Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-11-01
A CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS,
To the Union Men of Pennsylvania.

} Phad, October l9, lS65.-Another political
contest has been determined by the freemen
OF Pennsylvania. The Union cause has again
trumphed at the ballot box. Official re-
turns have been received from sixty-two
counties OF the sixty-six in the State. OF
these fitty-tour show gains for the Union
cause ever the vote of 1862. The aggregate
gains over all losses are nearly twenty-five
thousand. This will give to our candidates
on the home vo.e alone majorities exceeding
that given by the army and home vote to
our lamented President, Abraham Lincoln.
OF the Seven Union Senators whose terms
OF offce expired, we have not lost one The
home vote has gained us one from the oppo-
sltion IN Lnzerne, and the army vote will
gam us one from the Opposition in Luzerne,
ana the army vote will gain us another in
Franklin and Adams. In the lower House
we have retained all of our sixty-three mem
bers of last session. The home vote has
added three to its number, and the army
vote will give us one more. The Senate
VIII stand twenty one to twelve, and the
House sixty-seyen to thirty-three, thus Civ
lrg to US majority of 40 on joint ballot
For these results so gratifying to the
friends OF our cause in Pennsylvania, and to
ali patriots throughout the nation, we are
| deeply indebted to the returned soldiers of
| A'.tN ~ hioh ui my WIZ ustSC taught tfClT
friends and foes that they know as well how
to vote lntelligently for the cause of the
country as they know how to fight braveiy
and heroically for the same cause
Much praise is due to the press of the T.
Mon party throughout the State, for its pa
| tri0tic efforts in the good work.
To the Secretaries of the State Central
Committee, Messrs Hamersly and Benedict.
the loyal men Of Pennsylvania are under
lasting obligations. Upon them devolved
arduous and responsible duties Many of
their labors are not witnessed or ever known
to the public They labored assiduously by
day and by night for the success of the u
MON cause, to which they are both most de-
| votedly attached
Every member of the State Central Com
mittee performed well his part, and ooper-
atafi cheerfully and cordially with the chair
man IN promoting the success of the Union
| ticket. To the chairman of the several
county committees it is conceded that much
of the credit of our triumph belongs. To
all the true and faithful men of the State,
who so effectually discharged their duties,
and made our triumph easy as we'll as over
whelming, our most earnest and hearty
thanks are extended.
Inc defeat OF our on opponents is thorough
and disastrous. To them it was UNEXPECTED.
although well merited Having opposed
the war SO happily and so gloriously termi-
mated, they changed their policy, nominated
officers and assumed to be the especial friends
OF the soldiers They were confident and
and defiant. When we were silent, they clam
orousy and imperiousy demanded our views. |
When we spoke they charged that it was
''puerile invective They told their fol- |
lowers that we were endeavoring to turn
their fanks, y and called lustilyupon them
to pierce our centre. Some of them retir-
ed with both fanks turned and their centre
pierced. The balance were made prisoners.
Last year they assured their follswers that
the election had been carried at the point of
the bayonet; that the military rule had in
terfered with the freedom of the election,
and that our country was fast verging to-
wards military despotism. That shallow
pretext cannot avail them now
Supporting soldiers, they became the
champions of deserters and refugees from
the draft. To rally their desponding and
dlsheartened forces they proclaimed that
our President had become a convert to their
views They well knew the opinions of
those who had elected him, and the princi-
ct they would gladly have induced him to
abandon his friends and his principles in or
der that they might be restored to power.
The spirit of Slavery, Secession and State
sovereignty had assassinated one President
within the last SIX months, and was striving !
to demoralize and steal another. The ex- ,
pertinent failed; the effort to make it has !
been terribly rebuked by the people, and $
the result is the complete decentralization c
and overthrow of those who dared to mis- t
represent our Chief Magistrate in order to
promote the success of their sinking cause
The oft-repeated and well established truth /,
'f history has again been vindicated No I
nan, in any country. can take sides against q
MS Government when engaged in war, I
whether foreign or domestic and retain the :
confidence and respect of his fellow citizens
liter the termination of the war. Either
he party which antagonizes the Govern q
nent must go down or the nation must per- il
sh. Our nation is too young to die. Those S
= ho opposed our armies on the field of bat b
lie have been defeated. The party whose
eaders opposed the prosecution of our war
or national existence have been beaten at e
he ballot box. Our people have just given .
mother of the highest proofs of the fact y
hat man is capable of self government
The people at the ballot box, hav, declar-
d their adherence to the principles which y
we're made triumphant by the skill and .,
raverv of American officers, soldiers and u
eamen amid the storm of battle. Let all
ood Union men continue to be faithful and Il
rue to the cause oil their country and all 81
NIL be well. The nation purified by the .
cry ordeal through which it has lately pas
ed. will start upon new era OF progress: 81
The enemies of free Government will
verywhere respect and fear our greatness
nd power, and the down-trodden and OPP d,
ressed of every cline will seek and find an
ssylum in our midst. JOHN CESSNA,
Chairman UnionStateC central Committee to