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CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1863.
VOL. 10. NO. 17.
Is 1-1
: j
TERMS OF THE JOURNAL.
The Raftsman's Jocral is published on Wed
nesday at Si,i0 per annum in advance Auver--isemksts
inserted at SI. 00 per square, for three
ir lew insertions Twelve lines (or less) eonnting a
square. For every additional innertion 25 cents.
A deduction will be made to yearly advertisers.
PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS CARDS.
I RVTJJ BROTHERS. Dealers in Square A Sawed
Lumber, Lry Goods, Groceries. Flour, Grain,
Ac , Ac, Burnside, Pa., Sept. 23, 1933.
I FREDERICK LEITZISGER. Manufacturer of
1 ill kinds of Stone-ware, Clearfield, Pa. Or
der solicited wholesale or retail. Jan. 1, 1S63
CRAN3 A BARRETT, Attorneys at Law. Clear
field. Pa. May 13. 1S63.
l. J. crass. :::::: Walter barrett.
ROBERT J. WALLACE. Attorney at Law. Clear
field. Pa Office in Shaw's new row. Market
street, opposite Naugle's jewelry store. May 26.
TT F. NAUGLE, Watch and Clock Maker, and
dealer in Watches, Jewelry, Ao. Room in
Graham's row, Market street. Nov. 10-
HBUCHER SWOOPE. Attorney at Law. Clear
. field. Pa. Off.et in Graham's Row. fourdoo s
west of Graham A Boynton's store. Nov. 10.
T P. KRATZER Merchant, and dealer in
J . Boards and Shingles, Grain and Produce.
Front St, abv the Academy, Clearfield, Pa. jl2
"IT7ALLACE A HALL, Attorneys at Law, Clear
V field, P. December 17. 1S62.
william a. wallacb. :::::::: jobs a. hall.
II A FLEMMING, Curwennville. Pa.. Nnrsery-
. man and Dealer in all kinds of Fruit and
Ornamental Trees, Plants and Shrubbery. All or
ders by mail promptly attended to. May 13.
"ATTILLIAM F. IRWIN, Market street, Clearfield,
V Pa., Dealer in Foreign and Domestic Mer
chandise, Hardware, Queensware, Groceries, and
family ary'cles generally. 'ov- 10-
JOHN GUELICH, Manufacturer of all kinds of
Cabinet-ware, Market street, Clearfield, Pa.
He aliomakcs to order Coffins, on short notice, and
tltends funerals with a hearse. Aprl0,'i9.
DR. M. WOODS, Practicing Physiciax, and
Examining Surgeon for Pensions.
Office, South-west corner of Second and Cherry
fctreet. Clearfield, Pa. January 21. 1663.
"1TT W. SHAW. M. D.. ha resumedathe prae-
. tice of Medicine and Surgery in PTiawsvillU,
Penn a. where he still respectfully solicits a con
tinuance of publio patronage. May 27, U63.
Jfi M'ENALLT, Attorney at Law. Clearfield,
. P. Practices in Clearfield and adjoining
counties. OEce in new brick building of J . Boyn
ton.2d street, one door south of Lanich's Hotel.
T) ICHARD MOSSOP, Dealer in Foreign and Do
I t- mestio Drv Goods, Groceries, Flour, Bacon,
Liquors. Ac. Room, on Market street, a few doors
west of Journnl Ojfice. Clearfield, Pa. Apr27.
rpnOMPSON, A WATSON. Dealers in Timber
J Saw Log, Boards and Shingles, M.irysville,
Clearfield county, Penn'a August 11, 1863.
. w. Thompson : : : : : Jas. e. watsox.
I" ARRIMER A TEST, Attorneys at Law. Clear-
XJ fiwld.Pa. Will attend promptly to all legaj
and other business entrusted to their care in Clear
field and adjoining counties. August 6. 1356.
JAR. B. LARR1WR. ISRAEL TEST.
DR. WM. CAMPBELL, offers his professional
services to the citizens of Moshannon and vi
cinity. He can be consulted at hi3 residence at
tkii times, unless absent on professional business.
M(ihannon, Centre co., Pa., May 13. lSi3.
