Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-17
Rampant Treason in Michigan.


Rampant Treason in Michigan.
The Western States are cursed with a
party Of men calling themselves Demo
Gratis, who are also more than half traitors.
Ohio has her Olds, Vallandigham, Con-
verse and Medary. Indiana has Bright,
and his followers bold enough to speak
out their treason in the Legislature and at
the jolli6cation over the election Of that
other traitor, Hendricks, to the United
States Senate. Illinois has q Democratic
Legislature which resolves TO 60 to Louis
Vile for friendly convention with the
rebels. Michigan has now entered the
ring, and, like the last performer TO enter
the circus arena, seeks to outdo all her
predecessors and win the heartiest ap-
plause from the rebels in her audience. In
the House, on Thursday last one Judge
Pratt made most violent speech against
the Administration and the Proclamation,
at the close Of which, he uttered the fol-
lowing additional words. He said:
"There, Sir, is the damnable abolition
ist who administers the Government The
people ought to rise up, and by physical
force hurl him from the Chair Of the Gov
ernment, since he is prepared TO sacrifice
the armies Of this country. Then, in the
eyes Of God and men, the people will be
justified. Kisses from the Republicans
and cheers from Fifeld, Tinham and other
Democrats. You may hiss, fellows You
can't intimidate me They should do it,
and will go with,them Renewed hiss
es and cheers That time is not far dis
tant, my dear fellows tell you it is
very near when you will not hiss in vain"
Here is open, fagrant unequivOcal,
armed physical resistance threatened to
the Government If this be net treason,
then what is treason. The rebel army is
engaged in nothing more than Judge Pratt
declares he will himself engage in.
On the evening following this speech, it
was rumored at lansing that an attempt
would be made the next morning to expel
Judge Pratt for his reasonable language,
and Immediately after dark, horsemen
were seen to depart from the city in vari-
Gus directions, to gather in hirelings to
defeat, by force, if necessary, such action.
In the morning the lobbies, aisles and seats
were filed with suspicious looking charac-
tiers Mr.. Howell, a Republican, made
speech in which he scored the traitors of
the Pratt school most scathingly. He said
that he had heard the threat that the
streets should run with blood, but he as
sured every traitor that the true UniOnists
we're ready to meet them, shoulder to
shoulder and hilt to hilt should they in
sugurate q war at home. Pratt responded
BY repeating his reasonable language and
said that unless his revolver had failed
him, blood would have flowed if a Provost
Marshal had attempted to arrest him.
Howell replied: Come on with your re-
Tolvers. What care we for revolvers
We shall not be uuprepared TO deal with
all traitors who raise their ungodly hands
against loyal men," This bold front dis
concerted the Democrats and they remain
ed quiet.
These facts show the treason that is
stalking through the land, and it is not |
idle fear to say that matters are fast ripen-
ing for a conflict at the North. The sure
est preventative is in rapid and decisive |
victories by our forces upon land and sea.
The traitors are seizing upon this time Of
general inaction to faunt their infamous
doctrines. They stir up dissatisfaction and
distrust, and in every way possible, seek
to divide the North. Victories are wanted
to renew the confidence and the adhesion
Of the people, which are not destroyedbut
only need reviving.
Victories are wanted, too, to release our
soldiers from the field, that they may re-
turn to crush out home traitors. Thecop-
perhesds know full well that the mass Of
the army detest their treason and would
speedily put it under their feet if they
were at home. Hence they are pushing
their conspiracy with all steam on, hoping
to accomplish their object whiIs the sol
diers are pOwerless to help. Activity, vic
tory, then, is what we want-what we
must have OF be lost.