Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-12-16
VOL. 1O.---NO. Is.

completion. Enlarged navigation becomes q
palpabe need to the great road. transmit
the second annual report of the Commissions,
| of the Department of Agriculture, asking
| your attention TO the developments in that vi.
! tai interest of the nation.
When Congress assembled a year ago the
war had already lasted nearly twenty months
and there had been many conflicts on both
| land and sea. With varying results the re-
| beliion had been pressed hack into reduced
limits, yet the tone of public feeling and o.
p.nion at home and abroad, was not satisfac-
| tory.
ith other signs, the popular elections
then just passed, Indicated uneasiness among
ourselves; while, amid much that was cold
and menacing, the kndest words coming from
Europe were uttered in accents of pity-that
We we're too blind to surrender. Our COM
merce was suffering greatly by few armed
vessels built upon and furnished from for eign
shores, and we were threatened with su ch ad =
o1flons from the same quarter as would sweep
our trade from the sea and raise our blockade
He had failed 10 elicit from the European
governments anything hopeful upon this sub.
ject.
The Preliminary emancipation proclamation.
issued in September, was running its assigned
period TO the beginning OF the new year. A
month later the final proclamation came In
cludlng, the announcement that colored men
of suitable condition would be received into
the war service. The policy of emancipation
and of employing black soldiers gave 70 the
future new aspect, about which hope and
fear and doubt contended in uncertain conflict.
according TO our political system, as matter
OF civil administration, the general gov
eminent had no lawful power to effect emancf-
patton in any States, and for long time 1t
had been hoped that the rebellion could be
suppressed without resorting to it military
measure. Ii was all the while deemed possi-
bic that the necessity for it might come. and
that If 1t should, the crisis of the contest
would then be presented. 1t came, and as
was intended, it was followed by dark and
doubtful DAYS. $3.50 .
Eleven months having now passed, we arc
permitted 10 take another review. The rebel
borders are pressed still furth her back, and by
the complete open ing OF the Mississippi river,
the country dominated over by the rebellion
is divided into distant parts, with nc practical
communication between them. Tennessee
and Arkansas have been substantially cleared
OF 1nsurgent control and influence, and the
citizens in each, owners of slaves and advo-
Gates OF slavery at the beginning of the rebel
lion, now declare openly for Emancipation ip
their respective States. Of these States not
included in the Emancipation Proclamation,
Maryland and Missouri. neither of which,
three years ago, would tolerate any restr amt
upon the extension OF slavery into the new
territories, only dispute now as TO the best
mode of removing 1t within their own limits.
OF those who were slaves at the beginning
of the rebellion, fnll one hundred thousand
are now in the United States military service,
about e-haif otwhich number actually bear
arms IN the ranks thus giving the double advan-
tage OF taking so much labor from the insur-
gent cause, and supplying the places, which
otherwise must be filled with SO many white
men. So far as tested it is difficult TO say that
they are not as good soldiers as any. No
serviie insurrection or tendency to violence or
cruelty has marked the measures of emauci-
patton and arming- The blacks these measures
have been much discussed In foreign countries.
Contemporary with such discussion the tone
Of public sentiment there is mnch improved.
At home the same measures have been fully
discussed supported ,critisiZed and denounc-
ed and the annual elections following are
highly encouraging to those whose official
1uty 1t is to bear the country through this
great trial. Thus we have the new reckoning.
The crisis which threatened to divide the
friends of the Union is past.
Looking now to the present and future. and
With reference to a resumption OF the nation
ii authority within the States wherein that
author ity has been suspended, have thought
it to issue proclamation, a copy of which is
herewith transmitted. On examination Of
his proclamation it will appear as is believed
hat nothing is attempted beyond what is am
ply justified by the Constitution. True. the
orm of an oath is given, but no man is CO.
creed TO take il. A man is only promised a
pardon in case he voluntarily takes the oath.
The constitution authorizes the Executive
% gran. or withhold the pardon at his own ab-
olnte discretion, and this includes the power
o grant on terms as is fully established by
judicial and other authorities.
1t Is also proffered that If In any of the
States named,a State Government shall be In
he mode prescribed set up such government
hall be recognized and guaranteed by the
United States, and that under it the State
hall, on the constitutional cond it.ons be pro
ected against invasion and domestic yiolence.
rhe Constitutional obligation of the United
states to guarantee TO every State in the
Union a republican form of government and
o protect the State in the cases stated, is ex
licit and full. But why tender the benefit.
# this provision only to a State Government
ct up in this particular wayi This section
f the Constitution contemplates case where
n the element within State favorable to.
republican Government In the Union, NAV
q too feeble for an opposite and hostile eIs-
lent, external to and even within the State
nd such are thecases with which we are now
ealing. An attempt to guarantee and pro-
sct revised State Government constructed
] whole or in preponderating part from the
cry element against whose hostility and vio-
,nce II is to be protected, is simply absurd
here must be test by which to seperate the
pposing elements so as TO build only from
,e sound !, and that test is sufficient liberal
ne, which accepts as sound, whoever will
lake sworn recautation OF his former un-
,undness.
But if it be proper TO require as test of ad.
ission to the political body an oath Of ale
lance to the Constitution of the United
tates, and to the Union under it, why also TO
lie laws and proclamations in regard TO sIs-
,ry7
Those laws and proclsmations wore put forth
fha Of {,>S
the Rebellion. To give them the fullest
fect there bad to ha a nlad1a for thar n, ain.