Smyrna times., 1863-03-26
Copparheads and the Future.

l. Tunes a just and liberal view CT the rela-
zion of the copperheads to the Democrats
and other parties daring the present civil
strife. 1t is assuMed, and we think fairly,
that the great majority of the Democratic
party i'll the Northern States. if left free
from the control of the leaders, would be
heartily in favor of a vigorous prosecution
o. the war and not listen for moment to
any terms of peace short of the restoration
Of the Union and the supremacy of the laws.
And Il must also be considered that thourl
the Democratic party as an organization
now stands In hostility to the Government.
there are thousands in it who rejoice at
Government victories, and there are thou
sands of others if they could throw off the
shsckles Of party and break from those
whom they have been looking up to for
political opinions, would be uncompromis-
ing Union men. Such men are not really
and truly at heart copperheads, though
working in their hands All such men.
however, and even those who are in active
sympaty with the South, if they could
unreil the future and view the Scorn that is
hsaplng up for them, would act very differ
emily from what they are now doing. When
this tremendous scene shall have passed
and it cannot long at longeSt-e,ery ar'or in
Il will receive honor or dishonor. 1t will be
remembered how every man high or low,
bore himself in the crisis ofthe nations
He With men generally it will not be
written on the page of history, bht as a tablet
yet more redistinct, the living memory. twill
be known ten, twenty, thirty years hence
how every American who was on the stare
In the great Rebellion then acted-whcther
ne took side for or against the government
and, the honor or tlishonor of it will cleaye
not only to the individual himself but to his
children.
Our contemporary, quoted above, on this
subject, says:
Our people generally find it very diff
cult to bring home to themselves the fact
that they are living in the most momeutous
days of the age. On a little reflection, they
will allow it, and yet too many fthem con-
duct themselves after their political habits,
as If the war were nothing more than one
OF the old political struggles in Few shape.
They dc. not appreciate that their present
public conduct has got to be judged more
severe than ever before, and by altogether
new standards. That which divides Ameri
cans now relates not to measures of mere
expediency, but to practical acts involving
national life or national death The differ.
ence hes not between Whigism and De
mocracy, or between Democracy and Re.
pnbhcahism, all of which were compat
ible with the most thorough loyalty; bu
1t lies essentially between loyalty and disoy
alty-between faithfulncss to the Republic
inits hour of peril, and detection. Posterit,
will so see it, and will Judge in that hgh
exclusively"
" 1t was well said by Mr.. Brady in hi
Brooklyn speech, that "the time will sure,,
come when the men who oppose this wa
Will be deemed more infamous than tn
Tories of the Revolution" If this fac
were ftly realized, we doubt whether Their
are ten persons in this community VIII,
would quietly rest day under the name o
being, at this crisis, in favor of peace wit
the rebels. No member of society is g
abandoned as to court infamy understand
ingly. When it comes to that he is n
longer member of society-he is simpl
an outeast."
" There are those living who remembe
0he odlum which, after the Revolution
"iung to every Tory TO his latest breath
no intellectual accomplishment, nor an
hhoral worth, could exempt from it. Blu
more than that, it was transmitted To- hi
children and his children's children. Eve
ito this day, the American whose ancestor q
''hat time was known as a Tory, hears of
win burning shame Similar, contemr
was entailed upon the blue-Iight federalis,
'of' the last war So far as regards the pr
sate character Of its members, che IIartfor
Convention of 1914 was probably. equal I
any Political assembly ever held in th
country but after the war closed. = ever
man ofthern to his dying day was held !
a'snoasr' he could no more obtain n pub
~ ,.a O,aoe .nan Il ne had been positively dis
qualihed,ey law 'Thsbanof public ciif oipinfiSo I,
was was upon him: Though it was verv clsa, l..,,
~ shown iup subsequent years that the M ~
Jority OF the Convention had no such trol
sonaele iutentions as were imputed to IL ve
E. 1t IS enough that it wa, q peace assemblaoe
s'''culatea to enbarass the Government
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