"ITM- ALBERT A BRO S, Dealers in Dry Goods,
Y Groceries, Hardware, Queensware. Flour,
Paeon, etc.. WoodhuH, Clearfield county. Penn'a.
Also, extensive dealers in all kindsof sawed lum
ler. shingles, and square timber. Orders solici
ted. Woodland, Aug. 19th, 1S53.
mUOMAS J. M CCLLOUGn, Attorney at Law.
1. Clearfield. Pa. Office, east of the ' Clearfield
tu. Eauk. Deeds and other legal instruments pre
pared with promptness and accuracy. July 3.
i. s. bcsh. :::::::: t.j.m'ccllocgh
BUSH A M'CULLOUGHS
Collection- Orrice. Clearfield, Pexs'a.
TIIEESTATE OF FREDERICK FISII
KR, DECEASED:
CrarfM County, ss : In the matter of
f SEAL J the appraisement of the Ifeal Estate of
Frederick Fisher .deceased, setting out
to the widow $300, her claim was on the 30th of
September 1S63 read and confirmed Ni Si and or
dered by the Court that publication be made in
one newspaper published in said County notify
ing all persons interested that unless exceptions
are filed on or before the 1st day of next term will
be confirmed absolutely. Bv the Court
Nov IS. 1363 I. G." BARGER, Clerk of O C.
THE ESTATE OF JoTlNBURGUN
IER, DECEASED:
""SClrarfirJd County, ss : In the matter of
(SEAL, tne appraisement of the Real Estate of
John Burgunder.deceased, setting ont
I to the widow S300, her claim was on the 30th of
r I rp:ember read and confirmed ii ei ana oraerea
y the Court that publication be made in one
wjpaper published in said County notifying all
persons interested that unless exceptions are filed
n or before the first day of next term will be con
firmed abwlnt!y. By the Csurt
Xov. 18 IS63. I. G. BARKER. Clerk of 0. C.
REGISTER'S NOTICE. Notice is hereby
given, that the following accounts have been
xamined and pased by me, and remain filed of
'cord in this office for the inspection of heirs,
J'gatees.credi tors. and all others in any other way
iotreted, and will be presented to the next Or
phans' Court of Clearfield county, to be held at
'iie Court House, in the Borough of Clearfield,
commencing on the Second Monday of January,
1S54, for confirmation and allowance :
Ths partial account ot J L. Reams and George
Rheems, Executors of the last will and testa
""Mof Abraham Reams, late of Lawrence town
'"P. Clearfield county. Penn'a, deceased, .
Theaceoont of Joseph Fiseus. administrators of
11 and singular the goods and chattels, rights
M credits, which were of Jacob Fisher, late of
Woodward township. Clearfield county, Penn'a,
Mtsseed.
Th account of Samuel Rank and S. P. White.
cutors of the last will and testament of Peter
jtaith.of Bell township, Clearfield county, Penn'a,
deceased
The final account of Andrew Pentz, admi-iiatra-of
all and singular the goods and chattels,
"KhU and eredits. which were of Adam Emerick,
Brady township. Clearfield county Penn'a,
The final account of William Rishel. adminis
or of all and singular the goods and chattels,
ghts and credifs, which were of George Schuck
dJ&t JBltti7 township, Clearfield county, Pa.,
tfh' Cnal acconnt of Jamei Wrigley. adminis
riir 11 and ngular tha goods and chattels,
ti! U.d "adits, which were of Moses Norris,
AtL a t0WMnip, Clearfield eonnty, Penn'a,
C1rf.ld,l)tj.,911863
Z7-. ISAIAH 11 HtKlKK
Register.
GOOD NIGHT.
Downward sinks the setting sun,
Soft the evening shadows fall ;
Light is flying,
Day is dying.
Darkness stealeth ever all.
Good night!
Autumn garners in her stores
Poison on the fading year;
Leaves are dying.
Winds are sighing.
Whispering of the winter near.
Good night !
Youth is vanquished, manhood wanes;
Age its forward shadows throws ;
Day is dying.
Years are flying.
Life runs onward to its close.
Good night !
UNION PRISONERS AT RICHMOND.
