Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-11-26
BY SAMUEL J. ROW
CLEARFIELD. PA. Nov'R ee. 1862,
Ex-Gov. BIGLEa ON THE WAR.

date for the Z United States SENATE, -Uo'-
ernor Bigler has taken occasion to express
sssome thoughts on the subject OF the War,
which, as he seemed TO think himself, are rath-
er sscrude, and on some points even novel and
startling" We have not room to give the
letter in full. An extract or two, however,
will suffice to convey a fair idea of its tenor.
For example, he says:
s.The sword is the only agency at work.
But the sword cannot do all. II is agent
of destruction. 1t can tear down but cannot
build up. 1t may chastise and silence the
rebels in the field !; but ii cannot make a union
of States; it cannot restore confidence and
fraternity amongst people estranged and al
ienated from each other. If the war was a.
gainst the leaders in the South only, many
1T the beginning supposed, then the sword
might put them down and the masses could
return to their alegi lance. But the conflict
turns out to be with the whole m iss of the
people within the revolted States, Did and
young, male and female, numbering many mil
lions. With such a po,rer, sooner or later, Ue
shall hare TO treat and negotiate. The sword
alone will never restore this people to the
Union"
"The existence of the Southern States, in
some form, with their inhabitants, and on some
terms of intercourse, is highly essential, nay,
will say, indispensable to the welfare of the
North. l am, therefore against extermina-
tion, and against the policy OF holding the
Southern States as conquered provinces.-I
This ground can be so easily maintained on
purely selfish considerations for the North,
which will occur to all, that need not trou-
bic you with their presentation on this occa-
sion. am for reestablishing the Union as il
was, or making Union as similar as practical
BILE, the States to be equals and TO be sover-
eign to the extent the States now are, each TO
haze and enjoy such domestic institutions as IL
may choose and, were in Congress should
sustain that measure of war, and that only, that
would clearly tend to the accomplishment of
these ends; but no war OF subjugation or ex-
termination"
From this it is manifest that Mr.. Bigler is
stili laborng under the old charm of sscompro-
mise" mode of restoring peace that is not en-
tertained by the Union men of the South who
know and feel what this Rebellion means and
Is. Having stated that ..sooner later we
shall have to treat and negotiate with the Reb-
els, Mr.. Bigler then suggests that Convention
of the loyal States be held to re-afiirm the
present Constitutional relations among the
States-that "the President should propose an
" armistice for the purpose of considering
" some programme of union and settlement,
's in which the feelings and rights of the mas
" ses of the South shall be duly appreciated
' and provided for-that he should invite them
" to come back on the conditions OF the Con-
" stitution, with explicit definitions on contro-
s' verted points, or conditions uifh the
' fullest assurance Of justice aud equality uhen
I" they do come" The Ex Governor evidently
is laboring to create the impression, though
he does not say so plainly, that the Rebel
States have thus far had no opportunity of re-
turning to their allegiance, and again partici-
pating in the blessings of the Constitution.
If this is his meaning, We know no better way
of answering his argument than to quote from
the letter of Hon. Joseph Holt, a loyal Ken
lucky Democrat, who says:
.sTbe door to all these blessings is widely
open to the Southern people. and they are
earnestly invoked by the President to enter in
and enjoy them. These institutions and their
every interest are in their own hands, and can
be saved not only from ruin, but from the
slightest injury, BY the utterance of a single
word-a word of honor. But, il in their pas
sionate pursuit of separate empire, and in
their blind resentments against brethren who
have never wronged them, they refuse to speak
that word, and prefer to perish themselves,
rather than that the loyal States shall escape
deStructi0n--be it so. The world will Judge
Alright, and history will record its judgment.
But, does it not require an audacity absolute
ly satanic to insist that the benefcent provi-
sions of that hailowed instrument shall be Sc
cured to States and people who are hourly
spurning and splitting upon its authority, and
who are leading forward vast armies TO over
whelm IL, and with it the homes and hopes of
all who are rallying in its defence ?''
Mr.. Bigler seems also to entertain much bet
ter feelings towards the Rebels than he has for
the people of the New England States. He
is extremely anxious that the Rebels should
become our brethren and our equals in eve-
cry PARTICULAR" whilst the people of Massa-
chusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont
and Maine, who have sent their sons to shed
their blood in defence of the Constitution and
the country he pretends to venerate so much,
he denounces as sshypocrites,'' and declares
sc they do not intend that the Union shall ex-
" ist hereafter on the terms of the Coustitu-
s tion, if it Is to embrace all the States" We
regret to see such causeless bias exhibited
by man who has as many good personal
qualities A Gov. Bigier. Indeed, we have
heard it hInted that his letter, which had been
we'll cared for during the process of incuba-
tion, was spoiled in the act of coming forth
into the world of readers. We should be
glad to hear that this was the case and,
We believe, its author would lose nothing in
reputation by frankly confessing its defects
and avowing such unconditional Union senti-
ments a. are uttered by Andy johnson, Judge
Holt, Gen. Rossssu, and host of his other
old political associates.