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


and liberty, that they Ieel,their inseparable
union that Notwithstanding all the devices
which have been used to sway them from
their interest and duty, they are now as
ready to maintain their authority of the
laws against HcenttOHs tardsiotS as they were
t. defend their rights against usurpation.
1t mas been a spectacle displaying TO the
highest, advantage the value OF republican
government, to behold the most and least
wealthy of our citizens standing in the same
ranks as private soldiers, pre-eminently dis
tinguished by being the army of the Consti-
tuition, sndeterred by march of three
hundred miles over rugged mountains, by
the approach of an incIement season, or any
other Encouragement.
These are the words Of the first President
OF the Republic. Had his penetrating eye
scanned the future and behed the present
condition Of his native land, he could not
have used language more completely and
co clusively establishing the right and duty
OF self preservation existing in the Govern
ment.
As early as 1886, Mr.. Jefferson, in let
ter to Mr. Monroe, declared there never
will be money in the treasury till the Confed-
eracy shows its teeth The States must see
the rod, perhaps it must be felt by some of
them. am persuaded that all of'them would
rejo ce to see every one obliged to furnish
their contributions. In another letter,
written in 1887, Mr.. Jefferson says But
with all the imperfectiOns of our present
Government, it is without comparison, the
best existing, or that ever did exist. Its
greatest defect is the imperfect manner in
which matters of commerce have been pro-
vIded for. It has been so often SAID as to
be generally believed that Congress have no
power, by the Confederation, to enforce any
thing, for examp ple-contrlbutio of money.
1t was not necessary TO give them that pow
er expressly; they have 1t by the law OF ma
ture. When'two parties make a contract
there results in each other power Of com
peling the other to execute it.
Thus spoke the author Of the Declaration
Of Independence and the father of DemOcra-
cv. Had all of his pretended followers and
admirers in the South obeyed his teachings
and practiced his theories the present crisis
would not now be upon the nation. La
1882, james Madison, IN speaking OF the
Virginia Resolutions, written by himself,
used the following language: ''The.essentlal
difference between free government and
Government not free is, that the former Is
founded in compact, the parties to which are
mutually and equally bound by it. Neither
Of them, therefore. can have greater right
to break off from the bargain than the other
or others have to hold him to ii; and GER
tainly there is nothing in the Virginia Res
olutionS Of 1898 adverse to this principle,
which Is that OF common sense and common
justice.
1t is remarkable the nullifiers, who make
the name of Mr.. Jefferson the pedestal for
their colossal heresy, closely shut their eyes
and lips whenever his authority is clearly
and emphaticaly against them. In his let
ters to Monroe and Darlington he speaks OF
the power OF the old Congress to coeice de
inQuet States, and states his reason Tor pre-
terrIng for the purpose naval to military
force, also remarklng that 1t was not necessa-
ry to find a right to coerce III the Federal
Articles, that being inherent In the nature
Of compact.
In 1882 the State Of South Carolina at
tempted to inaugurate the heresy of seces-
sion. At that time Andrew jackson occu-
pied the Executive chair OF the nation. HIS
views and opinions are fully and clearly set
forth in his proclamation of that date, IN
which. among other truths, he declares that
'.the Constitution of the United States
forms QOceynH.ent, not a te0gae; and
whether it be formed by compact between
the States or IN any other manner, its char
acter Is the same. 1t IS government IN
which all the people are represented, which
operates directly on the people Individuality,
not upon the States; they retained all the
power they dld not grant But each tate
having expressly parted with 50 many pow
ers as to constitute, jointly with the other
States. a single nation, cannot, from that
period possess any right to secede, because
such secession does not break a league but
DESTROYS the unity OF nation, and any in
jury to that unity is not only breach which
would result from the contraventlon OF
compact but it is an offence against the
whole Union.
Thus speaks Andrew jackson in 1882.
His actions correspond with his words, and
it is fortunate for the nation and for man.
kind that General jackson then occupied
the Executive chair OF the United States.
The views entertained by these statesmen
have been fully endorsed and affirmed on re-
peated occasions by the Supreme Court of
the United States. | might refer partlcu
lrlv to the opinion of Chief Justice Mar
shall on the subject but | have not time to
do so. The same voice comes to US from the
tombs of Mount Vernon, Monticello, the
Hermitage. and the grave of Madison.
Ashland and Marshfeld poured forth their
unsurpassed eloquence in defence OF the
same vital principles, and all the great men
of our land, of all parties, have at all times,
in the Cabinet, in Congress. and on the
bench, agreed upon this question.
Now, my fellow citizens, our enemies at
tempt to dishearten the people by portray
ing to them the magnitude OF our national
debt. This debt has been variously estima-
ted, but it is now officially declared TO be
less than two thousand million of dollars,
and no well-informed man will calculate
greater increase than one thousand millions
per year. But figures cannot estimate the
value of the Union-it is beyond all price.
However, for those who worshipth almighty