Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-07-27
THE CONTRAST.

tnan the ulHerence between the social SyS-
TENS and condition of the people of the
Free and Slave States of this country. At
this time more than any other should we
seriously consider this subject and provide
the remedy for such evils as may be brought
home to us. We do not claim that every
thing in the Free States has been as it
ought to have been, but we urge that if the
Slave States should be brought up to our
standard, We can unitedly make rapid pro-
gress IN correcting all the evils Of the body
polite.
Acting upon the spirit which prevailed
among the founders ofour government, tn e
Northern States took immediate steps to
get rid of slavery, and make the nation what
it was intended it should be, nation of
freedom to all men in its broadcast sense.
The principle that "all men are created free
and equal became the foundation of our
social systems. Still further Believing
that it was the purpose of WASHINGTON
and his associates that slavery should be en-
tirely rooted up out of the land, the spirit
of true liberty in the North has steadily re-
sisted the eXtention of that barbarous insti-
tuition to our free territories. Not so the
South. Although for a time the promise
was fair that the spirit of emancipation
would generally prevail, the South soon
saw that III their system OF servitude they
had the means of increasing their political
strength, and thereby perpetuating their
control of the National government. Not
only have they retained the institution in
several of the original States, but they sue
ceeded in extending it over a great part of
the territories. The lamentable results of
this conflict ale well known 10 the whole
people.
We have heretofore shown the conse-
quences which have followed in the wake of
the accursed evil of the South, and we pro-
pose now as briefly as possible to indicate
wherein the North has been intellectually
benefited by strictly adhering to the spirit
of the founders of our National Government.
By fostering the spirit of freedom, orr peo-
pie have developed into steady. active, en-
ergetic race of men. The equality, power
and strength of all have been established
No clearly marked distinction of classes has
been recognized, except such as has been
required by the laws of trade and commerce.
We have permitted no discrimination to be
made against labor but, on the contrary,
have encouraged and dignified it by every
means calculated to establish firm and har-
monious relation between the laboring man
and the capitalist. We have promoted in
dustry in every honorable business of life.
Agriculture, manufactures and commerce
have unprecedentedly increased, and thrift,
honor and wealth have ever been within the
reach of the whole people. 1t has always
been permitted to every man to amass rich
es and secure honors. Landed property has
been more Justly equalized than in any 9TH
er country in the civilized world, and the
neat, comfortable cottages which are to be
seen everywhere attest the fact that our
working men are not, In any sense Of the
word, dependent beings We have liberal
ly encouraged the arts and sciences. We
have given to the world vast numbers of
the most important inventions of the age.
The Patent Office Reports show how great
ly we predominate over the South in this
respect. The cotton-gin, to which the
South owes so much Of its former wealth
and prosperity, and for which it never paid,
was the work of Yankee brains. Our liter
ature has grown until its worth is acEnowl
edged everywhere. Our historians, poets
and essayists are read across the seas.
Education has been fostered until now
our children are instructed in the classics
and the fine arts, even, In our common
schools. School houses are to be seen at
every step almost, and colleges, academies
and universities are TO be found almost
without number. New York alone expends
more money annually in the education of
the masses than all the slave States combin-
ed. Crime, destitution and pauperism pre-
vail to a much less degree than any other
population of the same extent and as the
result of all this we possess the sympathy
and respect of all the honorable and liberal
elements of every civilized nation upon the
globe.
The irresistible progress of the Free
States gave the alarm to the Slave States
They found that the spirit of universal lib
erty and intelligence would inevitably ac
compllsh the destruction of all systems OPP
posed to Its advancement and break the
power which Slavery had obtained over the
National government. To perpetuate their
barbarous system, to fasten the evils of
slavery upon the masses forever, and to es-
tablish the predOminance of the rich man
over the poor, they determined to destroy
the Union of States which was designed for
the asylum of the oppressed and refuge of
the downtrodden of everv cline. The civil
war now CONFUSING the nation is the re-
suit. 1t is contest between freedom and
slavery conflict between right and wrong.
Our faith in Providence has never deserted
us, freedom and right will eventually tri-
umph, and that slavery-the great wrong
upon the human race, will fall never to rise
again.
The plotters of the rebellion have made
up the issue themselves, and we have ac-
cepted it with Gods favor and assistance,
to break all bonds and let the oppressed go
free. Before the war we had no purpose to
interfere with slavery in the States, but
determined that it should never extend to
our free territory. Deprived of the power to
spread, we knew that it must eventually de-
cline. The rebellion based upon it, howev-
er, both must fall with the final triumph of
our arms. With slavery abolished, its de
grading influence upou the neople will of
course, disappear. Then as nation once