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

misc. This, then, has caused the present
difficulties. These six Senators destroyed the
compromise, upon which they based revolu-
ton. Let us examine ourselves, gentlemen,
and females, too, that we may arraign the
guilty ones at the shrine of public suffering.
Did Lincoln or the Republicans dissolve the
Union No. Who, then, to blame
Men who in themselves were capable of avert
ing the storm, and yet cried there was no hope
tor the South-no escape from separation.
You know the camor has been raised that
the non-s -saveholding States would amend the
constitution, as to legisato upon the sub
ject OF slavery. On the Goth of December
South Carolina passed an ordinance OF Seces-
sion, took Fort Moultrie, and the revolution
commenced. Soon after South Carolina went
out, seven other States followed. Their argu-
ment was, that the Free States would interfere
with their peculiar institution by legislation.
By the withdrawal of these States, the North
had over three fourths of the votes in Congress,
and consequently had the power to egisate.
Having the power, did they amend the
Constitution No, they did not. They came
forward with an amendment to the effect that
''Copgress, in all future time. shall have no
power to legislate upon the subject of slavery" ;"
The amendment was passed by vote of two
thirds. Why did you not accept it, instead Of
being governed by petty tyranti will now
pay my respects TO some gentlemen who have
been deprived of their rights in the territories.
We have had some clamorous harrangues
about Southern rights. The most of them
have proceeded from noisy diSunionists, who
never owned negro they have been terribly
disturbed. l myself, owned few--onIy sew
en--and expect they cost me more labor
than those who owned hundred. During the
last session of Congress three Territorial bills
were passed, and afterwards the amendment
was adopted taking the power away from Con-
gress to legislate upon the subject of slivery.
The three bills organizing the Territories of
Dacotah, Nevada and Colorado, embracing
every inch of territory owned by the United
States, provide that the Legislature shall have
no power To interfere with the private proper
ty of ctizens defines and declares slaves to
be private property-that no tax shall be laid
on him (the citizen) to drive him out of the
Territories.
How much of the question is left for Seces-
sionists? Their Senators defeated propos-
tion, offered in spirit of fairness and cordial
ity, and which, if accepted, would have restor-
ed the government, and no blood would have
flowed upon our consecrated soil. Where,
then, are your Southern rights Whence the
cause of this rebellion 2? What rights have
been taken away! Who wants to take negroes
into the territories, and is unable to do SO
Who has lost any rights under the Constitu-
| tion When Mr.. Lincoln came into power on
the 4th of March, we had six of majority in
evil. He could not form his Cabinet without
our approval; he could not send minister to
a foreign court; We had power to reject treat
les entered into by envoys he could not send
| a consul abroad. Lincoln could not even draw
his S25 900 year with which to buy bread
and meat for the White House, without our CO.
operation. Where was the danger then ?
Why not remain and control his action
Hence, all the pretext for the crime Of seces-
sion is unreasonable and silly.
In this connection l must be permitted to
repeat, that after establishing the truth that
negroes have been the excuse for all the
scenes Of domestic butchery and the confused d
scenes OF war which have darkened the histo-
ry of l86t-'62, the authors of this commotion
had in view some startling conspiracy. Some
| thing underlies their conduct, showing slavery
to be nothing more than pretext. | was
| taught, in my earliest days, to believe the
| people of the United States capable of self
government; but certain portion OF the
| North and South repudiate that doctrine.
| The great boast OF the SecessioniSts was, II
| the Government would not permit them to
| seperatc peaceably, after the prostration, de-
moralizaton and combined horrors of Wig
| oIous war, the country would submit, and LEI
| them revel in the elegance of their stolen
| treasures. 1 will not elaborate any further,
| but will repeat that the negro is only pretext
now as the tariff was in 1882. When worn out
by toll and blood, the people of this great
country will accept my opinion of government.
| Who is jeff. Davis! When a boy he was
taken under the fostering care of the Govern
ment of the United States, and educated al
! West Point. All his henors and reputation
were obtained at the expense OF the United
| States. Now you find him with sword in hand
and arm upiited, ready to plunge the the
deadly weapon into the bosom of his mother
the United States. Are you prepared to
| bow the knee to him-a traitor TO his country
and Government-a Government OF the peo-
| pie, and, consequently, of God-;he wisest
and most benifcent which was ever devised
or ever will exist. What kind OF government
/ were these coDcocters of treason about to
establish Read the Richmond Wing, which
| publicly and boldly expresses preference foI
Queen Victoria over the United States Gov
ernment. Queen Victoria is doubtless good
women. but do you desire her to rule over you
| All our women are equal to Queen Victoria.
| The Examiner says a dictator should be had
| The Chronicle and Sentinel, of Augusta, Ca,
and many others advocated sim liar absurdities,
/ The Memphis .4Ualanche wants Harris for king,
and the Mayor of Memphis despot. Isham G.
| Harris to be dictator! know the man
Isham G. Harris to be king! Isham G. Har-
/ ris-who fed from the capital with such das-
| tardly precipitation. We are to be his slaves
| He should not be my slave much less my master
AS we travel along, what more can we find
The provisional government of the pseudo, So
called Confederate States prohibits the slave
trade, while their leaders declare that slave
republic is the only republic for the South
No white man should be allowed to vote un
less he owned slaves, because no State car
enter the confederacy unless with slavery
In South Carolina no man is eligible to {
seat in the Legislature unless he owns ten ne
groes and proportionate amount OF land
Their principles Of representation and taxation
is M ost unjust to the poor man. Go to Soutl
| Carolina to get your rights / could not drol
into the Legislature there because | owues