Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-12-02

They scarcely feel the war at home. Their
cities are more popuious and thrifty to-day
than ever. For every man that dies or gets
Killed IN battle, two emlgrate to the country.
Their villages and towns, their fields and
country flourish fresh as ever They could
sink their armies to day, and raise new levies
TO crush US and not feel it.
How is 1t with us? The last man is in the
field. Half our territory overrun. Our cities
gone to wreck-peopled alone by the aged,
the lame and the halt, and women and chill
dren While deserted towns, and smoking
ruins, and plantations abandoned and laid
waste, meet US on all sides. And anarchy and
ruin, disappointment and discomfort, lower
over all the land.
FOREIGN INTERVENTION.
You rely upon foreign intervention! Alas
and alas How many lives, hopes and for
tunes have been buried under this fatal delu-
sion. 1t has held us on to hopeless strug-
gle, while the belt of delusion has girdled us
closer, and the sea of anguish and sorrow ris-
en- higher, flushed with the tears of ruined and
bereaved ones France will not interfere.
Louis Napoleon has at heart the building o f the
transit route connecting the TWO oceans.
If be can keep up this struggle until that
is accomplished, the star of Engiand's
decendancy on the ocean goes out before
him, aud the whole commercial world be-
comes subsidiary to him To keep mp this
struggle he VIII ueluue US cODLlnuaiiy Win
false hopes, reckoning nothing how much we
bleed and suffer. | even suspect that the pre-
tended loans to us in France rest upon a poll
cy of this sort, and that he is at the bottom
of it.
But if Louis Napoleon does not propose to
interfere and take us under his ''protection,'
what then Another Macmillan tor Gs-t0r
.Americdnsi FORBID it, my countrymen
Forbid it, Heaven - Our forefathers threw
of colonial dependence upon European
crowned head 1t would be ignominious in
us TO go back half century and more to ac-
cept what they freed us from. Much less 10
risk a despot over us. So eager are some of
our leaders for this interference, that. am
told, il is proposed 10 give Nepoleon Texas as
d bonus for his good graces and kindly aid
And the ssLone STAR may be handed over by
Davis at any moment, so far he can do it.
The thought ought 10 make the blood of every
American citizen mount 10 his cheek.
Whenever this is attempted, Il shall be one
to meet the Iegions of France under the old
flag to battle tor the sacredness and safety
of republican institutions. But suppose he
offers recognition alone 1t is barren offer
ing. Suppose he offers it coupled with assis-
tance 1t comes too late Iime0 DdnGos
muaera ferentes No more dangerous aud de-
struciive alliance, in our PROSTATE condition,
could be found, however eagerly we faIgbu @t
nrst have grasped it. For, even if we should
succeed with his aid, and the struggle would
be as doubtful as terrible (and he would aban-
don Us at any moment.) tbe French empire of
Mexico, right at our doors, would swallow up
Cuba and all the contiguous islands. and alb
sorb that part of Mexico that we as a nation
would hope to get. Sand the day we settle
deliberately monarchy on this side OF the
ocean, We prepare crowns for kings, and fet-
ters for the people, on every foot OF ground
upon the American continent. But, as l said,
there will be no interference"
DIssENsToNs IN THE NORTH.
Have no hope from divided North. 1t is
on the surface. Scarcely goes to the bottom
of their politics. much less shating The great
masses of their determined people. Remem
Der, too that much of the South is with them.
There is no division far fighting us Is
That rejected, they are 10 press
us with redoubed energy. Let US not, after |
all our misfortunes and blunders, construe |
the struggle between politicians for place in
to sympathy for ourselves. But how could |
they propose peace Who would bring the |
To whom would 1t be delivered =! !
And should the proposition be made and re-
iected, we are much worse off TO rit. ''We |
must propose peace, Tor ought to know
when we have got enough of the thing" :
NEGRO SLAVERY.
am asked if Mr.. Lncoln's Emancipation |
Proc lamaiion will stand If you continue the |
certainly. He has the ply steal force |
at his disposal to carry it out If you cease |
now, You may save all in your hands, COM
promise gradual emancipation. But let, |
beseech you, the negro no longer stand in the /
way of the happiness and safety of friends and |
K inbred
The changes of sentiment upon this question
in the South have been curious. Not many
years since it was by means unusual for
the press and public men, as well as for the
people generally in the South, to concede
that slavery was an evil, and regret that it
should ever have existed, expressing, howev
er, no disposition or desire to be rid of it.
Yet, few years more, the demand for cotton
having increased, the price of negroes having
advanced, and the agitation OF the slavery
question having increased in viruleBce. finds
us defending slavery as a divine institution,
De Bolc's ReUieU, and other Southern papers
and periodicals, with Senator Hammond, of
of South Carolina, We're prominent in this de-
tense
Their object to educate the Southern
mind to this belief. Such course had be-
come vital to the existanee OF slavery, be-
cause, to concede that negro slavery was NOR
ally wrong was virtually 10 concede the whole
argument to the Aboitionists. As the con-
warmed we became sensitive, and so
norbidly SO that the North might have threat
sned with impunity to deprive US OF horses or
other property, yet the whole South would be
,olazed if some fanatic took one negro. Such
vas the public sentiment South at the COM
nencement of this most unfortunate and
bloody struggle. But revolutions shake up
mems thoughts and put them in different
channels. | have recently talked with South
,rn slave holders. from every State. They are
ired of negro slavery, and believe they could
n ake more clear money and live more peace
.bly without than with it. As for the non
aveholders of the South, honestly thought
he struggle was for him more than for his
Wealthy neighbor. That to free the negro
would reduce to comparative slavery the poor l