WHY THEY ARE NOT EXCHANGED.
As some persons may possibly even yet
have misgivings as to the propriety of the
refusal by the Government to accede to the
demands' of the rebels, regarding the terms
of exchanging prisoners not understanding
fully and clearly what those demands and
terms were we think the following article
from the New York Evening J'ost makes
the matter so plain, that we commend a
careful perusal of it to all who would wish
to understand the subject.
The Chattanooga correspondent of the
Ciucinnatti Gazelfe says, in his report of the
recent battle :
'"General Hooker met with unexpected
success, and, as he swept around the moun
tain, cut off and secured several hundred
prisoners. These fellows hid in the rocks
and bushes, and surrendered at discretion.
Many of them were unexchanged men, ta
ken at Vicksburg, and the question has aris
en, what is to he done with them. It is evi
dent from their conduct that they have been
forced to take, up anus against us, and all
appear to be conscientious in saying that
they supposed they had been exchanged, as
they were told."
From the best sources we learn that this
report is correct, and that our men had, in
the recent battle, to contend with prisoners
paroled not only by Gen. Grant but also by
General IJanks at Port Hudson, and never
regularly exchanged or set free. If Gener
al Grant had sulluied a bloody repulse, it
would have been through the strength giv
en to Bragg by men whom Grant would
have sent North from Vicksburg, had he
not trusted in the promises of Jeff. Davis
and other rebels. If Jtosecrans was cut up
at Chickamauga, that, too, was the result of
this unheard-of and most dishonorable con
duet of the rebels.
Can we trust such wretches ? Ought our
government to treat them as though they
were men of honor ? Would it iiot be ab
surd, and a bitter wrong to our gallant sol
diers in the held, to do an act which would,
we now know, simply reinforce the rebel ar
mies by about forty thousand men? The
rebels hold, according to official accounts,
thirteen thousand of our men as prisoners
of war; we hold within our hands now not
less than forty thousand of their soldiers
prisoners of war. Our government has
made offers to the rebels, any one of which
is fair and honorable, and would have been
accepted at once if the rebels had not dis
honorable intentions.
1st. Our authorities offered to exchange
mau for matt with the rebels ; that is to say,
let them release and send to us the thirteen
thousand men they held, and we would at
the same time send them thirteen thousand
of their men now in our hands. This pro
position they refused ; but insisted that we
should release forty thousand men against
their release of only thirteen thousand 1 Of
course that is impossible.
lid. General Meredith, our coinmissiener
of exchange, offered some days ago to re
ceive all the prisoners from Ilichmond under
a solemn pledge that they should not be al
lowed to take arms unless duly exchanged
with the consent of the rebel authorities,
without reference to existing difficulties on
the subject of exchange ; and that this gov
ernment would pledge itself to both f eed and
clothe all rebel prisoners in our hands.
This, too, was refused by the rebels.
It is plainly impossible to make any fairer
offers than these. But it would be folly and
cruelty in our authorities to submit to the
rebel demands. Not only would it neutral
ize the advantages gained by us in some of
the most brilliant operations of the war, but
it would leave a number of our men at the
mercy of the rebels. They have, according
to their own account, thirteen thousand pris
oners of war ; but how many more are lan
guishing in Southern dungeons, of whom
they gave no account ? Gen. Hitchcock
tells us the rebels have given no returns of
a single prisoner captured, officer or man,
belonging to negro regiments or corps. The
Government has. however, recently received,
by chance, intelligence of one such officer,
now confined in a dungeon, though the reb
els had solemnlv and readily agreed to ex
change him. (jen. Hitchcock reports as fol
lows upon his case :
"Only a few weeks since a proposition
was made from our side that all chaplains
held as prisoners of war should be mutually
released,, irrespective of numbers on either
side. The rebel ageut, Mr. Ould. professed
to accept this proposition 'cordially ;' upon
which we pent to the South all we had of
that clas of non-combatants in good faith ;
and received from the South about one-half
the number belonging to us, supposing this
was all they had in custody ; but, as I now
learn, upon authority which I am not at lib
erty to discredit, a chaplain belonging to a !
