Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-07-04
The Martyr of Fort Monroe.

! Word OF horror for the torture and massacre
| OF Union soldiers at Andersonville and Belle
Isle to represent jefferson Davis as the vic
tm OF cruelty at Fort Monroe have occasioA-
ed the publication of his bill of fare fora week,
winch has been widely published There
are thousands of honest people all over the
land, who work hard for their living. who
would be very glad Of half as good fare as
the Martyr of Fort Monroe daily enjoys.
For those Of our readers who may not have
| seen the list we quote specimen
WEDNESDAY. = Breakfast-Ham and
eggs, wheat and corn-bread butter, sugar,
coffee, milk. Dinner-Mutton- chops, stew
ed oysters, potatoes, onions, apples, bread,
butter, coffee
THURSDAY. = Breakfast = Beefsteak,
two bold eggs, wheat or corn bread, butter,
sugar, milk, coffee. Dnner-V outlets,
panned oysters, potatoes, onions, bread cof-
fee, butter
'SFRDAY,- BreaE5ast-Stewed oysters,
mackerel, or fresh fish, wheat and corn
bread, coffee, sugar, milk, and butter. Din
onions, bread, butter, coffee.
SATURDAY -BreakfaSt- t-Mutton-chopg.
two boiled eggs, bread, butter, milk, sugar,
coffee. Dmner-Stewed oysters, potatoes,
onions, bread, butter, coffee
This probably compares tavorably with
the daily bill Of fare at Andersouviile but
since there will undoubtedly be a persistent
attempt to excite sympathy and even admi-
ration for Jefferson Davis as political pris-
oner suffering for an honest difference of
opinion, it is as well to understand clearly
precisely what his position is.
The odium that hangs around his name,
and which viii forever deepen, does not
arise from the fact that he held abstractly
the theory Of State sovereignty and the con
stitutionally reserved right Of secession but
that he and his fellow-conspirator5 chose to
assert that doctrine at the cost of countless
innocent lives and of the welfare of the
country, not to remedy injustice or oppres-
sion for which there was no legal redress,
but 10 perpetuate the foulest system OF ty-
ranny under the. sun. Had Davis and his
contederatcs appealed to God and mankind
for the rectitude of their intention as re-
vealed in the purpose Of the war which they
invoked-had they armed against the Ma
Jional Government in tho name Of vital
State rights which that Government had
denied-had they risen against an arbitrary
power which was grinding them and their
families, and trampling upon sacred, natur-
al, and constitutional rights Cor which il re-
fused remedy-then, indeed, the last ter
ribie appeal to blood, which only hopeless
justified, and their cause, however unfortu-
nate, would have commanded the admira
ton and sympathy Of the world,
1t Is idle to say that, holding secession to
be a constitutional right, they might assert
it at any time, and for any purpose which
pleased them. When war IS the cost Of the
practical assertion OF any right it can be
justified only by the fact of vital grievance
Tor which there is no other redress, or by
the purpose for which it is intended TO ex-
ercise that right. That was the jurisdiction
Of our great revolution of l776. But what
is Jefferson Davis as the official representa-
tive Of the rebellion of 1861? He is man
who. deliberately plunged his country into
the most fearful war, and flooded it with
blood that he might whip women and sell
children at his pleasure. His pretenss was
State sovereignty, his purpose was human
slavery. That was the object for which he
and the other leaders fired the Southern
heart" For this they directed the war.
For this they starved brave men at Ander
sonville and Belle-Isle. tortured them into
idiocy, and shot them ike dogs. For this
were Southern Union men seized at night,
and before the eyes of their despairing wives
and agonized children hung and shot and
drowned. For this they drove thousands
and thousands of conscnpts to die upon the
field of battle For this Jefferson Davis
garments reek with innocent blood, and his
name is a stencil.
Here is a pretty martyr, with his ham
and eggs and panned oysters Here is a
Christian hero; and General Miles must be
removed if he does not bow low enough
Here is model American, who must be
magnifed into Spielberg victim and suffer-
er OF the Bastile if his mullins are not toast
ed, and his beef-steak is overdone Our
readers will bear US witness that we have
not advocated vengeance, that we think the
trial of Davis for treason a mistake, and
that we are ready to take, with fair precau-
tions, all the necessary and inevitable risks
of the situation. But the maudlin sentI-
mentality that would drape with the dignity
of martyr for political opinion man
who for such purpose waged such war
we believe will disastrously recoll upon those
who foster it. We have no wish to revive
dead feuds or to use harsh words, but we
can conceive no greater misfortune 70 the
manhood of American youth than that they
should be taught to regard Benedict Arnold
as an honorable man or Jefferson Davis as
guiltless and unfortunate patriot. Harper
Weekly.
HIBERN1AN Toast. Two gallant sons
of Erin, being just discharged from the
service, were rejoicing over the event, when
one, who felt all the glory of his own noble
race, suddenly raised his pot over his head,
and said, ssArrah, Mike, here's to the gal
laDt old 69th-the last In the field and the
first to lave iti'' Tut, tut, man. said
Mike; ''ye don't name that: Don't
name it, Is it? Then what do | maneF