Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-01-18

organ editor OF the American party, he
could not tolerate these foreign born ra-
ces, nor the adhercnts of the Catholic church,
and he comes here ROW and asks us to be
more intolerant even than that. He asks
us to prescribe a whole race, not only to the
extent to which prescribed foreign born ra-
ces, but TO go further and prescribe them
from the human family and rank them with
the brute creation. And he asks us TO do
this In the name Of liberation. Strange
that man 5 mouth can run on thus.
1t has been often said of late that history
repeats itself. OF course it cannot be liter
ally true; but the gentleman cites it, and
then proceeds to search for the prototype of
the terrible drama now being enacted on
tins continent, and affects to find it in the
Revolution Of l776. Having settled this
point to his own satisfaction, he proceeds TO
assign to the living actors their historic
parts. The rebels take the position Of the
colonial revolutiOnists, the Government Of
the United States re-enact the part Of
George LII and his ministers, while for him
self and the Opposition debaters OF this
House he selects the honorable role Of Chat
ham, Fox, Burke and other champions Of
colonial rights in the British Parliament.
let us examine this. 1t is true that the
colGnists rebelled against the Government of
Great Britain, and the shareholders rebelled
against the Goyernn ent Of the United
States; but here the likeness ends. Be
tween the circumstances that might provoke
or Justify 1ebelhon in the two cases there Is
10 resemblance. The Government from
which the colonies separated was three
thousand miles beyond the seas. They
could not even communicate with it in those
days In less than two or three months. In
that Government they had no representa-
ton, and their wants and wishes no author
itative voice. Nor was it the form Of govern
ment most acceptable to the colonISts. They
preferred republic. The rapidly increasing
population and the geographical extent and
position of the colonies demanded national
ity. Sooner or later it must come. The
tea tax and other trifing grievances only
hurried on an event that was sure to occur
from the influence OF geography and popu-
lation alone. How Is it IN these respects
with the present rebellion? The Govern
ment against which the shareholders rebel
led was not a foreign one; it was as much
in it. y RRggfFgs RRgFs wII IIhsx NEe tglIy FepE4aeeted
think there was not single law, upon the
statute-b book to which they had not given
their assent 1t was the Government they
helped to make, and it was made as they
wanted it. They had ever had their share
OF tOIl1Dl anu paul III IT, anu LiCi -
than their share, for they boasted with much
truth that cotton was king. Nor is there
any geographical reasons IN their favor. 1t
is conceded even by the rebels themselves
that division of the territory lying COM
pactly between the lakes and gulf, the At
lantic and the Mississippi, into two nations
would be great misfortune to both. 1t 1t
were the Pacific States demanding separa-
ton, bad as that would be, there would be
some sense in it; but for this territory you
cannot even find dividing line When
you attempt to run one, the rivers and
mountains cross your purpose. Both the
land and water oppose the division. There
Is no disunion outside the wicked hearts OF
these disloyal men, [ can see no resemb-
lance, then, between our patriot fathers,
who toiled through seven years war to
establish this beneficent Government, and
the traitors who drench the land in blood in
an attempt-I trust in God a vain one-to
destroy it.
Again, sir, in what respect do the apollo
gists of the present rebellion iii this House
resemble the advocates of our great Revolu-
ton in the British Parliament? Conceding
they are their equals in statesmanshIp, learn
ing, eloauence, and wit, ] submit that they
fall far below them in the merit OF their res
pective causes. Chatham defended the cause
of the colonists as set forth in the Declara-
ton of Independence that AL men are crea-
ted equal, endowed by their Creator with GER
tain inalienabe rights, among which are life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness the
honorable gentleman from New ork pleads
for slavery, the auction block, the collie. the
| lash. With slavery he cures all national
troubles He begs for harmony among our
selves How shall we be united? Res
tore slavery" says he. He is opposed to
war. How then shall rebels in arms be sub
| dued? Revive the traffic of blood. !" He
! is opposed to taxes How then shall ou1
| exhausted treasury be replenished? Raise
more children for the market. Slavery,
more slavery, still more slavery, is the only
prescription Of the Opposition doctors III
| we are to look for the representatives OF these
| great men on this side of the Atlantic l
would not select them from among those
who. born and raised in the free States, with
all their moral and educational advantages,
had rot yet quite virtue enough when the
struggle came to be patriots, nor quite cour-
age enough to be rebels, but | would rather
select them from such men as johnson OF
| Tennessee. or Davis of Maryland, who, born
and educated amid the infuerces of slavery,
still stood up for the Union cause at first al
most alone. But, sir, the representatives OF
these men are to be found now as they were
then on the other side of the Atlantic, the
leaders of the liberal party in the British
| Parliament.
sThere is another party that figures large
| " In the history of the revolutionary strug-
gle that the gentleman omitted entirely to
name. Hegave; e;them nossplace in his caste
of parts. The commission may be attrIbu-
| ted to either modesty or forgetfulness. Pri-
or to the Revolution the members of this
party had filed all the places of honor and
| profit in the colonies, and when the wal
| anrnn thou heartily esnnused the cause Oi