The mountain Democrat., 1863-08-08
Letter nom Hon. Edmund. nurE.

noticed communication dated At "Hilton
Head, s, c., April /, 1S6S," signed &c.
II. W., purporting to have been written
BY soldier, in which find the following
sentences
| would like to come North and stou
one week. would appoint Copperhead
funeral every day, and would see that a
corpse was ready. =
| would as soon shoot COpperhead as
would snake by that name."
From the language OF the Republican
press and orators understand a "Cop.
perhead" to be Democrat. II is a black.
guard term, but I do not quarrel with the
Republican presses and orators for using
it, they being the best judges of what is
becoming and respectable for them in the
matter of manners.
Such being the meaning of the term,
the soldier, therefore, who wrote the letter
published in your paper, avows his deter.
mination to shoot and murder his fellow
citizens because they believe in the Dem.
ocratic faith, and support and maintain
the principles and policy Of the Demo-
cratic party.
You publish the letter without word or
comment, or dissent from the atrocious
and murderous sentiments which it ex.
presses. You thus, unwittingly, I hope,
contribute the influence Of your paper to
stir up to deeds of violence, outrage and
blood, the latent, undisciplincd passions
of society which, when once let loose,
like famishing wolves, know no restraint
or moderation.
Are we, Democrats, many of us your
neighbors and subscribers to your paper,
to infer that you approve of such senti-
mrnts? We desire, and are entitled to,
a distinct answer to this question.
Have you reflected upon the probable
consequences Of the utterance Of such in
fianmatory and vile sentiments rs are
contained in the letter of the soldier above
referred to, and are too common in the
columns of the Republican press, and in
the mouthS Of Republican orators?
IL they were to preyail would you be
entirely safe? II Democrats, or " Cop
peTheGds" AS We are called, in derision,
by party who carry Upon their shoulders
the awful and appalling sin Of being the
primary authors of the present civil war
and the destruction of the UniOn-are to
be shot down and murdered in cold blood,
do you think that the public peace would
be longmaintained in the North, and that
you, Republicans, would escape all dan
gerI
Lay no such flattering JUNCTION to your
soul" The beginning Of such business
is the beginning Of civil war and anarchy
here in the North. The first Democrat
shot down will be the signal for the slaugh-
ter of Republican, and the horrible work
once begun. where would it end :? And
what would be the fate of the Republicans,
between the fire Of the rebels on one side,
and the outraged aud incenscd Democrats
on the other! | will answer no further
than to say, that the Democracy would
not be the greatest sufferers in the end,
aud would not be annihilated.
As to the soldier who wrote the letter
above alluded to, if he be soldier, and
has thus disgractd his patriotic calling. all
| have to say, is, that he has uttered sen
timents worthy only Of a vile and execra-
Die murderer. Let him come on, and dare
TO execute his atrociouS threats. He would
not make many cOrpses before he would
be one himself Both he, and you. and
all Republicans, should understand, that
it is the firm spirit and resolute purpose
Of the Democracy to de end themselves,
their property and their rights. to any
extremity which the occasion may de-
mand.
We do not enter into any defense of our
patriotism and loyalty to Republicans
We have always been true to our country
and to the Union. We have been neither
the originators nor fomenters of section
al party, which has resulted iii the de-
struction Of the Union, and in civil war.
We have opposed the causes and the men
who have brought these calamitous re-
suits upon the country.
And we have rallied With as much zeal
as the Republicans to the support Of the
existing administration in its constitu-
tional measures to repair the huge mis-
chiefs which the Republican party has
been instrumental in bringing about at
the same time being resolved to hold that
party responsible at the bar of God and
the people, for their agency in this terri
BILE business of destroying our country /;
and from which responsibility we do not
intend they shall escape, BY any threats
or menaceS of violence to ourselves. And
finally, the Democracy are resolved to
maintain their rights at all hazards, let
them be aSSailed from whatever source
they may.
And in view of the bloody menaces
which appear in Republican newspapers
and fall from the lips of Republican ora
tors, say to my Democratic friends-be
ready for any emergency.
] Therefore submit 10 your cool and calm
judgment, whether it is best, or prudent,
for Republican presses, orators, or SOL
diers, to indulge in any more threats to
murder Democrats, or to commit outrageS
upon them, because they claim and will
enjoy the rights and privileges of Ameri-
can citizens. can hardly think the lead
ers of the Republican party really desire
to inaugurate murder, revolution and an
archy at their own doors. But l may be
mistaken.
Their infatuation in this dark period Of
our country's peril and suffering is aston
ishing, and nobody can foresee to what
folly, madness, crime and calamity it may
lead.
The very fact that you have published,
without dissent and censure, such letter
as that which has called forth this com
munication, is one Of the gloomy presages
of impending evil which overshadOws our
now sufficiently afflicted country.
If the Administration and the Republi-
can soldiers would display half as much
resolution and energy to conquer the reb-
ais as they manifest in their endeavors to
put down the Democratic party, they
might win some victories which would be
creditable to themselves end the country.
But the conquest and subiugation Of the