Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-08-22

purpose IN dlScharglng tnl> uuty, as IN per-
I forming all other National Obligations. to
| maintain, unimpaired and unlmpeached, the
| honor and faith of the republic.
/ Ninth 1t is the duty OF the National
| Government to recognize the services Of the
| Federal soldiers and sailors in the contest
| just closed, by meeting promptly aud fully
| all their just and rightful claims for services
| they have rendered the nation, and by ex-
! tending to those of them who have survived,
and to the widows and orphans of those
| who fell, the most generous and considerate
care. - - 3 - -..A
Tenth. In Andrew johnson, President of
| the United States, who in his great office
has proved steadfast iu his devotion to the
| Constitution and the laws, and the interest
OF his country unmOved By persecution
and undeserved reproach having faith un-
assailable in the people, and in the princi-
! rles OF free government, we recognize a
| Chief Magistrate who is worthy of the ma
| ton, and equal to the great crisis upon
which his lot is cast, and we tender to him.
ia the discharge of his high and response
bic duties, our profound respect, and the
assurances of our cordial and sincere support.
The reading of the resolutions was fre-
quently interrupted by bursts of applause,
and at the close the audience rose en- nadsse
to give vent to their satisfaction. The res
olutions were adopted by a unanimous vote.
The address was read by Mr.. Raymond,
who was frequently interrupted by applause
The document is very lengthy one, and
| mainly but an amplification of the resolu-
tions. There are, however few para
graphs which are important as showing the
| Il CT, L
Convention, and We, therefore, give them,
as follows: Tut @
History affords no instance where peo-
| pie, SO powerful in numbers, in resources
| and In public spirit, after a war so long in
| It's duration, so destructive in its progress,
! and so adverse In its issue, have accepted
| defeat and Its consequences with SO much
OF good faith as has marked the conduct of
the people lately in insurrection against the
| Uni,ed States. Beyond all question this
has been largely due TO the wise generosity
| with which their enforced surrender was ac-
cepted by the President of the United
States and the generals In Immediate com
mand OF their armies, and to the liberal
measures which were afterward taken to re
store order, tranquility and law to the States
| where ali had for the time been overthrown
No steps could have been better calculated
to command the respect, win the confidence,
| revive the patriotism and secure the perIna-
nent and atfectionate allegiance Of the peo-
| pie of the South to the Constitution and
laws of the Union than those which have
been so firmly taken and so steadfastly pur-
sued by the President of the United States.
And if that confidence and loyalty have
been since impaired-if the people of the
| South are to day less cordial in their allegi-
ance than they were Immediately upon the
close of the war, we believe it is due to the
changed tone of the legislative department
of the general Government toward them ;
to the action by which Congress has endeav-
ored to Supplant and defeat the President S
wise and beneficient policy of restoration ;
to their exclusion from all participation In
our common Government; to the withdraw
al from them of rights conferred and guar
anteed by the Constitution, and to the evi-
dent purpose of Congress, in the exercise
of a usurped and unlawful authority. to re-
duce them from the rank of free and equal
members of a republic of States, with rights
and dignities unimpaired, to the condition
| OF conquered provinces and conquered
people, in all things subordinate and subject
to the will OF their conquerers; free only to
obey laws in making which they are not al
lowed to share. No people has ever yet ex-
listed whose loyalty and faith such treatment
long continued would not ALLEVIATE and i'm
pair. And the ten millions of Americans
who live in the South would be unworthy
citizens of a free country, degenerate sons
OF heroic ancestry, unfit ever to become
guardians of the rights and liberties be
! .queathed to us by the fathers and founders
of this Republic, if they could accept, with
uncomplaining submissiveness, the humili-
atiors thus sought to be imposed upon them.
RESENTMENT Of injustice is di,Cays and ere,y-
tchere essential to freed0m and the spirit
which prompts the States and people lately
IN insurrection, but lnsurgent now no longer,
to protest against the imposition of I'm
just and degrading conditions makes
them all the more worthy to share in the
government of free commonwealth, and
| gives still frmer assurance of the future
! power and freedom of the Republic. For
| whatever responsibility the Southern peo-
pie may have incurred in resisting the au-
/ thorlty OF the National Government and in
taking up arms for its overthrow, they may
/ be beld to answer, as individuals, before the
Judicial tribunals of the land, and for that
! conduct, as societies and organized commu-
mites, they have already paid the most fear
ful penalties, that can fall on offending
| States In the losses, the sufferings and hu-
initiation of unsuccessful war But what
ever may be the guilt or the punishment of
the conscious authors of the insurrection,
candor and common justice demand the con
cession that the great mass of those who
became involved in its responsibility acted
/ upon what they believed to be their duty.
| in defense of what they had been taught to
| believe their rights, or under compulsien,
physical and moral, which they were pow
erless to resist. Nor can it be amiss to re-
member that terrible as have been the be-
reavements and the losses of this war; they
have fallen exclusively upon neither section