Massachusetts cottred regiment, upon being
captured, was heavily ironed and sent to a
prison in UOlUinOia, OUUIU Wiumia, nunc
he has been held, in violation of Mr. Ould's
'cordial' acceptance of the proposition for a
frpneral release of this class of persons. I
have every reason to believe that this par
ticular chaplain, because he had belonged to
a colored regiment, was deliberately with
held. Another chanlain. who had been his
fellow-prisoner, was separated from him and
released, from whom we leartied the facts in
the case as just stated. "
Suppose we even consented to give forty
thousand lor thirteen thousand, how sliaii
we be secure that some hundreds of tur sol
diers and officers are not held back, secretly,
as was this chaplain, in violation of the most
solemn agreements, to be the sport or reoei
malignity ? To submit to the rebel demand
would be to surrender these unfortunates to
hopeless suffering and death ; it would be to
give up the only hold we now have on these
inhuman and treacherous scoundrels; and
how could we be certain, even, that some
Dart of the unfortunate sufferers in the Lib-
by and other Ilichmond prisons, were not
kept back by their jailors, who could laugn,
at discovery of their treacherj', when they
once had their forty thousand men in their
own hands?
Another Instance of Eebel Barbarity.
Baltimore, Dec. 13. The following des
patch was received here this morning :
Fort Moxroe,Dcc 12, 1863. To C. C.
Fulton, Editor of the Baltimore American:
Please give notice that the Confederate
authorities decline receiving any more pack
ages or provisions for the Union prisoners,
so that parties interested may refrain from
forwarding any more goods to this point
Benj.F. Butler,
Major General Commanding.
The Rev. Mr. Torrence, who went to City
Point with Dr. Clement C. Barclay, of Phil
adelphia, returned this morning. He had
an interview with Captain Hatch, who was
sent from Richmond to meet him. He in
formed him of the above decision of the reb
el Government, and gave as the reason there
for, what they alleged to be a imputation
of their honor by the press and Government
authorities, that they were not delivering
the goods forwarded in good faith to the
prisoners, and asserted that, of his own
knowledge, the officers in the Libby prison,
from the immense supplies they had receiv
ed, could set a table from their stores in
hand, equal to any hotel in the United
States, lie admitted that there had been
some irregularities in the supplies at one
time, but that theofficers who had teen guilty
of neglectin g the prisoners had been promt
ly removed and punished. As to the bad
condition of the prisoners returned to x.n
napolis, he said that they were extreme ca
ses of consumption and that it was a grave
error on the part, of the authorities to have
relieved such prisoners to return. For the
present nothing would be received but let
ters and enclosures of money, and that
Southern monev had better be sent.
Army News in Church.
A l'iqua (Ohio) correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette, writing on Thanksgiv
ing day, t:lls the following story of a fighting
parson: "The glorious news from Chatta
nooga this morning cheated Ilev. Col. Moo
dy out of the opportunity of delivering his
Thanksgiving sermon. We had met at the
Green Street Methodist Church, in accor
dance with the President's proclamation,
had sung the "President's hymn," taken up
a collection of about sixty dollars for the
Sanitary Commission, and our fighting
preacher had scarcely got through his intro
duction, when the Gazette arrived, was
brought into the church and handed to him
by our patriotic sexton. The preacher stop
ped paused a moment and then shouted
"glorious news." He then read the head
ings of the teletrraphic news and said : "The
congregation will all rise. " Now, three cheers
for the good old Stars and Stripes." They
were given with a will and the walls of Green
Street rang with the shouts of sturdy old
stewards and leaders. "Now sing, all sing
'Praise God from whom all blessingflows.' "
The congregation all joined in the singing.
"Now," said the preacher, WI have too
much good sense to think you would rather
hear me Breach than hear "the news." So
he read all the dispatches with the editorial,.
which was frequentlj' cheered by the congre
gation. Then followed some excellent re
marks by Dr. Wheelock, of the First Bap
tist Church, and the exercises were closed
by a benediction the congregation, by a
rising vote, agreeing to meet in the evening
to hear the Thanksgiviug sermon, and take
another collection for the Sanitary Commis
sion. Five Deaths at a Time.
