Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-06-22
FOR PRESIDENT,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Of Illinois.
FoR.v PRESIDENT,
ANDREW JOHNSON, of Tennessee.
UNION ELECTORAL TICKET.
The Platform Of the Union Party.

The Union party, meeting in National
Convention, gives its combined sanction, and
an au' lucrative form, to its tenets. Its Sc
series of resolutions embrace nothing novel;
they are but the reassertion of principles
which have already shaped tie character
and policy Of the Administration; and yet
their clear and systematic statement, accred-
tied by the unanimous assent of the party
in Convention assembled, is an important
act, which will pass into history.
The prime characteristic of the resolutions
Is their horoughness. Never before was
this exhibited in any National Convention
of any great party. Democratic, Wing, A
merican, RepubGcan-they all, in greater
or less degree, were subject to the necessity
of dealing largely in carefully qualified and
restricted language. In respect to the great
question of Slavery, the difference between
them was only difference where the limita
tion should be made The Republican plat
form, in which the line against Slavery was
drawn the farthest, yet exhibited special solic-
tude in its trainers to preserve intact the in
violability ot Slavery in the States. In fact,
the shaping of political platform, so as
to supply party with distinctive and pc
culiar foothold, and at the same time not
disturb the conservative and compromising
spirit of the people, has always been work
of high art, requiring consummate political
experience and skill. Among the political
Debris of the past can be found specimens of
party platform joinery, so exactly set and
fitted, that the mosaics turned up from
Pompeii are but mere botchwork in compar
ison As you go back to look at them, you
are almost lost in wonder that political craft
could have ever attained such nicely of
measurement. The present platform shows
nothing of the kind Without curve or
an indentation, or dovetail, or any balan-
cling or adjusting method of any sort, it
stands out in simple square outlines, every
plank and every line running straight through
from one end to the other, without break or
deviation.
Upon the matter of the rebellion, reso-
luton sets forth an unqualified determine
ton to accept of nothing short of uncoa1t-
ttondl surrender. Upon the manner of
prosecuting the war, a resolution declares
for the utmost possible rigor Upon Sla-
very, resolution demands its utter and
complete ertirpation from the soil of the
Republic Upon the policy of employing
negro soldiers, resolution declares its ob-
solute approval Upon the question of pro-
tecting these soldiers, a resolution calls for
the full protection of the laws of war. Up
on the paramount authority of the Consti-
ton and laws of the United States, and the
necessity of bringing rebels and traitors to
due punishment, none but positive terms
are employed. Upon the Monroe doctrine,
the encouragement of foreign immigration,
the maintenance of the national credit and
currency, the speedy construction of the Pa
ci6c Railroad, and every other important
point, the doctrine is thorough, and the
language explicit.
The great Union party is fortunate in be-
ing thus able to plant itself upon basis so
completely consistent with every loyal obi
CATION, every principle OF justice and truth.
Il has been enabled, by the irresistible
course Of events, to get clear of the old
compromising and temporising necessities.
1t has reached the fullness Of time where
political expediency and moral right COM
pletely coincide, and where matured public
opinion is prepared to meet and steadily sup
: port it. 1t can now set forth its great prin-
ciples with the strongest emphasis, and keep
rigidlyt to their extreme logical consequences,
without danger of estranging from the war
any portion Of the people who have any