Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-09-05
The Copperheads Of aIassuehusetts.

The COppsrhends of Massachusetts.
The copperhsads Of the type malignant
held State nominating Convention on
the Sd inst. at Worcester, Massachusetts.
The following is reported Of it:
ffThe spirit Of the Convention was most
decidedly expressed against the apparent
purpose of the Administration in conduct
Ing the war for the sole object Of Negro
Emancipation, instead Of the preservation
Of the Union and the restoration Of the
Constitution"
This is the loose cant Of the cOppsrheads
everywhere, and is as deliberately false, as
iii mesnly unscrupulOus. These assump-
tiOns may serve, as they are designed, to
mislead some now, but in the future, an
other generation, viewing them in the calm,
unslouded light of unimpassiOned history,
will be astOunded at their audacity.
Is il true that the Administration is
conducting the war for the sole object Of
Negro Emancipation Is it true, that but
for this object, the war would already be
ovsr9 Is it true that but for this object,
the rebels would give over their atrOciOus
Warfare2 Is the Union then preserved
Is the Constitution sustained Is the life
oF the Nation secured2 Is the authority
ths Government restored7 These ques-
tons carry their own emphatic answers.
The rebellion is still clutching at the
throat Of the Government Its cut-thrOat
intent is not yet given over. The Nation
bhghting to cast the vampire of. Its ef-
fort Is to crush out the foul fend that seeks
its life.
The leaders of the revolt give out no
manifestations Of rslenting. The state
nsnt Of Fernando Wood, that Overtures
for peace hsd been sent up from Richmond
TO Washington, ani rejected, we have the
word Of President Lincoln for saying is
false. he ssys in his Springfield letter,
Hno word or intimstion from the rebel
army, or from any of the men controlling
it, in relation to any peace compromise,
has ever come to my knowledge or be-
lief"
Hs 5AA sTS5 TsA9lliS hl6 are AtsSe sSi SAME aS
Is when they first raised the standard Of
The revOlt-the overthrow Of the Govern
nsnt the disruption of the Union and the
final severance of the States.
In this deadly strife for National life and
existence, it is legitimate to use the means
within our power, to weaken the rebellion,
and strengthen the arm of the Government.
Slavery is tbe strength and prop, as it was
the inspiring cause of the rebellion.
Hence it is important to diminish -
strength, to remove as far SIS possible az
prop and support. People at war
do all they can to weaken and
and cripple each other. This is considered
legitimate warfare. The means adopted
may be mora or less barbsrOus-fOr all war
is essentially barbsrous. But to emanci-
pate the slaves of insurrectionists, is not
barbarous. To turn their efficient strength
against the insurgents themselves, is an
acknowledged right of warfare.
A greater falsehood cannot be uttered
than to say that the war is prosecuted "fOr
tie sole object of emancipation" The
prime object is the preservation Of the
Government and the overthrow of the re-
bSlliOn. Emancipation, snd the arming
ef the emancipsted is made subsidiary to
The prime object 1t is an incident rather
than an object Of the war on the part Of
the Administration. Every movement and
set Of the Administration, from the COM
mencement Of the rebellion 10 this time,
verify this statement. Such statements
therefore, as that Of the Massachusetts
COpperhesds, are simply knavish, deliber-
stely false, and put forth to deceive. No
patriotic, loyal man will make such an
aSsrment II comes only from the false
hssrted-frOm those who sympsthize with
The rebellion. Sorry are we that we have
men among us 50 psrverse, 50 false to the
Government, 80 recreant to truth and
hoAor.
Though Emancipation is but an incident
% the war, We will say this; It is & glOri.
Gus one, and we thank God for the incident.