A Frenchman resolved to get rid of life,
went a little before high tide, to a post set
by the seaside. He had provided himself
with a ladder, a rope, a pistol, a bundle of
matches and a vial of poison. Ascending
the ladder, he tied one end of the rope to
the post, and the other end around his neck,
then he took the poison, set his cloths on
fire, put the muzzle of the pistol to his
head, and kicked away the ladder. In kick
ing down the ladder, he snapped the pistol
so that the ball missed his head, and cut the
rope by which he was suspended ; he fell in
to the sea, thus extinguishing the flames of
his clothes, and the sea watCr, which he in
voluntarily swallowed, counteracted the poi
son ; thus, in spite of his precautions, he
remained unhanged, unshot, unpoisoued,
unburned and undrowned.
Male Inhabitants of Ohio. The enu
meration of the male inhabitants of the
State of Ohio, for 1S63. gives the following
acsregate : 545,256. Ut tnese, o.io.div are
white men and 9,937 negroes.. The male
population of Hamilton county, in which
Cincinnati is situated, over the age of twen
ty-one, is 68,816 of whom 3,070 are negroes.
There are but ten precepts of the law of
God, says Lieghton and two of them are be
stowed on the tongue one in the first table
and the other in the second as showing it
is ready, if not bridled, to fly out against
both God and man.
THE NATIONAL BANKS.
The new system of National Banks, au
thorized by the law of February 25th ,1862,
has now been partly started by the es
tablishment of 120 banks, with an aggre
gate capital, of about 15 millions, twenty of
which are in Pennsylvania, and the number
is increasing almost daily. There institu
tions will undoubtedly by very popular when
once properly understood. These are many
features in the law calculated to make the
business of issuing the paper currency
very profitable to banks, and also to make
the notes they issue popular with the people.
The mode of organizing the banks is very
simple and effective ; a number of persons,
not less than five, may associate and organ
ize, with a capital not less than $50,000; at
least 30 per cent, of capital must be paid in,
which, in the case of the minimum capital,
would be $15,000. Thev may then transfer
to the Treasurer of the United States one
third of the capital paid in which would be
$5,000 of United States bonds, and receive
90 percent of market value in circulating
notes, which, at the minimum, will be $4,
500. These notes are to be redeemed by the
issuer in "greenbacks," and in case of his in
ability, by the United States Treasurer. They
are, in fact, United States note3, being pay
able by the Treasury. The issuers of the
notes will get 6 per cent, interest on their
capital, in gold, from the Treasury, and can
lend their notes at 6 per cent, interest. In
the supposition that $100,000 of stocks are
deposited with the Treasurer, the bank gets
$6,000 in gold, interest on the stocks so de
posited, and $90,000 iu notes, which it lends
at 6 per cent interest At this moment
gold is 50 per cent, premium ; hence the in
terest of the stocks is 9 per centum in green
backs, and 6 per centum on the loans
of notes will be $5,400, making, together,
$14,400 interest on one investment of $100,
000. The law also allows any bank to con
sider the balance due to it by other national
banks in other cities, as "lawful money on
hand. " With these leading points in it3 or
ganization, any institution may do a general
banking business. Their power to increase
their capital, and to issue notes, ultimately
payable uy the United States Treasury, is
great, enabling them to meet any demand for
bank accommodation within the limits of
$300,000,000, fixed by the law. Their
notes will receive a popular confidence, equal
to that in the government itself, while the
faculty of calling deposits with other banks
"lawful money on hand," will consolidate
the business in the new banks.
The following are the names of the officers
and locations of the banks in this State :
Philadelphia, O. W.' Davis, president;
Morton McMichael, cashier ; present capital,
$50,000.
Carlisle', Samuel Hepburn, president;
Wm. W. Hepburn, cashier; present capital
$50,000.
Erie, lohn C. Spencer, president; M.
Sanford, cashier ; present capital $400,0l)0.
Girard, Henry McConnell, president;
R. S. Battles, cashier ; present capital, $50,
ODO. Hollidaysburg. William Jack, president ;
Rob't B. Johnson cashier; present capital,
$50,000.
Huntingdon. James M. Bell, president;
G. W; Garrettson, cashier , present capital,
$100,000.
