Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-10-08
WHO ARE FIGHTING OUR BATTLES,

/
| To the Editor of the Phil'a Press: a5
SIR "A class of political partisans have, during
this war endeavored to create divisions in the
North, by declaring that the burden of the war
is borne by the Democratic party, who, they
assert, compose three -fourths--if not more
of the rank and file of the army. So often has
| this statement been made by stump orators
and newspapers, that numbers of our citizens
| seem to regard it truthful, and the
suit is, that remarks of an offensive nature
have beer made in the presence of persons
who differ in political opinion with the De-
mocracy Of the present day, especially that
class known as Breckenridge Democrats.
That the remarks allude to are not only
unjust, but absolutely without foundation
in TRUTH the enrollmen. for the draft proves
beyond all cavil.
1t must be plain to every mind, that if the
Democrats really form three-fourths of the
rank aud file the army, the enrolment will
show that greater percentage of the fight
ing poulaton have enlisted in the pemocrtic
than in the Republican districts of the State.
Now, the enrolment shows the very reverse
of this, for from it it appears that far greater
per centage of the fighting population of the
Republican districts have gone to war than
from the Democratic districts. The Demo-
cratic county of Northampton has sent less
men to war than the Republican county of
Blair, and yet Blair polls but little more than
one-half the vote of Northampton. The Re-
publican county of Mexican has sent more
men to the war than the Democratic county OF
Monroe, and yet Monroe polls almost fifty per
cent, more votes than Mexican. The fighting
Quakers of Republican Chester county have
sent within five per cent as many men to war
as Democratic Berks, and yet the vote OF Berks
is thirty per cent, more than Chester's. The
combined vote of the Republican counties of
Lawrence, Union, Clinton, and Blair, at
the last Presidential election, was fourteen
thousand four hundred and fifty three, and
the combined vote of the Democratic counties
of Berks, Northampton, and Monroe, at the
same election, was twenty seven Thousand
three hundred and thrty-three yet the Re-
publican counties named have sent to the war
over three hundred more men than the Demo-
cratic counties they are contrasted with, al
though they polled hardly more than half the
"~hoe' oi SotSss NC tu0iuiuS paper SiOth
which crIlled the information regarding the
men sent to the war from the foregoing coun-
ties has never exhibited Republican procliv-
tiles; indeed, its conductors seem perfectly
willing that the cornerstone of the rebellion
shall remain untouched, to breed future dis
sensions, if not future wars. If the marshals'
returns frolne all the counties of Pennsylvania
could be published, am confident such com
dition of things would be revealed, that no
longer would the sneering inquiries be heard,
where are your Wide-Awakes 2 Where are
your Republicans, now f''
Mr.. Editor, the truth is, that the rank and
file of the United States army, as far as Penn
sylvania is concerned, is almost absolutely
made up OF Republicans and Douglas Demo-
Gratis. There Breckinridge Democrats
also in the army, but you see them as quarter
masters, as colonels, and az generals.
1t was with no wish to wound the feelings
Of any, but that in order the cause of justice
and truth should be served. penned the
foregoing. The facts OF the case have been
30 long falsifed to acomplish-as I believe
sinister ends, that conceive it full time that
he trnth should be set before the people.
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
An AMERICAN CITIZEN.
~---