Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-01-27
BREEDING AN INsURRECTION.
IFrom the New York Evening P

The Pottsville Miners journal for Janu-
airy ID announces that the miners III five
mines belonging to Messrs. Heckscher 4 Co.
have stopped work, coerced thereto by GER
tain leaders and committeeman, who
take it upon themselves TO force honest
workmen to lay down their industry and
leave their families to suffer, at their arbi-
trary command.
Recently this firm found it necessary to
close one of their six mines, which there is
no demand at this season Of the year.
Thereupon the committeeman ordered
the workmen to stop work IN the other five,
under the penalty Of summary and severe
punishment. The Miner s journal says !:
at these collieria IS are much incensed against
the leaders and committee men, who, by
their system OF threats and bulyism, have
so frequently deprived them OF employment
during the last season, and now also expose
so many families to want during the winter
season.
Ifthe people of Pennsylvania do not put
down these lawless combinations, they will
in very short time see the ruin of one of
their most important industries The ruff
fans who call themselves 'committee-men"
have now for nearly eighteen months defed
and violated the law with impunity They
are not punished every week they grow
more formidable and morc arbitrary.
Messrs. Heckscher & Co. ought to set an
example to their fellow-citizens they ought
at once to vindicate their rights, and
bring to Justice the ruffians who injure them
and their workmen. They owe this not on
" their own interests and those of their en-
ployees, but to the general welfare, which
is stabbed through them. Their course Is
doubtless not without difficulties ; the sher-
if of the county, to whom lies their first
appeal against riotous violence, Is, we I'M
derStand, copperhead, and has refused to
act before in similar cases. But they must
appeal to him formally if he refuses, let
him be indicted as one of the conspirators,
and let the Governor act. He at least is a
man of energy and respecter of law. 1t
will not do to trife or compromise with such
villains as these committeeman and their
tools An example must be made now Of
nalf dozen ringleaders ! then the mob will
sink away, and order will be restored. But
every day these wretches are PERMITTED to
have their way will strengthen them and
make their power more formidable.
Because we tolerated mobs in the South,
which tarred and feathered, hanged, and
robbed, and exiled honest citizens, we have
now q rebellion to deal with Because
Judge Hoar was driven out from Charleston,
and no one was found to appeal to law; be-
cause hundreds of other American citizans,
of less note but with equally sacred rights.
were imprisoned, beaten, robbed, tarred and
feathered, and expelled from Southern
States, and no appeal was made for justice
against such violence and outrage-there-
fore our brothers are dying on Southern fields.
Let the people of Pennsylvania take warn
ing in time no civilized community can ex-
ist which tolerates lawless men. Comfortable
citizens, whose property and persons are not
edangered to-day, may say it do notconcern
us !" but they will find presently that 1t
does concern them, and livery nearly to. The
peaceable citizens of Pennsylvania are breed
ing an insurrection; they are fattenlng
monster which will presently attempt to throt-
tie the State. 1t concerns the life and the
pocket OF every honest man, from Philadel-
phia to Pittsburg, to crush this monster at
once.