Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-02-26
THE RAFTsNlAN's JOURNAL,
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE JOURNAL. y
HARRISBURG, Feb. "a. 1862.

| CORRESPONDENCE OF THE JOURNAL"
HARRISBURG, Feb. "a. 1862.
DEAR JOURNAL There is an absolute deartt
| of news here, md am at q total loss what to
make up to be of any interest to your readers.
The general news certainly possesses little
or no interest any where just at this time when
all eyes are turned toward the South, and when
each successive mail must bring you fresh
news of the triumph OF our arms. The war,
sir, is the Aaron's rod of the day in the way oi
news.
There is nothing, I protest, in legislation,
so far, worthy of special attention.
A few bills have been passed lately, bat no,
one of them can find possessing any local
interest.
The investigating Committees are at work,
but whether their labors are likely to result in
any thing, is a mere matter of surmise. The
Committee selected to ferret out the alleged
corruptions of last session, it is confidentIally
whispered have not discovered single in
stance wherein they can charge home on any
one, so that it is quite likely that, becoming
disguised with their mission, they will report
| at an early day.
The Committee appointed to investigate the
! alleged frauds in the disbursement of the Ar
my appropriation are going over percisely the
same ground ala eady traye led by commission
appointed by the Governor, and they too must
necessarily soon end their labors.
of the State where men were recruited, Gas
there is considerable amount of money due
for debts incurred, of nature which the gen
eral Government refuses to recognize or liqu.
date, on the principal that it only can pay
men from the time they were mustered into
service, and consequently no expenses incur
red previous to that tme,) is pending in the
Senate, and Will no doubt he acted upon at an
early day.
Hopkins proposition TO repeal the law
committing the Tonnage Tax, is made the
special order for Wednesday. Ofcourse there
will be some debate, but Mr.. Hopkins bill
can not pass.
There is proposition pending in tho
Senate to adjourn from the 2lst of March till
the 9th of June. The object is not for the
pay of members to run on during the interim,
neither is it intended to change the State
mileage or payment for an extra session. By
the 2ls there will be nothing to do but pass
general appropriation bill. By the 9th OF
June Congress will have decided upon the
mode of ieYying the direct tax, and it will re-
quire but few days for the Legislature then
to transact all the necessary business.
L almost forgot to mention another investi-
eating Committee appointed since my last.
1t is one got up at the instance of Serator
Lowry to investigate alleged frauds in the
winding up of the affairs of the bank of Com
merce at Erie. Some rich developments are
expected.
There are few acts Of incorporation asked
tor this session. The reason is Obvious. The
state of the country does not justify men 60
ing into doubtful enterprises. There are still
few, however, but they are not gigantic in
their proportions.
Both Houses adjourned over on Friday, and
went to Philadelphia for the purpose of spend
ing the 22d, and for the first time in forty
years Washington's Farewell Address was not
read in the Hall of the House.
Excuse brevity, and especially the dryness
of my epistle. Yours, SPEcKs.
New MADE PArRIoTs.-1t is wonderful hat
difference Union victory makes in the way
that some people regard the rebellion. There
are fellows around who have for months been
decrying the war, who have persistently argued
that the government could never 'sconquer
the south 20 that the longer the war continued
the stronger and more determined the rebels
would become, and that the only true policy
was to recognize the independence of the
southern cOnfederacy. The Union army has
been the constant butt of their remarks and
Bull Run and Big Bethel were standing Jokes
with them. They secretly applauded at every
reverse and sneered at and deprecated every
victory Of the government arms. But now
when Gen. Scott's "big Snake'' begins to con-
tract in earnest, when the rebels find them
selves 1anked 10 all directions when the
caSterH coast lS dt iaSI opened 10 our aQvan
and we have effected an opening through the
very heart of rebeldom, indicating and prom
ising speedy wiping out of the traitors from
the face of the earth,-thesc fellows begin to
sing different tune and to talk in the most
patriotic manner of the cause of the Union
and the villainy of the rebels, and are even
ready to sspledge their lives, their fortunes
and sacred honor for the support of the gov
ernment." The north just now is full of these
newly made patriots. 1t is astonishing to see
their zeal nowadays for the war We would
suggest, however, that the government owes
them small thanks for their sudden ardor in
lis cause. When the nation was in gloom and
dismay--when treason was jubiant and auda-
cious-when the three months recruits de-
manded 10 be discharged-these now noisy
friends of the government, were then the
equally noisy defamers of what they termed
its imbecilities and failures. 1t is well to
mark such men. They are known for their
vituperation of Republicanism, and their sick
ly adulation cf the rebel leaders. We venture
the assertion that there is Tot man who reads
this paragraph but knows men such as those
to whom we now refer, and who could, il ne.
cessary, point to these individuals daily in
the streets,
To the Editor of tie Nec York Tribune:
SRI cannot suffer undue merit to be a.
scribed to my official action. The glory of
our recent victories belongs to the gallant Off
GERS and soldiers that fought the battles. No
share of il belongs to me. Much has been