Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-09-21
"a SLIGHT DIFFERENCE"

n LII
Such is the caption of an article in the
last Copperhead organ of this place, in
which the writer labors TO show, lby quot
ing part of sentence from our article of the
week previous, in reference to the State quo
ia being nearly full, that We spoke dispar
agingly of our veteran troops The writer
knew, when he penned his article, that he
was misrepresenting our meaning by giving
a garbled extract from our paper-that he
was uttering a ,ciliil falsehood. The follow
ing is the paragraph from which he quotes
apart of the sentence referred to:
There is nothing that so forcibly strikes the OBJ
server, as the character and appearance of these
men who are now sniisting in the service. In
Many respects they differ from those who have
heretofore gone TO the war. They evidently
the bone and sinew of the Commonwealth and
they are going with stern and fixed resolve,
rising from the practical impossiblity of negOtia
ting peace upcn terms which will secure the res
toration of the Union without conguering
emies. They all seem TO be fully persuaded that
however anxious they for peace, they must
use war Ike means to secure it, see their coun-
try destroyed.
Now, We presume, no man, with the least
particle of common intelligence and obserya-
tion, will deny the fact that IN many res
poets THERE Is a difference between those
who are now volunteering and MANY of those
who have heretofore gone to the war-that
they are evidently the bone and sinew of the
onwealth-farmers, machinists, me-
chanics, laborers, miners, etc.-the strong,
hearty, athletic, independent, hard working
yeomanry-the greasy mechanics and small
listed farmers as our neighbor' Southern
brothers" are pleased to call them. And in
thus deliniating the standing of those who
are now enlisting into our army, we do not
in the least detract from the character of our
ueteraa soldiery. more generous, brave.
and valorous set of men, than our lcdr-,CoIn
heroes, never contended with malignant
foe. But, while we aScribe all honor and
praise to these whole-souled and valiant men,
who viii deny the fact, that goodly num-
ber of those who joined the army with them,
at the outbreak of the war, were not of the
same class of men Look abroad over the
whole country, and you viii find deserters
and skulkers in almost every locality-most
of whom never entered the army for any O.
ther purpose than idleness and mercenary
gain-and hence, when the realities of a sol
iiers life once confronted them, they soon
contrived some plan, either honorable or dis
honorable, by which their cowardly legs
would carry them out of harms way. And
surely, IN many respects there is at least "a
slight difereace' between these deserters
and skulkers, and tine war worn veterans,
'those noble men such as the Pennsylya-
mia Reserves who enlisted in the service
to preserre, not to destroy, the Union and
the Constitution, and of this latter class
are the men who are now volunteering and
filling UP the decimated ranks of our coun-
try S defenders. All honor to our brave he
roes-yeterans and recruits.
s. The next time our Copperheao
neighbor quotes US, let him do so fairly, and
not attempt to sA,ult behind garbled ex
tract to hide his extreme opposition to the
amendment allowing our soldiers in the ar
my to vote, now that little Mac is bidding
for their votes. But, remember neighbor
you can't hide the ''cloven foo" in thai
way, for our brave boys viii recognize it
even should you beslime it with soft soap.
Court commences on Monday next ir
:, Ia.