Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-04-16
CLEARFIELD, Pa WEDNESDAY APRIL 49, 1862

ridge for the Presidency had labored through
fatigneing canvass, exposing myself to all
the unpleasantness of travel and the exhaust
Ing ofdeclamation. l was enlisted in his for
tunes for the sake of my country. l believed
him to be the safest for the crisis and can
produce evidence frcm many sources to justi-
~ the belief. Threats were boldly made to
destroy the country if Breckenridge was not
elected.
To avoid this calamity, would make the
sacrifice of my health, nay my life, my all.
Bell men, how can you justify yourselves for
the part you are enacting in this bloody drama3
Let me ask, Douglas supporters, how could
you,go Oft into the disunion cause L was a
witness of the reign of terror which followed
the defeat of Bell, Breckenridge and Douglas,
and when the election over | repaired TO
Washington. 1t was there that Breck inridge
showed the cloven- foot. South Carolina was
basely and adroitly attempting to dissolve the
Union. l saw Breckenridge and conversed
with him told him the people were all dsap-
pointed that we had been caught in snap !;
Secessionists would break up the Union.
What was his reply s.Can we coerce Slater"
l remarked, 'tIt is our duty to save the Gov
ernment.' "Will you coerce 20 he again
demanded. told him not to deal in techni-
calitieS the laws must be enforced.
If one man in South Carolina should rob the
mint, counterfeit money, or commit any other
he would be punished and it matters not
whether the law was broken by one man, or
twenty, hundred, or even by the State
itself, the Government must be vndicated
The soul of liberty is the love of law. If this
be so, and you have no authority to enforce
it. you have no law 20 protect the weak and
defy the strong. Ny interview with Breckin-
ridge was like an iceberg in my bosom.
was deceived in him, and discovered that
Breckinridge had no hope of being elected,
no hope but Tor Kentucky and the Southern
States. l asked him it he was willing to dis
unite the States because OF Mr.. Lincoln's sue.
cess, and because discontented South Caroli-
ma agitates the subject : To this question
Breckenridge replied in ad captandum slang
about subjugation and the horrors of civil
conflict, convincing me that he had gone into
the arms of disuuiOn. AS he could not be
President of all the States, he was willing to
divide them and become President OF part Of
them. We separated. l turned my back on
him, and said, ssYou deceived me then, that
was your fault +; but when you deceive me
again, it will be mine.'' Let me ask Bell,
Breckinridge and Douglas men what duty is
left for you to perform Only one. Ii you
cannot find out what rights you have lost,
come forward like a band Of brothers, gather
around the alter of your country, and say the
Constitution shall be preserved. In return
ing to my native State, offer the olive branch
in one hand and the Constitution in the other.
" it'll and for it have come to perish, if need
be-to pour out my blood, free libaton for
its preservation. The Federal Government is
made responsible for this war by the men who
have entaied its horrors upon the country, by
crying out their pretended rights are gone.
Let us forget all parties and former associa-
tions, and see the question as it is. tell
you that the slavery question has been made
the pretext for breaking up this Government.
the Government, and L we'll remember to have
heard read, by man named Russell, while
seated on my shop board in that memorable
year, the proc lamation of President jackson.
and felt then, as now do, that it contained
the only doctrine to secure the preservation OF
the Government 1t sustained by those
master statesmen, Webster, Clay and Jack
son. | stand now they stood in the first
storm of State and for this am prosecuted.
Do not blame me, but yourselves, who have
gone wrong come up, show your manhood,
acknowledge the error of your purposes, and
resolve to support the United States Govern
ment--the greatest and best fabric of God and
man. In 1S32-the year of nullification-
Jackson wrote letter TO Mr. Crawford of
Georgia. l invite your attention to it. What
did he say 2 'sThere existed an effort to break
mp the Government
1t is now twentynine years since few diff
fered with jackson then, as to the preservation
of the Union none can differ now. Were it
possible for Old Hickory to return to us, and
see what is going on, wha. would be the treat
ment of Southern traitors is illustrated in the
answer of an old man who knew and loved him
we'll. He came to me short time ago,
ard in reply to my question if any had been
impious enough to plant the Stars and Bars
over the old hero's grave, he said :-"Yes
and I'll be damned if / didn't expect to see
the old man jump from his grave, and order
the last traitor to be ANONYMOUSLY hanged ~
If II were possible for the dead TO know what
is passing here upon earth, and leave their
lonely tabernacle TO mingle again in the busy
scenes Of life would long since have ex-
pected to see Jackson at the seat of Govern
ment and heard him exclaim, with that ex-
traordinary finger elevated-ssBy the eternal
the Union must and shall be preserved ~
Tariff was the pretext for dsunon in 1882
and the slavery or negro question is the pre-
text now How do the facts stand When we
come to examine them.
Let us go back to the proceedings ofthe last
Congress. What was the true phase of the
times A compromise, you Iemember-the
Crttenden propostion-was introduced. Ihe
Southern Senators, including BenJaman, 1ver-
son, Toombs, and list OF others. pretended
that if the measure passed, the South would
be satisfied but they desired everything else
but compromise. Senator Clark offered an
amendment which he believed would be ac-
ceptible to the South. | had critically KEEP,
pace with these pretenders. Their protest
was only to disguise their real intentions
When the vote was put on Clark's amendment
mark well-oniy fifty-fve ballots were re.
corded. The amendment was adopted by two
votes-thus defeating the original compro
mise. Who is responsible for this work o.
destruction Six Southern Senators stand
ing there and refusing to record their votes
If the Crittenden compromise had been adopt
ed, they would have been deprived OF pretex
| for their treason.
Judah Benjamin, sneaking thief and per