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

was with them in the campaign, and sup
ported their ticket because | believed them
TO be honest in their professions In 1868
thev ignoIed the war policy OF the country
| entreated them to reflect upon the conse-
auences of their unwise position, and to ad-
here 10 their former policy in favor OF vlg-
erous prosecution of the war, as sustained
by them in 1861 and 1862. L told them,
ana others of us told them, that SO sure as
they repudiated that policy and adopted the
doctrine Of Vallandigham and his cO-lapor-
ers of the Northwest, Just 30 sure the peo-
ple would rise in their might, and the par
tv would be overwhelmed at the ballot-box.
TGreat cheering For this reason, went
home from the covention at Harrisburg IN
sadness and In silence, and remained silent
during the campaign. The people OF Quo,
by more than 81, 900 majority, verified aud
fulfilled the prediction that had made to
the Democratic leaders at the convention IN
1863. Still we remained silent, hoping al
most against hope thatour Democratic leaders
at Chicago would return to the faith OF our
fathers. and to the true doctrines OF the
Democratic party, as proclaimed by Jeiier-
son, jackson, and ali the best men oI lhaC
party from that oay to this.
Ny fellow citizens, no man III Pennsyl-
wanna more anXlOusly or more earnestly mop
ed, even against hope, that he inlgho De
able to sustain the nominees OF the Chlca9o
Convention than did the individual VINO
now stands before you. | waited even until
tie Convention had concluded Its laborS,
and the proceedings were officially proclaim
ed and sent forth to the world, anu L stand
here tonight to say 10 you that II that Con.
vention had endorsed the true doctrine OF
the Democratic party, aud had declared Tor
the Union, the Constitution, the proaecu-
tlOn OF the War-agalnSt secession al d IN ia
vor OF suppressiDg the rebellIon-and had
placed before the people national candidates,
In whom we might have confidence, L would
have supported the nominees OF that Con-
vention. But the same men that went to
Charleston, and broke up the Convention
there, the same men that went TO BalCImOre
10 continue the business, the same men tfat
have been trying to break up the CnIon aud
the party, both together, went to Chicago.
aud unfortunately obtained controlling m
iiuence OF that Convention. They have
sent forth to the country Il platform which
| shall not attempt TO describe, for L have
not time, and, besides, you all understand
It's contents, but | will say here, before the
world. | would rather that my rlgho arm
should fall from my shoulder, that any ca
iamIty should Detail me, the loss OF friends;
party associates, property, all that l am.
and all that | hope 60 be, III this ilfe--that
all these should perish, before | viii sup
port the Chicago platform, or any man that
stands on it. Long and continued cheer
ing | take this stand because | believe
my country demands that sacrifice. My fel-
low citizens sacrifice their lives upon the
battlefield and why should not | sacrifice
my political position, my personal staldlng,
my prospects before the country, and with
my friends rather than that flag should go
down. a. | believe 1t will, II the nomlna-
tons and platform aJ Chicago are sustained
by the Al ercan people. treat cheering
| believe that the only safe remedy for all
true Democrats IS TO unite in defeating the
nominees of the Chicago Convention, in re-
Duklug those who destroyed the party IL
1850, ana who continue to keep 1t III false
position before the nation and before the
world in lS64 If they will not listen to
our advice, nor heed our entreatles, we
must. in self-defence. and iii the discharge
of our duties, assist in teaching them that
they caumot and shall not use Us as lnstiu-
mentS for the accomplishment OF their un-
worthy purposes. If you succeed IN con con,
vincing them that they cannot be successful
in toistlng false doctrines upon the AmerI-
can people they will, perhaps, in the future
listen to our appeals, For the present they
have taken from Us every remedy but this
one-fo openly oppose them IN their endeav-
ors. The American people have sOlemnty
determined that this nation shall not be dl-
viied They have resolved this upon their
knees and in their closets, and If the rebels
in arms will not submit to this decision
the military power of the rebellion must
and will sbe overthrown The Chicago plat
form contains no such declaration, not one
word against the doctrine OF Secession, or
against the rebellion, and nothing In FAVOR
Of It's suppression. For this reason the
American people will not endorse 1t. IRE
tended peace commissioners from the South
may suggest at Niagara theories for "a Dem
ocratic ptatform-inembers of Congress who
openlv advocated the heresy of Secession,
and hoped the rebel armies might be vlcto-
rious and the Union armies defeated, and
other members Of Congress who assisted. IN
retaining those mem 0ers In their seats may
go 90 Chicago and submit to the di,tatlOn OF
such peace commiSsiOners-the proceedings
O. the Convention may be endorsedln Nova
Scotia-Richmond traitors may long for the
triumph of the theories thus expounded-
foreign enemies of the American Republic
NAV re-echo the hope-Lindsey Roebuck,
and their friends in England; Louis Napo-
leon and John Slidell in France, and the en-
emies of civil and religious liberty every
where NAV ioin in the issue, but the Amer
ican poepic will rise in their might and ov-
erwhelm them all in one common ruin.
The friends of this platform cannot reasona-
bly hope for its success. The candidate
nominated upon it for the highest office II
the gift of the people has been unable fq
stand upon or endorse 1t without material
alterations. corrections, and additions
This being the fact, it is asking too mucn
to expect that the American people snan
do that which the candidate cannot DO MN
self. We sincerely believe that the people