Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-02-11
The War in Clearfields

1t is MT our purpose TO attempt to detail
the movements of the military force now
operating in this county This will form
chapter in the history Of the times
through whieh we are now passing to be
recorded at another time and perhaps by
another pen.
But for the satisfaction and information
OF our Democratic friend elsewhere, few
words explanatory Of the position of the
Democrats Of this county heretofore, of our
present condition, and of the causes that
have produced the preseat state of affairs,
and enabled certain administration organs
to proclaim "Har ia G2earftlt," may not
be out of place.
Except that some of cur People are per-
haTs little more out spoken, they are
not whit more radical than Democrats Of
any other part Of tho country. We have
talked with Democrats Ct almost every one
of the adhearing States, aud we never fail
ed to find perfect harmony of sentiment
Whenever we found o man who was will
ing to lay down his life, if SO poor sacri-
fee would restore his country to what il
was previous to the war and it was just
such men as composed the great mass of
the Democrats of Cearfeld county. Their
hearts were not in the war even at the be-
ginning for they could not understand
how coerced Union could accomplish the
designs Of the trainers Of the Government.
But they did not oppose the war. On the.
contrary, they gave freely Of their sub
stance, both in nlsn and money. AS pa
tiOtIc citizens, they could not DO less
for the mcu who admi uistered the Govern.
mont declared that 'the only purpose of
the war was the restoration Of the Union
under the Constitution, and the enforce.
ment Of the laws. If Democrat would ex-
press his fears to his Republican neighbor,
| that the annihiation of the ipstitation of
slavery might be one of the ''purposes" OF
the war, he was Indignantly rebuked> for
thus giving aid aud comfort to the enc.
my;' and ten chan ces to one the self same
republican neighbor would at the same
time swear that if such fact should be made
manifest, thrt the existence or nonexs-
tence of slavery had anything to do with
the war, or with the concluding of peace,
he would be the first to rebel
Such was the situation OF affairs in this
county up to the autumn of 1863. Mr.
Lincoln then issued his frrl emancipation
proclamation, thus rem oving all doubts
from the minds of many, aud henceforth
they did not forbear expressing their op-
position 10 the war. Their perfect right
to do this none will dispute. Then came
the proclamation Of last summer address
ed "i'o whom it may concern" in which
Mr.. Lincoln distinctly declared that "the
abandonment of slavery" must be condi-
ton precedent to any negotiations for
peace.
II any Democrat had doubts up to this
time, they were dispeled by this docu-
ment. The republicans no longer denied
but admitted the fact. 1t was then that
the Democrats of Clearfeld county, rea
vowiug their love and vcneration for the
Union and the Constitution, bloody pro
claimed their determination that they
would not aoiLingIy contribute either mon
or means for the further prosecution OF 0
war for the overflow of an institution
which Mr. Lincoln, in his inaugural ad.
dress, declared be had neither the "righ
nor the inclination" 10 touch
Mr.. Lincoln, and each member of hi,
cabinet, in all their acts, assumed as al
established fact, that the people sanction
ed all their acts, adducing as proof, tht
promptness with which all his calls fo
troops were RESP onded to and the uucon
; planning spirit in which the people sub
} mittGd to conscriplion. Perhaps the.
were honest in these convictions. We are
qsite ready to concede that the Presiden
was for surrounded as he constantly il
by his own interested adherentS, and al
ways oppressed with official business, per
haps no man iu the country has less op
portunity to learn aud understand public
: sentiment He may be che worst deceived
man 10 the nation.
1t was under these circumstances tina
the Democracy Of Clear6cld county made
, their declaration. 1t was done in a re
spec,lul, aignifed manner. They merely
said to him that, if be was under the i'm
preston that the people we're everywhere
acquiescing in bis oficiaI acts, and yield
ing mtRing and cheerful obedience t'
his couscriptiOns, that he was sadly mis-
.olan II n.o ploinlv an aftamnt N nm