Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-08-23

our brave soldiers and sailors, who, by their |
endurance, sacrifices, and ilustriouS herolsm,
have secured to their country. peace, and to |
the down trodden everywhere, an asylum of
liberty; who hive shown that the war for
the restoration of the Union Is not failure,
and whose valor has proven tor all time the
fact that this Government of the people, by
the people, for the people, is as invinclble
in its strength as it is beuefcent in its OPP
Grafton
2. That revering the name of Abraham
Lincoln, the great martyr of liberty, we can
not show greater honor to his name than by
generous support of his fellow patriot and
successor Andrew johnson, the President
of the United States, who has been called
to complete the task which he left unfnish
ed. His unbending patriotism in the past
| is sure guarantee that in the momentous
| future the authority of the Government will
be upheld, and the rights and liberties of all
the citizens of the Republic secured.
8. That the mild and generous method of
reconstruction offered by the President to
the people lately IN rebellion, in the judg-
ment of this Convention, has not been ac
cepted in the spirit of honest loyalty and
gratitude, but with spch evidence Of def
ance and hostility as to impel us to the con-
viction that they cannot safely be entrusted
with the political rights which they forfeit
ed by their treason, until they have proven
their acceptance of the results OF the war,
by Incorporating them in constitutional pro
visions and securing to all men within their
boarders their inalienable rights to life, lib
erty and the pursuit OF happiness.
f. That having conquered the rebellious
States, they should be held in subsection,
and the treatment they are to receive and
the laws which are to govern them, should
be referred to the law making power Of the
nation to which it legitimately belongs
s. That the late rebellion, was wanton-
ly precipitated by the property holders of
the South, it is but just that they should
pay the expenses of the war, and Congress
should declare as forfeited and vested in the
Government the property of all rebels whose
estates exceed the sum of $4,000, and that
the proceeds of the property so confscated
should be applied to increase the pensions
of those entitled thereto by the casualties
of the war, to paw the damages done by the
enemy to loyal citizens, and to reduce the
burden of the national debt
6. That it is the duty of Congress so to
revise the revenue laws as to afford increas
ed protection to American industry to Sc
cure the development of the industrial
wealth of the people, to render labor profit
able and remunerative to build up home
markets for our agriculturists to attract
capital to the mineral fields of the country,
and to provide revenue for the maintenance
of the public credit; and this Convention
recognizes the chief enemy to policy of
protection in that European power which,
for four years, has furnished piratical YES
sells OF war to the rebels, and thus endeaV-
ored to drive our commerce from the sea.
l. That any attempt by foreign nations to
establish monarchial governments on this
continent is evident of design to destroy
Republican institutions. Regard for our
own safety and for the future security of the
Republic demand that no such attempt
should succeed.
s. Thatit is the duty of Congress to secure
the full Federal bounty to all honoraby dis
charged soldiers irrespective OF the date OF
their enlistment.
5 9. That we recognize in Edwin NJ. STAN
ton, the fearless, honest and able head of
the Department of War, public servant
who has deserved well of his country, and
has borne himself so clear in his great office
as to merit the earnest gratitude of all loyal
men and we tender to him and his distin-
guished colleagues in the cabinet our thanks
5 for their valuable services in the cause of
liberty and law.
10 That the constant devotion of Gov.
| Curtin to the best interests OF tie State and
nation, during the last four years, and his
ndefatigable efforts on all occasions to pay
the just debt of gratitude we owe our na-
, tional defenders, not merely by words, but
also by deeds, eutitle him to the thanks of
every loyal citizen of Pennsylvania.
D IL. That this Convention, representing
the loyal people of Pennsylvania, recognizes
the claims of our citizen soldiers on our con-
fidence and gratitude; and that in nomiia-
tions for offices especial regard should be
paid to the claims of those who have faith
+, | fully served ther country IN the army or the
i. navy i'll the suppression of the rebellion. d.
r. That the people of the Democratic
( party stand arraigned before the people OF
: PENNSYLVANIA for constantly obstructing the
efforts of the constituted authorities to main
tain the lite of the Republic. They did
, this
u !. By inhaming the passions of their ignor-
!, ant followers against the legally elected ofh-
GERS of the Federal Government, and re-
training from all reproach against treason OF
armed traitors:
= By procuring decision from the Demo
/ cratic judges of our supreme court, denying
, the right of the Government to the services
'' of the citizens of this State for the defence
of their imperilled country:
!. By discouraging men from volunteering
: into the armies of the Union; thus render
l. ing it necessary to succumb to treason, or tc
/ pay large bounties, and so burdening every
J, ward, township and borough in the State
d with debt to fill the ranks of our armies:
By opposing the enlistment of negroes fol
: our defence, although one white man les
was required for every black one who coulo
! be enlisted, and this at the very moment
i when the battle of Gettysburg was raging
l on the soil of Pennsylvania and the result
of that decisive battle was uncertain: