Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-12-10

rauo, already has above ten millions of peo
pie, and will have fifty millions within fit,
years. II not prevented by any political folly
J or mistake. 1t contains more than one third
) OF the country owned by the United States
certainly more than one million of square
miles. ODe-haH as populouS as Massacbu.
sets already is, it would have more than sew.
enty tive millions OF people. A glance at the
map shows that, territoIialiy speaking. il is
the great body of the republic. The other
parts are but marginal borders to it. the mag.
niffcent region sloping west from the Rocky
mountains to the Pacific being the deepest
and also the richest, in undeyeloped resour
ces. Ia the production of provisions. grains
grasses, and all which proceed from them,
TINS great interior region is naturally one O:
the most important in the world. Ascertain
from the statistics the small proportion of the
region which has as yet been brought into cuI.
tieation, and also the large and rapidly increa-
sing amount of its products, and we shall be
overwhelmed with the magnitude of the pros,
pect presented. And yet this region has no
seacoast-touches no ocean anywhere. As
part OF one nation its people now find and
| may forever find their way TO Europe by New
! I ork, to South America and Africa by New
| Orleans. and to Asia by San Francisco But
! separate our common country into two nations
| as designed BY the present rebellion and eve
| ry man OF this great interior region Is there
| by cut of from some one or more of these
>
but by embarrassing and onerous trade reg
ulationS; and this is true wherever a dividing
or boundary line may be fixed. Place il be-
tween the now free and slave country or place
it south of Kentucky or north of Ohio, and
still the truth remains that none south OF il
can trade to any port or pisce north OF it. nor
none north OF 1T can trade TO any port or place
south OF it, except upon terms dictated by
government foreign to them. These outlets
east, west, and SOUTH are indispensable to the
we'll being of the people inhabiting and to in
habit this vast interior region. Which of the
three may be the best is no proper question
all are better than either, and all of right be-
long to that people aud to their successors
forerer. True to themselves, they will not
ask trhere line of separation shall be- but
VIII vow rather that there shall be no such line.
n or are the marginal regions less Interested
in these communications to and through them
to the great outside world. They too. and
each OF them, must have access to this Egypt
OF the West without paying toll at the eros
sing OF any national boundary.
Our natioai strife springs not from our per
manent past, not from the land we inhabit, not
s6e seVefhh 81 P hHPeSSead St @opia Tiers ere is pos
not mitigate evils among US. II, I'll - ~
tation and apttudes it demands Union and alb |
hors separation: in fact, it would. ere long, |
force reunion, however much OF blood and |
treasure the separation might haye cost. Our |
StFile pertains 10 OurSttNeS-to the passing |
generations of men and it can, without con
vu!sion, be hushed forever with the passing OF |
one generation. In this view | recommend |
the adoption of the following resolution and |
articles amendatory to the Constitution of the
United States.
Resotced, By the Senate and House of Repre-
of the United States in Congress assem-
bled two-thirds of both Houses concurring That
the following articles be proposed to the Lesisla
lures or Convent ons of the several States
to the Constitution of the U. States all
or any of which articles,when ratified by 3-fourths
of the said Legislatures Conventions TO be valid
as part or parts of the said Constitution viz
Article Every State wherein slavery now ex-
lists which shall abolish the same therein at any
time times before the lst day of January in the
year of our Lord one thousand and nine hundred.
shall receive compensation from the United States
as follows, to wit-The President of the U. States
shall deliver to every such State bonds of the Uni
ted States, bearing interest, at the rate of per
,ent, per annum, to an amount equal to the aggre-
gate sum of s. for each slave shown to have been
therein by the eighth census of the United States
aid bonds to be delivered to such State by install
nents. or in parcel, at the completion Of the a
oolishment, accordingly as the same shall have
been gradual or at one time, within such State,
md interest shall begin to upon any such bond
,nly from the proper time of its delivery afore
aid. Any State having received bonds as afore-
aid, and afterwards rentroducing toleratng
slavery therein, shall refund to the United States
he bonds received, the value thereof, and ,
Ill interest paid the e-eon
Article =. All slaves who shall have enioyed
ctual freedom by the chances of the war, at any
ime before the end of the rebellion shall be for
ver free; but all owners of such who shall not i
lave been disloyal, shall be compensated for them
It the same rates as provided for States adopting
bolishment of slavery, but in such way that no 7
lave shall be twice accounted for 10 I
Article = Congress may appropriate money
nd otherwise provide for colonizing free colored
ersons with their own consent at any place or
laces without the United States.
L beg indulgence TO DISCUSS these DrOnoSnl y
rtlcles at length. Without slavery the 4
ebeion could never have existed; without
lavery it could not continue. Among the Q
riends of the Union there is great diversity {
sentiment and of policy in regard to sla y
cry and the African race amongst us. Some a
'ould perpetuate slavery; some would abol- C
81 it suddenly, and without compensation; {
ONE would abolish it gradually, and with h
ompensation; some would remove the freed i:
eople from us, and some would retain them Il
ith us; and there yet other minor di- d
ersities. Because of these diversities we 4
aste much strength in struggles among our /
elves. BY mutual concession we should har- o
onize and act together. This would be COM is
romise, but il would be compromise among a
lie friends and not with the enemies of the Il
MON. These articles are Intended to en- tt
ody plan OF such mutual concessions. If II
le plan shall be adopted it is assumed that b
will follow, at least in several a
the States. e
As to the first article. the main points are, v
rst, the emancipation; secondly, the length O
time for consummatlng it, thirty seven o
ears and thirdly, the compensation. The e. c
ancipation VIII be unsatisfactory to the advo- Il
ties ofperpetua slavery, but the length of time il
lould greatly mitigate their dissatisfaction. 81
he time spares both races from the evils of il
ldden arrangement; in fact, from the neces- Il
ty OF any arrangement. while most of those 81
hose liberal conrse of thought will be dis te
rbed by the measure, will have passed away 81