Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-04-15


oeiiious States would soon lay down their
arms and return 10 their duty and to their al
/ legiance.
But not so. They have only become more
/ hostile as thei- wicked cause has become more
desperate.
Thus far the war has been carried on with
gentle hand on our part. 1t impossible
/ to comprehend at first the extent and magni-
tude of this rebellion The Government has
treated it like kind and induigent parent
would treat refractory child the parent has
| been content to exhibit the rod and to mingle
kind words with gentle reproof; but this has
only made the child more hateful, wicked and
defiant. The public sentiment of the country
demanded this moderation, under the impress
sion that the Southern people would ere long
return to their senses. The recent elections in
several of the loyal States indicated this senti-
'nent by large majorities But the leaders of
the rebellion, instead of appreciating this un-
parable led generosity, tell us, ssWe spit upon
your peace offerings, we despise you, we defy
you, we ask no peace short of our subjus alton
| or Southern Confederacy."
/ They tell us again. awe are your masters,
| and there shall be no peace except such as we
shall dictate at the capitol at Washington
with our armies laundering at your gates
| They tell us, they did at the outset, 90 Y ou
are knaves and towards and five of you are
not equal to Que of us in battle 20 and in their
inconiprehensible arrogance and self conceit
they still expect to beat the reveile and have
roll call at the base of Bunker Hill monument
| Under these circumstances we are more than
ever tor the war. We are now, heneeforth, and
forever in favor of carrying on the war in dead
earnest.
We are opposed to all at home who oppose
| the war and cry sspeace" when there is no
peace, and can be no peace except at the ex-
pense of our nationality, our honor and our
manhood.
We adrnonish all such as counsel peace and
offer their sympathies to our enemies, that
they are making danlning record for them
selves and their descendants for all time to
come, and we furthermore suggest most re.
spectfully, to all who feel competent to crit
icise the war. aud tell us how battles should
be fought and victories won, to shou lder the
musket and come down to the front and give
PioStiSoi SHiuCuSC Va tuCiI dUIlty III tue
science of arms and the dutIes of the so id ier.
Finally, we see no reason for doubling or
halting in our onward career. If the war, on
our part. was right in its incept ion, it is right
STILL Nor have we any reason to be discour-
aged. 1t is true we have lost some battles and
that some grand m mstakes have been made but
no cause. however just, was ever mainta ined
without disaster. But candid retrospect OF
the war shows. on the whole, every reason for
encouragement. In Kentucky the rebel lines
once extended far N orth as Bowling Green.
In Missouri, Price carried his rebel banner as
far North as Lexington and menaced St. Louis
In Tennessee Pillow and Floyd held Fort Dom
elson and the rebel army domiaeered over all
the country, frcm Cumberland Gap to the
Mississippi river. But 1862 saw the enemy
driven out of Missouri and Kentucky, Colum-
bus evacuated, Island No. 10 captured, the en-
emy whipped at Fort Henry, fought and con
quered at Fort Doneson, beaten at Shilo .driy-
en- from his strong hold at Corinth and Ina lily
swept out of Tennessee. Northern Alabama
and Mississippi. Since then our arms have
carried our victorious banner down the father
of waters, sweeping Arkansas by the way,
shaking hands ith Banks, force near Port
Hudson, and now that match less river Is ours
ane rebel Louisiana lies at our feet.
The enemy was caught and whipped in Ma
ryland, and if r ichmond still remains to poor
Old Virginia, it stands up like a blasted
monument, ,amid a wilderness of desolation.
In fact the enemy has been driven on all
sides and through the centre, and the rebel
lion can read its destiny by the light of glis-
tening bayonets on the land and hear its doom
in the roar Of cannon from the navy that hangs
like an electric cloud along fifteen hundred |
miles of the southern coast.
We say without hesitation, that we stand |
pledged to this contest The issue is made up. |
The hand of destiny is upon God alone |
holds in his hand the issues of life or death.
We are for the war, and in favor of any meas.
ure that will hurt the rebels. Perish trade,
perish commerce, perish slavery, perish ev-
etything and everybod that sta nds in the way
of that cause for which we have periled our
lives and are ready to die, If such be the will
of Heaven.
Some of our fellow citizens at home insist
that this war must be carried on saccording to
the Constitution How do the rebels carry
on this war7 Did they batter down the walls
OF Fort Sumter according to the ConstitutioD7
Do they raise and equip large armies to de-
stroy us under the provisions of the Constitu-
ton Do their piratical ships go forth on
the high seas to destroy our commerce under
the aegis Of the Consttution7 Is it constitu-
tioEal for the rebels to destroy the Constitu-