Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-08-11
Correspondence.


SIR: | see by the papers from Pennsylvania
that the recent election in Virginia is con-
sidered a Republican triumph. This IS the
impression the rebels would like to make on
the minds of the northern loyalists, and
would like them to labor under this false lm-
preston until after the State is admitted, land
the control of her destinies is placed In their
hands But, let me tell you, this election Is
rebel victory which they intend to follow
up, Immediately after the State is admitted,
in the following manner: As soon after ad-
mission as they may consider it safe to do so,
they will disfranchlse all the negroes and
few whites by altering the Constitution so as
to require property qualification for voters.
This will not conflict with the Constitution
of the United States, and by this means
they will put the negro out of their way.
They claim that he has no right to vote, nei-
ther is he capable of it, because he votes,or
is inclined to vote, as loyal men vote.
would like to have all our Senators and Con-
gressmen informed of the deep and well
laid scheme of the rebels to get Constitu
ton of their own making. for it is very evi-
dent they intend to do 50. | have been IN
the State almost eighteen months, and du-
ring this time the rebel papers have been
filled with comments against the Constltu
ton, and every man in this county who has
said anything concerning it has protested
against it. They were scarcely able to call
forth language sufficiently abusive and wick
ed to express their adherence of the car
pet bagger's Constitution. This course
was continued until the Presidents procla-
nation came out, when they began to get
| quiet and say, ''vote for the expurgated
Constitution and against the two clauses
submitted to separate vote" The reason
of this sudden change is this: A party OF
rebels were in Washington conterrlng with
the President, and advising him to submit
certain clauses to separate vote, which
clauses were very obnoxious to the good
citizens of Virginia, &c.-at the same time
stating that the Constitution would be re-
ccived by Vjrginians without those clauses,
| about four in number 1t would have been
useless for them to advise the President, had
they been opposed to the whole Constitution,
or had they expressed their opposition to it
in the presence of the President-as he
would no longer listen to them on the sub
ject This fact they were well aware OF, and
to effect their deceptive purpose they assur-
ed him that they would see that the Consti-
tuition was adopted, &c After this they
! i IL.
their honest and original course to meet the
Acknowledgements they made at Washington.
| Now mark it was their intention to vote
squarely against the Constitution, and to
nominate rebels for the different offices.
They had selected rebel Colonel for Gov
| ernor, but did not intend to make any nom
nations until after this party returned from
| Washington. On their return, and stating
they had promised to support the Constitu-
tion, it was decided to take Walker for Gov
ernor, prorided he would consent to oppose
the clauses to be voted on separately and
aid in carrying out their scheme generally i;
which he agreed to do, as it made his cleo
tion sure. By adopting Walker as their
ptlsOuS VI liiC otdtC
believe they had given up the old rebel spir-
it and were now Republicans, &c, This is
what they wanted. The rebel Colonel, who
was sure of being nominated as the Conser-
vative candidate, was then dropped, which
greatly displeased him and as he was an
editor of a rebel sheet, he would not change
the ticket in his paper. So it read up to
election day, against" the Constitution and
against the two clauses, while the rebel
ticket was printed to read, For the Con
stitution and against the two clauses" The
Constitution provides for it's amendment,
&c, so they can make it to suit them soon
after its adoption and the States admission.
In my next will endeavor to show wherein
Congress erred. AS