Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-01-28


| Suppose you declare an armistice for thirty or
| forty days? (? II so. you need never talk about
| getting together your armies again. The next
step would be TO establish boundary. How?
| Where? A boundary line between the bogus
! confedrracy Of the South and the loyaI States
of the North. What line Have you con-
sidered where that line shall bel Would you
make the Potomac the line, and throw all of
Virginia, Maryland Kentucky, and Tennes-
see into the hands of the corrupt leaders of
bastard government Wonld you pass over
the Capitol, and abandon this place, sacred as
it has been made by the assembling within its
walls of the best men who ever drew the breath
OF life from Washington and his compeers
down? Would you make the Chesapeake bay
and the Susquehanna the line2 If you grant
a peace or declare an armistice, depend upon
it the establishment OF line will be the next
step In the programme.
Then would arise that great question, wheth-
er the Northwest would consent to unite her
destinies with Pennsylvania, New York, and
New England.
New England has been made the subject of
reproach. She has her Faneui Hall, which,
in the days of the Revolution. responded TO
the House of Burgesses. She has Bunker
Hill and Lexington, and her history is united
with all the glorious deeds OF the past. Be-
cause some of her people may have acted un
der fanatica impulses, We are not therefore
to displace her from the chart of American
States.
Then arises the question, supposing that the
Ohio was established the line, how long
would your peace last -? About as long as the
Amiens, or the peace of Tiisit, and more fatal
in its consequences than the peace which fol-
lowed the dismem berment and destruction of
Poland. prophesy, sir, that il you establish
a boundary line between the North and the
South, between free labor and slave labor, it
will not be preserved for six months. Let us
III
of our best young men have been sacrificed,
let us sacrifice 800, 900 more il necessary, and
put an end TO rebellion forever. GApplause.]
II is better to make that sacrifice now, ten
thousand times over, than to make dishon-
orabie treaty with rebels. AS much as / love
peace, as much as covet it, much as
would like to see it, how can |, or any reason
able man, ask or consent 20 it at the price of
the destruction of the Government Then
so long as peace is dishonorabe, l say fight
fight like men for the restoration of the Gov
ernment, and for that alone fight for the Con
stitution and Union fight for the old flag
fight for human liberty F; and with skilful lea
derS on the part of our government to conduct
onr armies, have no doubt that we will pros
ccute this war to successful close.
/ know that the negro emancipation agita-
tiOn has created dissatisfaction and division.
| know that it has imposed its troubles and
difficulties, but the Government has power
and strength enough to overcome these and
put down rebellion effectually.
We learn that both the English and French
Governments have desire to enter the atfray
on this continent. Let them come. While
this might not be desirable, may rest IN
der the assurance that our power and resour
great. If they send their ironcdd ships
of war, we must meet them. We fight for eBl-
pire. Our battle grounds will commemorate
the deeds of race of men who, il. they tail,
for tt for iharrv and fba rirbf nt ma nlr
cause is worthy OF success, and We can only
be defeated in morbid sensbility which has
found, unhappily, lodgment in the North,
which is in sympathy with the blackest treason.
The men who entertain these views may
flourish now, but the day of retribution Will
come. The mask shall be torn from the face
of the leaders, and their followers shall stand
aghast at their moral dcformitics.
There has been cause for popular complaint
and distrust to the conduct of the and
management Of the public affairs; but there
has been no cause as yet for them to abandon
the Union and desert their Government.
Demagogues cannot corrupt the people, and
VOC to the men who have deceived them. The
people desire peace but peace on terms alike
honorable to them and the success OF free
principles. They want peace, but with a
whole Union; and on any other terms they
will Indignantly reject it.
Mr. Speaker, am much exhausted that
must bring my remarks to close Where L
stood when the rebellion began, / stand to day
or the same platform. l have undergone no
change in my sentiments or opinions. j de-
nounced rebellion at the threshold; / de-
nounce it now. | have no terms TO make with
traitors which look to the destruction of the
Union. | am satisfied none other can be OBJ
tanned. Time will determine whether my po-
sition is right or not. ! abide it.
The war has cost me its trials and tribula-
tons. can truly close my remarks with
quotation from an ancient philosopher, utter
ed over the dead body of his son slain in battle
Il should have blushed if Cato's house had stood
Secure and 1ourished in a civil war;