Johnstown. Daniel J. Morrell, president;
Howard J. Roberts, cashier ; present capi
tal, $60,0fK).
Kittanning, John B. Finley, president;
Chas. T. Neale, cashier ; .present capital,
$60,000.
Marietta, John Hellinger, president;
A. Bowman, cashier ; present capital, $00,
000. Union Mills. John Johnson, president,
E. D. Sunderlin, cashier; present capital,
$50,000,
Meadvillc, C. A. Derickson president;
Gideon Mosier, cashier; present capital,
$70,000.
Newville, Joseph P. Hursh, president ;
John P. Rhoads, cashier ; present capital,
$52,000.
Pittsburg, James Laughlin. president :
JohuD. Scully, cashier; present capital.
$400,000.
IstScranton, Jos. II. Scranton, presi
dent: William Cushing, cashier; present
capital, $200,000.
2d Scranton, Theod F. Hunt, president ;
Wm. W. Winton, cashier; present capital,
$100,000.
Strawsburg, John F. Ilerr, president;
E. M. Eberman, cashier; present capital,
$73,000.
Towanda, George F. Mason, president ;
N.N. Betts, Jr., cashier; present capital,
$65,000.
1st Wilkesbarre. James M'Lean, presi
dent! Thomas Wilson, cashier; present.
capital. $51,500.
2d Wilkesbarre, Thos F. Atherton, presi
dent ; Matt L. Everitt, cashier ; present cap
ital, $100,000.
Reading, Levi B. Smith president , A. F.
Boas, cashier; present capital. $100,000.
x0 tianKS existed previosuiy.
The Battle at Kingston.
The Louisville Journal has some partic
ulars of the battle of Kingston, on Novem
ber 24. between rart of Col, Mott's brigade
and Wheeler's cavalry, who were repulsed
with heavy loss. I he nght continued with
out intermission for seven hours, and was
participated in on our side by the 16th
Kentucky, 25th Michigan, and six compa
nies of the 2th Tennessee Cavalry. Artil
lery was brought into action on both sides,
andtHe shells of the enemy were thrown
into the town. The casualties on our side
were comparatively slight. The brigade of
CoL Mott numbers 2,700, but only the a-hove-Tnentioned
reciments were engaged,
the others being posted in the rear of the
town to prevent the enemy flanking nun. -
Gold continues at about 50 per centum
premium ;
CLEARFIELD, PA, DEC. 23, 1863.
COBRESPONLENCE OF THE "J0TJENAL.'
Letter from Fort Eeno', Va.
Fort Reno, Va., Dec. 9th, 1863.
Dear Row : As it seems to be the pe
culiar turn of some folks to be over anxious
and over ambitious to thrust upon a gener
ous - public, through the public Press, any
effusions that may generate in the empty
wards of their attic, I trust that you, at
least, will not charge me either with egot
ism or a desire simply to see my initials in
print, if I should venture upon a correspon
dence without a proper subject, and, like a
ship at 6ea without a rudder, be liable to
drift about with every passing breeze. Hav
ing been indulging in a thort visit to Clear
field, the home of my adoption, and having
seen many of my old friends and received
from them the (rasping token of friendship
with such apparent good-will that seems to
say to me, absence has not detracted from
our former professions.
I have now- returned safely to my post,
invigorated in frame and strengthened in
my resolve to do my best for the redemption
of our common heritage from the grasp of
the Southern Oligarchs, with the reassu
rance that the efforts of the humblest sol
dier are really appreciated by the right
thinking portion or the people.
While among you I failed to see many, I
should like to see, for want of time the
shortness of my furlough precluding it It
is for them, I wih to state some of the im
pressions made upon me in my visit to and
from your neck of woods, avajr up in the
free, pure atmosphere of the Alleghenies.
