Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-09-12
Our Position.

We are frequently asked, what do you
Republicans propose to do with the South2
What Is your plan and purpose?
We individually answer in the languageof
ANDREW JOHNSON in his speech at Nash
vile, in 1864, on accepting the nomination
of Vice President. Then he uttered these
brave words:
Il hold with Jefferson that government
was made for the convenience of man, and
not man for government. The laws and
constitutions were desi igned as instruments
to promote his welfare. And hence, from
this principle, L conclude the governments
can and ought to be changed and amended
to conform to the wants, TO the requirements
and progress OF the people, and the enlight-
ened spirit of the age. X Slavery is
dead, and you must pardon Ine if / do not
mourn over its dead body; you can bury 1t
out OF sight In restoring the State, leave
out that disturbing and dangerous element,
and use only those parts OF the machinery
which viii move in harmony.
But III calling a convention to restore the
State, who shall restore and re- establish it?
Shall the man who gave his influence and
has means to destroy the, Government? Is
he to participate in the great work of reor-
ganization? Shall he who brought this
misery upon the State be permitted to con-
troll its destinies? Ii this be SO, then all
this precious blood of our brave soldiers and
officers SO freely poured out will have been
wontonly spilled All the glorious victories
Won by our noble armies will go for nought,
and all the battlehelds which have been
sown with dead heroes during the rebellion
will have been made memorable in vain
Why all this carnage and devastation? It
was that treason might be put down and
traitors punished. Therefore | say that
traitors should take back seat in the work
| of restoration. If there b. but five thou
sand nlen In Tennessee loyal TO the Consti-
tuition, loyal to freedom, loyal TO justice,
these true and faithful men should control
the work Oh reorganization and reformation
absolutely. say that the traitor has ceas-
ed to be citizens, and in Joining the rebel
lion has become public enemy. He for
feited his right to vote With loyal men when
he renounced his citizenship and sought to
destroy our Government. We say to the
most honest and industrious foreigner who
comes from England or Germany to dwell
among U.S. and to add to the wealth of the
country, Before you can be a citizen you
must stay here for FIVE yeas. If we are
so cautious about foreigners who voluntarily
renOunce their homes to live with US, what
should we say to the traitor, who, altough born
and reared among Us, has raised parrlcl-
dial hand against the Government which al
ways protected him? My judgment is that
he should be subjected to a severe ordeal
before he is restored to citizenship. A fell
low who takes the oath merely TO save his
property, and denies the validity Of the
oath, is prejured man, and not TO be trust
ed. Before these repenting rebels can be
trusted let them bring forth the fruits of re-
pentance. He who helped 70 make all these
widows and orphans, who draped the streets
of Nashville in mourning, should suffer tor
his great crime The work is In our own
hands. We can destroy this rebellion.
With Grant laundering on the~ Potomac
before Richmond and Shermdh and Thomas
on their march toward Atganta, the day will
ere long be ours. WiA any madly persist
in rebellion? Suppose that an equal num-
Der be slain in every battle, 1t is plain that
the result must be the utter determination
of the rebels. 4h those rebel leaders have
a strong personal reason tor holding out to
save their necks from the halter; and these
leaders must feel the power of the Govern.
ment! Treason must be made odlous, and
traitors must be punished and impoverish-
ed. Their great plantations must be seized,
and divided into small farms, and sold to
honest, industrious men. The day for pro-
tecting the lands and negroes of these, au-
thors of the rebellion is past. 1t is high
time it was. | have been most deeply paln-
ed at some things which have come under
my observation. We get men in command
who, under the influence of fattery, fawn-
ing, and caressing grant protection to the
rich traitor, while the poor Union man
stands out iu the cold, often unable to get
receipt or a voucher for his losses. The
traitor can get lucrative contracts, while the
loyal man is pushed aside, unable to obtain
recognition"