Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-12-09


OF God, covers US ''at home and abroad, on the
land or the sea ?'' What. to such is the great
fundamental idea of the sovereignty of man in
tree government! With such governm ent Lives,
moves, and. has its being in 'the niger" The
one sees no object or use for government but
to hold on to ''my niger 20 the other thinks
the whole is summed up in freeing the e'nig-
ger" The comprehension of neither has ev-
gent patriotism. Their thoughts linger IN the
| shadow of the negro, and their patriotism is
measured by his possession freedom.
have nothing that is worth so much to ME,
OF earthly possession, as my Government.
have sustained loss of property by this Rebel
| lion, but thank God [ have not lost my Gov
| ernment. ou have lost some OF your slaves and
while smarting under the loss, imagine you
/ have lost your Government. The experience
! OF all ages attest that war brings wrongs, op-
| pressions, and outrages as incident to that
state. This war has not lost or changed in
those features impressed by ages Had the
| Rebe lion been crushed six mouths ago, you
| would now have your slaves. If 1t continues
six months longer, you and others may lose
more. Each day the Rebellion continues,
| some one is losing something of value, and
many are bankrupt who but for the Rebe ion,
would be in affiuence. Property is wasted
and destroyed-life is poured out-and misery
walks abroad in the land; all this at the bid
ding of the fell demon of Rebellion. Crush
the Rebellion, which is the fruitful mother
the occasion and excuse for all the other
wrongs, and the remedy for these evils will
be at hand.
But you say the object of the war is to de.
stroy Slavery and bankrupt the Shareholders
That the destruction of Slavery NAV be a re-
suit OF the war seems now strong probabili-
ty; but s~ch is not the object. Who made this
war; Was it not the Rebels Had they any
excuse for it? Have not all the evils public
and private, been the result of rebellion
Inn .f,un s. ~
Rebels made war or dismemberment an abso-
lutte necessity. We had to submit to the de-
structlon of our Government, or fight to pre- |
serve Its life. Suppose all Union men were |
to adopt your policy-foId their arms and say |
no patriot can fight in this cause-how long
would we have Union, a Constitution, a |
government, "nIgger," or any thing but ruin ? |
When the rebellion is suppressed the Rebel |
armies broken, If the ssdominent party'' wish |
to prosecute the war further for any other |
purpose, the issue VIII then be presenter |
and my judgment is that few will be willing
to night for any purpose beyond the restora-
tlon of national authority over the revolted
States.
While the war ofrebellion is upon US, it is
IDLE to talk about other objects of strife. The
war IS sn Immediate and unavoidable necessi-
ty, sufficient purpose, without any other sug-
gestion. The existence of the war is an op-
portunity tor fanaticism. The demon of civil
beliion has brought into active being this
spirit to remain disturbing element while the
war cont inues. The rebe lion is the life of
fanaticism. Subdue the one and you quelI
the other. Rebellion watts fanaticism upon
the rolling waves of bloody conflict, and sub
sists it upon the carnage of battle. The res
toration of National authority over the revolt
ed States is the only remedy for these evils,
md until that be done we shall look in vain
or security and exemptions.
But you think no patriotic Kentukian can
light in this cause. None other will. There
ire but two powers arrayed in battle-the U.
hon and the Rebel. One has to prevail.
wish the Union armies to succeed. Which
10 you side with If you for our sue I
less, then ''lt must be apparent to you' that |
We must fight to achieve it and it must be
'qnally clear that patriots must do the fight &
ng, for money will not hire the Rebels to I
IL ht for US. {
That measures are adopted and policies ad- t
ocated which L deem gave errors, is true I
ut while the main Issue is pending, iU is
weakness, not incident to true patriotism, to a
tampede from duty, because somebody else d
FISHES to exceed duty. The war of rebellion :
s upon us. We have to meet it, no matter {
that other evils may come in its train. The v
uccess of rebellion would remedy none of a
hese evils. The only remedy is the sup C
ression Of the rebellion. He is but quack a
nd a fool who, while thorn, visible to all, il
ranking in the flesh, would address his rem n
dies to the eruptions caused by the thorn, S
nd yet leaves the thorn TO tester and rankel q
4 the flesh.
Is he wiser who while rebellion the occa- b
ion and cause OF all the evils of the times,
; upon US, would address his skill to the in
dental evils and leave the main evil-the S!
aren't of all-still ranking in the body poll b
C. Remove the cause, and cure can be ef- a
,cted. Suppress the Rebellion, and the oc- n
aston of these wrongs ceases, and the reme- b
y is at hand through the civil tribunals. 1t W
plain, simple question. which, in spite of h
niger" and '-no nigger," still confronts US b.
shall our Government be saved destroy 81
a We can't elude it. The ne gro can't o.
onceal the issue from us. There it is in de- CT
ance OF all the negroes in and out of Africa. in
ow shall we respond l say, s.the FEEDER c:
Union-it must and shall be preserved n,
ill you answer me that the ssdominaut par | pi
- will not let me have that Government a
eIhaps they may not; but think they will sy
ey shall. But arc You not climbing the 81
ountain before reaching it 2 There is one is
ing that is certain-that the Rebels will not
us have ssthe Constitution as it Is, and the
MON as it was, unless We make them. And il
is is the immediate issue. and the first ques- &c,
on to settle. Either we must succeed, or co
e Rebe .lion must. Ifthey succeed, the ques er
on is ended. If We succeed. we can then ad bf
st all questions of dispute. The Rebellion IN
persedes all questions, which lie beyond it. fr
Il available and legitimate means for re- WI
ess OF wrongs and correction Of evils should in
adopted, but rebellion is neither redress, ty
" corrective of any, but an aggravation of ia
I. If we refuse to sustain our armies in the wi
Id, we help the Rebellion. 1 recognize no fir
triotism that hestates in duty upon plea =
at somebody else intends to do wrong.
Is it not BETTER should such issue be forced, fr
81 We preserve our nationality even with N