Here, in the army, everything is necessari
ly subordinated to military rule, and as the
individual is considerably, circumscribed ;
so the mind is, to some extent, defeated in
its range. Do not, however, understand me
as attempting to convey the idea that the
soldiers' mind is really fettered at all ; but
the idea which I wL-h to get at is, that the
netressary result, v hich ought to follow from
a proper and liberal excuse of the mind, up
on the great questions of the hour, are more
or less defeated for want of reliable and
proper standards irom which to draw truth
ful conclusions. Frequently we find our
selves engaged in heated discussions upon
the general policy of Government, and the
relation and duty of the citizen in their
proper spheres thereto ; when it is plain,
the longer we talk the wider the differ
ence, in the details, although there is scarce
ly any difference ia our views of the main
question.
Wit h our only reliance, for data, upon the
daily periodicals we could never harmonize
our ideas, becauset in these troublous times
when everything is disposed of at a "dou
ble quick, newspapers are too often not, as
they ought to be, the faithful exponents of
public opinion and hence it is, that we, at
a distauce, become strangers to some extent,
to the sentiments of the people on all ques
tions affecting the public weal. W'hen one
is released for a season, and is permitted to
mingle with the people and observe for him
self, he finds the tables almost directly re
versed from what he was led to believe from
the helps before at his command. I found
this, at least, to be my experience as soon
as I found myself outside the immediate in
fluence of military law. When I started
from the army, I was prepared to hear any
amount of invective and complaint, against
the powers that be, by those who seemed to
range themselves distinctly against those
powers, but I found, upon comparing notes,
there was not now, after all, such a radical
difference in our views. Being somewhat
deficient in my auricular aparatus, I may
not have been as close an observer as some,
but I certainly did take note of many things,
coming from sources 1 least expected, which
was really a matter of gratification to me,
and which went far to convince me that there
is a great change stealing over the minds of
the people, and that they are rapidly and
surely coming to the conclusion that, after
all, there can be no such thing as compro
mise, on the part of the North, with trai
tors; but the great problem, whether we
shall be a great, a glorious and a united na
tion of freemen, a beacon light to the nations
of the earth, or whether we are to be sec
tional provinces, rent and torn by dissen
sions, (an easy prey to the ravenous men of
any European monarchy who might take a
fancy to extend their dominions in this di
rection, ) must and can be solved only by the
red-handed authority of military power.
Whether, in the "floating palace" in the
Railway carriage, or the lumbering Stage
coach, I found this all important theme the
subject of deep, earnest, and anxious solici
tude ; and it was pleasing to observe with
what general unanimity every sensible, in
telligent man accorded to the general Gov
ernment the right to maintain its life upon
all occasions, (whether assailed from ene
mies without, or foes within, ) and their de
termination to give to that Government
their cordial andnearty support That ma
ny have only lately changed their views on
this point, for the better, I have no doubt
The causes which superinduced the change
may be many, but chief among them I be
lieve to be the following : that nearly three
years of war has demonstrated that this Gov
ernment, instead of being exhausted and im-
Soverisbed in its resources, ia more formi
able and better able to cope with its adver
saries, than ever before ; that its credit is
unimpaired, its cause just, and is unques
tionably determined never to sheathe the
sword until those who appealed to the sword
are satisfied and acknowledge their wrongs,
and every cause which led to this stupen
dous quarrel is obliterated while, on the
other hand, during the same period, the reb
el resources, we have every reason to be
lieve, nave been gradually and surely dwin
dling away, so that the boasted "Confeder
acy" is weaker in all the material of war,
and its boundaries contracted within narrow
er limits, than when it first flung its treason
able bunting to the breeze.
