to the freedom of
the press, or of speech in or out of Congress,
but in the midst OF the grossest abuse of both !;
and without the arrest of a single straltOr,' y
| though the HARTFORD CONVENTION sat during
one of the wars, and in the other Senators
invited the enemy to ssGREET OUR VOLUNTEERS
WITH BLOODY HANDS AND WELCOME THEM TO HOS
PTABLE GRAVES"
During all this time wealth increased, bust
on every side, taxes were low, wages were
high, the North and the South furnished a
market for each others products at good
ptices public liberty was secure, private
rights undisturbed every mans house was
his castle the courts were open to all; no
passports for travel, no secret police no spies,
no informers, no basties the right to assem-
bic peaceably, the right TO petition; freedom
OF religion, freedom of speech a free ballot,
and free press; and all this time the Consti-
tuition maintained and the Union of the States
preserved.
Such were the choice fruits of Democratic
principles and policy, carried out through the
whole period during which the Democratic
party held the power and administered the
Federal Government. Such has been the his
tory of that party. 1t is Union party, for it
preserved the Union, by wisdom, peace, and
compromise, for more than halt a century.
Then neither the ancient principles, the
policy, nor the past history Of the Democratic
party require nor would justify its disband
ment.
Is there anything in the present crisis which
demands it 2 The more immediate issue is,
TO MAINTAIN THE CONSTITUTION AS 1T Is, AND TO
RESTORE THE UNION AS 1T WAS.
To maintain the Constitution is to respect
the rights OF the States and the liberties of
the citizens. 1t is to adhere faithfully to the
very principles and policy which the Demo-
cratic party has professed for more than half
a century. Let its history, and The results,
from the beginning, prove whether it has
practised them. We appeal proudly to the
record.
The first step towards a restoration of the
Union as it was is to maintain the Constitution
as it is. So long as it was maintained in fact,
and not threatened with intraction in spirit
and in letter, actual or imminent, the Union
was unbroken.
To restore the Union, it is essential, first
TO give assurance to every State and to the
people of every section that their rights and
liberties and property will be secure within
the Union under the Constitution. What as
surance so doubly sure as the restoration to
power of that ancient organized consolidated
Democratic party which for sixty years did Sc.
cure the property, rights, and liberties of the
States and of the people; and thus did main
tain the Constitution and preserve the Union,
aud with them the multiplied blessings which
distinguish us above other nations
To restore the Union is to crush out section
aliSm North and South. To begin the great
work of restoration through the ballot box is
to kill abolition. The bitter waters of seces-
sion flowed first and are fed still from the un-
clean fountain of abotionism. That fountain
must be dried up. Armies may break down
the power of the Confederate Government in
the South but the work of restoration can
only be carried on through political organiza-
In this great work we cordially invite the CO.
operation of all men OF every party who are
opposed to the fell spirit of abolition, and
who, in sincerity, desire the Constitution as
it is and the Union as it was. Let the dead
past bury its dead. Rally, lovers of the Union,
the Constitution, and of Liberty to the stand
ard of the Democratic party, already in the
field and confident OF victory. That party is
the natural and persistent enemy Of abolition.
Upon this question its record as q national
organization, ho tever it may have been at
times with particular men or in particular
States, is clear and unquestionabe. From
the beginning Of the anti-slavery agitation to
the period of the last Democratic National
it has held but one language in re-
gard to it. Let the record speak:
"Resolued, That Congress has no power I'M
der the Constitution to interfere with or con-
troll the domestic institutions of the several
States, and that such States, are the sole and |
proper judges of everything appertaining to
their own affairs not prohibited by the Consti-
tuition that all efforts of the Aboltionists or |
others made to induce Congress to interfere
with questions of slavery, or to take incipient |
steps in relation thereto, are calculated TO |
lead to the most alarming and dangerous con-
sequences, and that all such efforts have an
tendency to diminish the happi- |
ness of the people and endanger the stability |
md permancy OF the Union, and ought not to |
Do countenaced BY any friend of our political |
Upon these principles alone, so far as relates
o slavery, can the Union as it was be restored; |
Ind no other Union, except the UNITY OF DEs-
'orTsM, can be maintained IN this country |
md this last we will resist, as our fathers did,
With our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred
lonor.
But it is said that you must disband the /
Democratic party 'to support the Govern
nent" We answer that the Democratic par
y has always supported THE CONVENIENT; and