Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-07-01
THE .pEMocRArIc,, PLATFORM

Resoiped, That we approve the resolutions
upon the state of the country, passed by the
House'of Representatives of this common
wealth on the 18th day of April last, and in
addition thereto, and further expression
of our views upon public affairs, do
Resolre as .follo,cs: That again renew
fidelity to the Constitution of the United
States, the great charter for which our forefa-
theirs struggled and fought, and which was es-
tabished, as they themselves expressed it,
ssto form more perfect Union, establish JUS
tice, insure tranquility, provide for the com
mon defence, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves
and posterity.''
That, inaSm uch the constitution embod-
les the only guarantee we have for public lib
erty and private right, as without it we can
have no hope of protection from bloodshed,
spoliation, and anarchy, the man who sneers
at the ''Constitution as it is'' proves himself
to be deficient in the first elements of patriot
ism, and any officer of the State or Federal
Government who swears to support the Con
stitution, and afterwards, with that oath on
his conscience, wilfully violates it, is wholly
unworthy OF public confidence.
That among the rights which the Constitu-
ton provides to every citizen, that OF being
secure in his life, liberty, and property, so
that he cannot be deprived of either without
due form of lava fair trial by competent
Judge and jury of his neighbors, with witnesses
to confront him aud council to defend him
is so great in itself, necessary to the hap
piness of the people for whom all government
is made ana this is so plainly written down
in the Federal Constitution, and in all the
| State Constitutions, that any person who can
| misunderstood ii has not the mental capac-
| ity which fits him for public station.
Resofued, That we have heard with intense a.
larm and deep indignation that some of our po-
litical opponents claim for the President of the
| U. States power hitherto wholly unknown in
America, and never exercised in Europe or A
| sia, except by the most despotic monarchs,
namely-the power to arrest free citizens for
the expression of their honest opinion on pub
| lie affairs-and that the President has not on
| ly presumed to exercise this power himself,
with the moderation and mercy which his own
nature might prompt, but has delegated it to
many subordinates, and they again to others
IN every part of the country, until its hideous
presence is seen and heard all over the land.
Resolred, That among the numerous officers
| to whom the President has given this terrible
power, above the laws and above the people,
there must, the nature OF things, be large
proportion who are totally incapable of wiel-
4 [ fajt hnr aotI wi Ia
ticians, filled with partisan rancor--knaves,
who do not care for justice, and rufians, who
delight in trampling it under foot, and there
fore we are not surprised to learn that the
worthiest men bave been torn from their FAM
lilies, judges knocked down on the bench, min
listers of the Gospel imprisoned in loathsome
dungeons, and respectable women and chill
dren treated with brutality which it would
be indecent even to name; and all this, in
many cases, without pretence even of po-
litical offence, much less of any crime against
the laws.
That free government cannot exist with
out free press and the Constitution of this
State, as we'll as that of the United States has
declared that it shall be free. Those persons,
therefore, in office, who attempt to suppress
books and newspapers by violence are the en-
J emies of this Government, and ought them
selves to be suppressed.
| That we heartily thank the lion hearted De-
mocracy of Ohio for the manly vindicatiou
they have given to the Constitution, against
the great crime committed upon it in the ar
rest and deportation of Vallandgham, and We
assure them of our cordial sympathy in the
great struggle they are making for their un
doubted rights.
; That the plain duty of the Chief Magistrate
of this Commonwealth requires him to use
r whatever power the law has placed in his hand
to protect the State and the people from law
less outrages, come from what quarter they
t may, and no man is fit to be Governor of thi.
s State who will consent to hold his own Gber
/ ties and let the people hold theirs at the mer,
/ will of the of the Federal Executive.
Resolred, That the Democracy of Penn's
have been ever true TO the cause of the Union
It was in the name and for the sake of the u
nion that our party was made; that we denounc
the base insinuation that the Democratic par
: ty entertains now, ever has entertained. or eve
can entertain, the slightest sympathy with th
u present gigantic rebellion, or with traitors il
arms against the Government, or would eve
consent to peace on any terms inyolying
: dismemberment of this Union, as utterly un
. just ; and in proof of this we point with exul
:. tation to the lavish contributions to the wa
in blood and treasure heretofore and now be
l. ing made by the hundreds of thousands of De
! mocratic citizens, who were among the fra