Again ; the voice of the people, in every
State, save one, where expression was given
at the ballot-box last fall, declared by unpre--cedented
majorities in favor of the war poli
cy of the Government and against traitors
wherever found, has hastened conviction
home to the heart of many a man who be
fore was doubting and who now is irrevoca
bly fixed in his determination to stand fast
and demand that those who would tear the
old ship from her moorings must submit,
must come to terms the shattered Union
must be regained, and the supremacy of the
Nation's laws, within the national jurisdic
tion, be everywhere acknowledged. But in
this case, as in every other where great com
prehensive ational idea3 are at stake, there
st'll reniainaJan unhappy diversity of opirv
rkn. W hile some are willing euoueh. if let
alone, to lend their aid to the constituted
authorities, notwithstanding, suffer them
selves to be warped, controlled, and led by
the nose by a set of party scheming dema
gouges till, finally, they find themselves re
lieved of the necessity of thinking for them
selves and are passed over to be the willing
tools, and fit instruments for performing any
amount of dirty work which their unscrupu
lous masters may require. Another class
seems determined at all hazards to do all,
and risk all they claim of political character,
in complicating the difficulties already in the
way ot the restoration ol the national author
ity over every foot of its territory, by dis
crediting its integrity, decrying the finances,
while, at the same time, with wolfish greed
iness they snap at every "greenback that
floats within their reach, well knowing that
no safer investment can be made than that
based upon the integrity of the nation, by
discouraging enlistments, and by encoura
ging desertions from the armies of the U
nion, and screening them as much as possi
ble from the observation of the law. I re
pret to saj- that Clearfield county has the
lion's share of this latter class, some of whose
political principles are loathed and detested
by even their own family connections, as
was related to me by a fellow traveler in the
coach. J udged in the light of genuine De
mocracy, such principles are indeed repre
hensible, and are so viewed by the mass of
those who are, even now, standing as a pro
tecting barrier between the nation s enemies
and these same latter-day proselytes of an
infamous dogma, protecting them and theirs
from the scourge of contending armies, from
violent deaths or persecutions, from the des
ecration of their hearth stones, and their
broad acres from destruction. On the other
hand ; how much more commendable, how
praiseworthy and how refreshing to the sol
dier in the far off loneliness of the camp,
are the efforts of the friends of the Union to
strengthen, by every device, the hands of
the Government to make sacrifices, that
the ark of liberty may be preserved, and
float safely and triumphantly over the fierce
breakers that threaten to engulf it and last.,
though not least, to bear up in eloquent and
earnest prayer to the Supreme Ruler of the
Universe, that His great wrath on account
of our national sins may not be visited upon
us, and that soon this great afHiction may
be withdrawn and that we may finally be
preserved a united, prosperous and happy
people. Let us not then despair of the safe
ty of the great Republic The prospect dai
ly brightens, and the gloom which has spread
like a pall over all our national yearning,
and national hopes, has been gradually ris
ing, till now the rays of light begin to peer
brightly out from beneath the frowning;
fringe and greet our joyous vision ; and to
day the recommendation of our worthy
President comes to us, to once more turn
our hearts in reverential thankfulness fco the
Great Author of all good, for the deliver
ance of a member of our national galaxy,
once more, from the polluted tread of the
destroyers.
The duty of every man, who is not now
doing his utmost to advance the great work
now so auspiciously in progress, is plainly
set before him. The last call for fresn men
to fill the places of those whose terms
shortly expire is far from being filled, and I
see no move on the part of Clearfield to fill
her quota. Men of Clearfield I let your best
efforts be put forth for the accomplishment
of this imnortant work. Do not delude
yourselves with the hope that your services
can or will be dispensed with. Escape the
rigors and unpleasantness of the draft, by
prompth volunteering in defence of the
dearest right of man 1 Remember, if prompt
action is not sftm taken, the "draft" will
catch many a holder of a- luckr prize, and, ;
when thus caught, it will require a larger
"pile" to tempt oar venerable uncle to re
lease him than before. The old fellow haa
now "lots' of money from the last ''haul," .
and is not in want, and this time he un
doubtedly means men, and, I would guess,
that men he will have, for there is not a -doubt
but the Conscription act will be so al
tered as to compel every drafted man to
serve, or find a substitute.
I found, on my return here, everything
jogging along in peace and quiet no newa
occurring to mar the oppressive stillness.
An expedition of light troops has been sent
out in a southerly direction, but, as yet, I
have heard nothing from it Excuse the
length and prolixity of this, for this time,
and I promise not to "bore" you again soon. -:
Yours truly, - w. R. B. .
Discharged Soldiers. The Provost
Marshal General has decided that soldiers
who havo received a discharge from the ,
army on account of temporary disability,
may be received anew under the last call for
volunteers. They will not, however.be al-'
crowed to re-entre the army as veteran sol
diers, but will receive only the bounties of-;
ofered to fresh recruits. . The decision will be
of interest to many, as it opens a door which .,
has heretofore been closed against them. ,
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