Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-07-29
CLEARFIELD PA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 49, 1868

nothing but scold. Scolding is their voca-
ton, their sovereign remedy for all public
ills.
They scolded the Union party when Bu-
chanan divided the Republic, and scolded
harder when we attempted to restore it. If
the army lacked men they would scold. If
a draft was ordered to fill it they would scold.
If the Treasury was empty they would scold
If taxes were levied they would scold. If
a loan was attempted they would scold. If
a battle was lost they would scold about mis-
management-if it was won about subjuga-
ting the South They scolded terribly when
$500 would commute the draft, and worse
when the law was repealed. They scolded
when greenbacks were issued, and scolded
again when the issue was stopped. They
scold when the rebel States are kept out, and
scold when they are brought in
While this party remains in the minority
scolding may answer their purpose 1t may
even enlarge their numbers by the addition
of macontents and impracticable men, But
If they carry the election next fall they must
become actors instead of critics What will
they then do? If they have been honest in
their opposition to Republican measures
they must attempt to undo them ALL They
were opposed to coercion they must, there
fore, restore the Confederacy and treat for
terms Of separation. They were opposed
to emancipation, they must re esta blish sla-
very. They were opposed to the amend
ment of the Constitution, which forbids
payment for emancipated slaves and the as
sumption of rebel debts they must, there
fore, repeal it. They were opposed to the
repeal of the fugitive slave law; they must
therefore, re-enact it. They opposed the
re-adnission of the eight reconstructed reb-
Il Il Il f.. L
out. Their candidate for Vice President
says they will, and that by revolution if they
cannot by law. They were opposed TO the
entranchisenent of the colored people in the
rebel States; they must, therefore, disfran-
chise them and leave the rebel power with
out check or division. They opposed the
enfranchisement OF the citizen soldiers, and
they must be disfranchised also. 1t may be
said they cannot accomplish all this. That
is true, but they can try it. They must try
it, because if they do not 1t is confession
that they have all along been wrong, and we
have all along been right, which is a confes-
sion that they ought to be defeated at the
polls They carried the Legislature of Ohio
last fell, and Immediately began the work of
demolition. Their first attack was on the
franchise. They at once withdrew from the
soldier, the student, and the quadroon, whom
they classed and prescribed together, the
rie ht to vote. Ohio had given her consent
to the constitutional amendmendment, which
makes the loyal States equal in representa-
tion in the Federal Government to the rebel
States, and prohibits payment for slaves and
the assumption of rebel debts but this Leg
their enoris, now IS Illants; to be s1 rn y
fitted by a four years STRUGGLE over 1t If
they succeed, the old slave aristocracy be-
comes again the masters of the country. The
defeated rebels become the political victors.
Hampton and Forrest and Preston will be
the houored soldiers at Washington, as they
were in the New York Convention, and
Grant and Sherman and Sheridan will be dis
charged on parole. 1t is said they will not
carry matters so far the northesn wing OF
the party will moderate and restrain the in
science of the rebel wing. So I'VE were told
when Pierce and Buchanan were candidates,
but after the election We soon found that
the southern Democrats controlled the nor
thern. Whether the northern Democrats
design it or not it will be so again.
But it is said this party can get us out of
all financial trouble. The southern wing got
US into it, but how can they get US out? VIII
they pay it? They ought to do so, but they
will not, and suppose they can not. They
pay no taxes. They say they have nothing
to pay with. They could do nothing, then.
but tag us and dispose of our money. Why
should they be selected for that office? When
have they shown any financial ability supe-
rior to northern men? They run the Con,
federacy four years and two months, and so
far from developing financial ability they de
veloped great lack Of it. Their only schemes
were forced loans, to be Raaid out OF taxes on
the loans themselves. Their currency be-
came so worthless that they were forced to
collect taxes in kind. They developed great
military ability, | concede, but as tnanciers
they we're total failures. 1t was always SO.
Before the war they borrowed from the
North the money to improve their estates,
build their railroads and their public works,
and it has been mostly paid in conf scation
and bankruptcy. They mig hit double your
debt by adding theirs to 1t, but how would
they, or could they, discharge it, except by
reputation?
What could the northern wing of the par
ty do? They have had the Administration
and run the Treasury Department for the
last three years. The whisky tax that ought
to Weld 500, 900, 600 per year has. under their
management, yielded less than Sl4, 900, 900.
They are infavor OF free trade, so they would
get nothing from customs. The internal
taxes are now nearly all collected from whis
XIV, tobacco, banks, and incomes. Could
they find any better sources of revenue 7
Would they take the tax from whisky and
put it Oh bread? From tobacco and put it
on coffee? From incomes and put it on la
bor?' Or would they abolish taxes altogeth-
er? How, then, could they relieve US of
debt? No way, sir, except by following
their southern wing into reputation. That
would be an expensive payment. 1t implies
disgrace abroad, and distress, revolution and
anarchy at home l have always thought
the liberties of this country could not sur
vive reputation of its debt. In my judg
ment it would produce convulsion which
would end in the establishment of less
popular form of government.
But it is said, again, they could tax the
bonds Very well. But why make that a
party question any more than taxing whisky
or income? If all the bonds were taxed in
cludiug those held abroad, at the proposed
rate, that is, ten per cent. upon the interest
in addition to the five per cent. already col
lected we could only re alize from tt is source
Sl2, 900, 900. Compared with our other
sources of revenue, this small sum. Why
surrender the Government, with all its fl
nancial, military, and political interests to
those who but three years ago were in arms
to destroy it aItogether,in order to secure SO
small modification of the law? If the
people think it best. upon full consideration,
to levy this tax, can they not so instruct
their Representatives in the several districts?