Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-01-16

| But thanks to Divine froVldenee, anc 10
the enduring bravery of our citizen soldiers
the invasion of our beloved State sealed her
more closely TO the cause OF freedom.
| The result OF the battle of Gettysburg
broke the power of the rebellion, aud al
| though the final issue was delayed, 1t was
| inevitable from the date of that great event
| That battle rescued all he other free States;
and when the arch of victory was completed
| by Shermans successful advance from the
! sea, so that the two conquerors could shake
| hands over the two fields that closed the
war, the soldiers of Pennsylvania were equal
| sharers in the glorious cOnsummatlon.
| No people in the world history have ev-
er been saved from so incalculable calami-
| ty, and no people have ever had such cause
for gratitude towards their defenders.
| And here cannot refrain from an expires
sion of regret that the General Government
| has not taken any steps to infict the proper
penalties of the Constitution and laws upon
the leaders of those who rudely and fero-
ciously invaded the ever sacred soil of our
| State.
| 1t is certainly morbid clemency and
censurable forbearance, which fail to punish
the greatest crimes known to the laws of
| civilized nations :" and may not the hope
be reasonably INDUCED, that the Federal au,
| thorltles will cease to extend unmerited
mercy to those who inaugurated the rebel
| lion and controlled the movements of its ar
mics? If this be done, treason ,oiU be ''ran-
dered odious, and it will be distinctly pro-
claimed, on the pages of our future history,
that no attempt can be made with impuni-
ty to destroy our Republican form of gov
| ernment.
| SOLDIERS ORPHANS.
And while we would remember ''the sol
| Il h. L.
forget his widow and his orphan children
Among our most solemn obligations is the
maintenance of the INDECENT widows, and
the support and education Of the orphan
children, OF those noble men who fell In de-
fence of the Union To affirm that we
owe debt of gratitude to those who have
been rendered homeless and fatheriess, by
their parents patriotic devotion to the coun-
try, is a truth to which all mankind will
yield ready assent; and though we cannot
call the dead to life, it is privilege, as we'll
as duty, to take the orphan by the hind,
and be to him protector and a father.
Legislative appropriations have honored
| the living soldiers, and entombed the dead
The people, at the ballot-box, have sought
out the merltor Gus veterans, and the noble
spectacle is now presented of the youthful
survivors of those who fell for their country,
cherished aud educated at the public ex-
penSe. Even if | were differently constitu-
ted, my official duties would constrain me
yigilantly to guard this sacred trust. But
| having served In the same cause, and been
hOnored by the highest marks of public IA
vor, pledge myself to bear in mind the in
functions and wishes of the people, and if
possible to increase the eff cheney and multi
| ply the benefits of the schools and institu-
| tIons, already so creditably established, for
/ hnh q
heroes. .st
| FREEDOM AND SLAVERY. -..-
The infatuation of treason, the downfall
of slavery, the vindication of freedom and
the complete triumph of the government of
the people, are all so many proofs of the
Divinity that has shaped our ends, - and
| so many promises oil i future crowned with
suct eSs if we are only true to our mission
Six years ago the spectacle of four millions
of slaves, increasing steadily both their own
numbers and the pride and the material and
| political power OF their masters, presented
problem SO appalling, that statesmen con-
templated it with undisguIsed alarm, and
the moraiist with shame. To-day these four
millions, no longer slaves, but freemen, hav-
ing inlermediatey proved their humanity
towards their OppresSors, their fidelity to
society, and their loyalty to the government,
|
polite, and are rapidly preparing to assume
| their rights as citizens OF the United States.
| Notwiths landing this unparalleled change
was only effected after an awful expenditure
! of blood and treasure, its consummation NAV
well be cited as the sublimest proof OF fitness of
the American people to administer the gov
ernment according to the pledges of the Dec
laration of Independence,
We have but to estimate where human
slavery would have carried our country, in
the course Of another generation, to realize
the force OF this commanding truth. And
as we dwell upon the dangers we have es-
capped, we may the better understand what
Jefferson meant when, in the comparative
infancy OF human slavery, he exclaimed, Il
! tremble for my country when | reflect that
God is just'
a simple glance at what must have been
our fate had slavery been permitted to in
crease will be sufficient In 1860 the slave
population amounted, in exact numbers, to
,hree millions nine hundred and fifty-three
Thousand seven hundred and sixty. Taking
| the increase, %. 80 per cent, from 1850 to
| 1860 as the basis of calculation fer every
| ten years, in 1900, they would have num-
| bered at least upwards Of nine millions
| What Christian statesman, as he thanks
| God for the triumph of the Union arms.
does not shudder at the terrible prospect
presented by these startling figures?
| But while there is cause for constant So
licitude in the natural irritations produced
by such conflict, he is but gloomy proph-
ct who does not anticipate that the agen-
cies which accomplished these tremendous
results, will successfully cope with and put
down all who attempt to govern the nation
in the interests of defeated ambition and
vanquished treason.
The people of the conquering North and