Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-11-18
THE RAF TsMAN's JOURNAL.

oeucu III MASSACHUSETTS, or holding the plough
| handles in Pennsylvania. And it became a
| hateful thing that in the government of the
country the farmer and shoemaker should
claim to exercise power great as his own.
Therefore he sought war. His life had been
the life of soldier. His days had been given
to the horse and the rifle. His eye was keen,
his nerves strong. and he had the audacity
and courage that such life wouhI give. He
would appeal TO the sword, and by the sword
he would smite and punish and utterly destroy
the nation of reading and writing laboring
men, that were growing up around him as
peers.
Mr.. CAN'T tells us that this was the begin
ming of the war. He shows us how it has re-
suited. ''W We have been whipped he says,
''fairly beaten our armies are melting and
ruin approaches u.s." The struggle appears
to him in far different light than the other
gentlemen who, under the leadership of jeff
ersOn Davis, undertook to overthrow liberty
by the cotton crop and the wealth of the
South. 1t is the fashion of the sanguine gen
tlemen in the South, particularly those who
write for Richmond newspapers, to speak OF
the reading and writing laborng men sscow-
ardly Yankee 'sthe scum OF foreign cOmmu-
nities," beggars and Doors. To these valiant
newspaper men we are but as so many sheep
driven TO the slaughter so many victims cut
down with the fire and sword of Southern
vengeance. Mr.. CAN'T finds no consolation in
kansas not to be deceived with the hope that
the United States will abandon the struggle
He has been with us, and tells his fellow cltl-
zens that We scarcely feel the al home
that our cities are more populouS and thrifty
to-day than ever; that our villages and towns,
and fields and country, are still dOuTishing
that we could sink our present armies, and
raise new armies to crush the South without
feeling fhe effort. He the South pic
ture of desolatiOn aud decay he admits that
it has not the power TO continue the contest.
Nor can they hope Tor foreign intervention'
1t is a fatal de lusiOn. With the pride of a
true American, who has not lost his American
ism by being Southerner, he spurns the idea
of affiliating with France. He does not wish
another MACMILLAN for his country, nor can
he consent TO allow Davis to barter Texas for
the mercenary aid of French bayonets. Nor
does he any hope in divided North. lie
admonishes his people to remember that in
the North the boldest friend of the South is
merely in favor of reconstruction, and recon-
struction rejected, they are in favor OF still
con tinung the war We can assure the peo-
pie of Arkansas that Mr.. CAN'T states this
part of his case with truth and moderation.
The remedy this citizen proposes is the on
ly remedy open to the people of the South
submission to the Federal authority and ces- |
sation of the war by acknowledging the pow
er of the Government. II thought" be says, |
s'that the Government was divided, apd negro |
slavery established forever. | erred. The |
Government iOas stronger than slarery.' These |
opinions may not be popular in the military |
department of General Holmes, but they must |
become popular in Arkansas. We have seen |
their effect in n orth Carolina we have seen |
Tennessee become gradually loyal We have |
seen emancipation sustained by slave holding |
Maryland. We know that in Georgia there is |
a large party opposed to Mr.. Davis and to the |
rebel dominion. In every part OF the South |
the evidences ofthis opposition are becoming |
stronger, and the dreary pilgrimage OF the reb- |
el Lucifer must have revealed to him spec |
tacle more terrible than that which appalled, |
Macbeth when mis- crimes began TO make his |
bloody crown a wretched and dreary dignity. /
lie saw a fair land deSoate-a people suffering |
thousands OF friends weeping for friends that !
would never return, and public sentiment
rising around him with fearful omen. He saw
his power passing away like gnilty and ap-
pallng dream. The loyal citizen may rejoice |
in this, and the many similar indications that
come from the South. The winter is past
the ice is breaking, and the spring time of |
peace is at hand.
The letter of Mr.. CAN'T is very lengthy, but
we will endeavor to give several extracts
from it in the course of a week or two.
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