Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-07-30
REMARKS OF JUDGE KNOX.

Peoples State Convention, held at Harrisburg,
July 18th, 1862.
The gentlemen of the convention will please
| accept my thanks for their kind partiality in
selecting me TO preside over their delibera-
/ tions. ! rejoice to be here to-day, acting in
| concert with the true and loyal men of Penn
sylvania, regardless of former political asSo-
Citations, and recognizing at this eventful time
as the only true tests of fellowship and COM
munion, love of country, devotion to the A
merican Union, fixed and unalterable deter
mination to uphold and sustain the Govern
ment of the United States, and to resist to the
/ death the armies OF that Government when
/ ever and wherever found. GApplause]
| | rejoice especially 10 be here, because
can in this way evDce my desire to strengthen
! the hands of that honest man and patriotic
| statesman, the President of the United States,
to cheer him on, and to bid him and his trust
worthy counsellors God speed in their noble
labors for maintenance Of our Government
and the preservation of our country. rap
! plause.
| Yes, gentlemen. il is to me n source of great
! pleasure to be able to declare that in my
| judgment. the men at the head of our Nation
| al and State administrations are, in this terri
! bic crisis, doing their whole duty, and are con-
! sequently entitled to our entire confidence
and our warmeSt support.
| | envy not that man who cannot now look
beyond the platform of his party, to the stand
ard of his country.
! The question is not now which political par
ty shall administer the government, or what
men shall fill its Offices, but ii is whether there
shall be offices to fill or a government to ad :
minister, and until this momentOns question
is settled, for one, l shall act with the men
who are the most in earnest in their efforts to
destroy this rebellion, and the most determin-
ed siguaily to punish the rebels, their aiders
and abettors..
| | repeat, gentlemen, that have great con-
fdence in Abraham Lincoln and his chosen
counsellors, and 1 must be permitted to say,
that especially do | confide in the clear head,
| sound mind and honest heart OF the Secretary
of War, Edwin NJ. Stanton, our own immedi-
! ate repre- sentative in the Cabinet.
| say this with full knowledge that of late
! a systematic attempt has been made to bring
this officer into disrepute, and TO cause his re-
moval from the high and responsible position
which he now ably fills.
Every disappointed man. whether for the
opportunity of serving his country with a IL
| tie preixed to his name, or for furnishing the
munitions of war, at large profits, visits his
! venge ance upon the head of Mr. Stanton.
| The friends of this officer cannot, Of course,
complain of the m ost careful scrutiny into
his official conduct, and do by no means deny
! that he may, like others, have committed mis-
taxes; yet when it is seen that the most un-
measured abuse is continually !avished upon
him and his acts; that he is held responsible
| for consequences, to prevent which has been
entirely beyond his power, and charged with
disasters arising from movements, which he
| neither counseled nor directed it becomes
necessary to look for the causes which have
induced, and the motives which have prompt
| ed these attacks.
For myself, believe he has thus been at
tack ed
1st, Because he is truly in earnest in his
determination to put down this rebellion, and
ID, Because he performs his official duty
without fear, favor affection.
Those OF us who are pesonally acquainted
with Mr.. Stanton, know that bis intellect is of
the highest order; that he is possessed OF a
character for integrity, which even M alice has
never dared to question, and that what he un-
dertales to do, he does with all his might
| do not say that all of his opponents or
those who counsel his removal from the War
Department, are either knaves or secession
lists; but do say, that the Northern sympa-
thisers with this wicked rebellion, with great
unanimity assert that Mr.. Stanton ought not
to be the Secretary of War, and strange as it
may seem the very patriotic gentlemen who
have no objections to contracts which yield
very large profits, have also discovered that
the mannar in which he conducts his depart
ment is highly prejudcial to the public inter-
ests. Add TO this reStiveness of the press at
the restrictions placed upon the transmits
sion of military news and certain buntness
of manner which is the occasion of offence
being sometimes taken where none is inten-
ded to be given and you have the solution of
his alleged unpopularty, and the reasons why
he has thus been single out for swift destruc
tion.
To praise Gen. Mcclellan, whilst denoun-
cling Secretary Stanton, is part of the plan
of the rebellion sympathisers; hoping there
by to create divisions and discussions amongst
the friends of the Union and the supporters
of the Govereme Mt.
doubt that mans Judgment who denies to
Gen. Mcclellan, great military SKILL coupled
with the most ardent and enthusiastic devo-
ton to that flag under which he marshals his
hosts for battle, as / question the siI cerity
and patriotism OF him, who whilst exalting
Gen. Mcclellan. vilifes and abuses the Pres-
dent and his constitutional advisers.
The true friends of our glorious cause, sup
port in their respective Jurisdictions both Stan
ton and Mcclellan, for they alike engaged
with all their great powers in sustaining and up
holding the best government that ever fioated
on the tide of time, and IN crushing the most
damnable rebellion. that ever men or devils were
engaged in, since the arch fiend himself made
his impious attempt to supplant the master of
Heaven, and to dethrone the Creator of the u
inverse. [Applausel
Let us my friends beware of the devices of
these FOLLOW hearted pretended friends, and let
the true men of the nation, whether in the tent
ed field, or the council chamber, be upheld and
sustained and let our denunciations be reserv-
ed for those who are endeavoring to destroy the
governm ent, and disunite the States. Our faith
ers constructed this government by long suffer-
ing and under great and terrible privations.
They cemented the Union of these States with
their life's blood, and thus raised and reared
the magnificent edifce, so that it should remain
amonumentto o their wisdom and patriotism for
ever and forever. Shall their sons permit the
destruction OF this fair temple and pass to their
children. not the glorious inheritance which