North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-05-27
Letter from Hon. Edmund Burke.

AZ lue Lditor oI Iile National aSIe
In your issue of the 10th inst, I noticed
communication dated at "Hlton Head s. c.,
April l. 1863" signed ;, G. H. w." pu-pcrt-
ing to have been written by soldier, in
which | find the following sentence
81 would like to come North and st op one
week. would appoint Copperhead funer-
al erery day and would see that q corpse 1cas
reddy." "I would as soon
shoot Copperhead as would snake by
that name"
From the language or the Republican press
and orators, understand a"Copperhead" to
be Democrat. 1t is blackguard term, but
[ do not quarrel with the Republican presses
and orators for using it, they being the best
judes of what is becoming and respectable
for them in the matter ofmanners. Such be-
ing the meaning of the term, the soldier,
therefore, who wrote the letter published in
your paper, avows his determinatin to shoot,
and murder his fellow citizeus, because they
believe in the Democratic, faith and support
the principel and bolicy of the Democratic
party.
You publish the letter without word or COM
ment or dissent from the atrocous and mur-
derous sentiments which it express You thus
unwittjngly, | hope, contribute the influence
of your paper to stir mp to deeds of violence.
outrage, and blood, the latent undiscipline
passions of society which, when once let loose
kn fomiShino proluoz
moderation.
Are we, democrats, many of us your neigh
bors and subscribers to your paper, to infer tina
you approve of such sentiments We desire,
and are entitled to, distinct answer TO this
question.
Have you reflected upon the probable conse-
quences of the utterance of such infammatory
andvile sentiments as are contained in the let
ter of the soldier above referred to- and are to
common in the co!ums of the Republican press
and in the mouths of Republican orators
If they were to prevail would you be entire
ly safe? If Democats, or "Copperheads " as
we are called, IN derision, by party who
carry upon their shoulders the awfnl and ap
pal.ing sin Of being the primary authors Of
the present civil war and the destruction of
the Union-are to be shot down and murder
ed in cold blood, DO you think that the pub
lie peace would be long maintained in the
North, ard that you, Republicans, would es-
cape all danger
Lay no such fattering JUNCTION to your
soul" The beginning Of sue h business is the
beginirg of civil ware and anarchy here in
the North. The first Democrat shot down
will be the signal for tie slaughter of Re-
publican, and the horrible work once begun,
where would it end 2 And what would be
the fate of the Republicans between the fire of
the rebels on side, anh the outraged and incnr-
ed Democrats on the other will ans wer no
futher than to say, that the Democracy woule
not be the greatest suffers in the end, anb
and would not be annihilated.
AS to the soldier who wrote the lette
above alluded to, if he be a soldier, and has
thus dsgraced his patriotic calling, all have
to say is, that he has uttered sentiments
worthy only of a vile and execrable murder
er. Let him come on, and dare attempt to
execute his atrocious threats. He would
not make many corpses befors he would be
one himself Both he, and you, and all Re-
publicans, should understand, that it is the
firm spirit and resolute purpose of the De-
mocracy to defend themselves, their proper
ty and their rights, to any extremity which
the occasion may demand.
We do not enter into any defence of our
patriotism and loyalty of Republicans. We
have always been true to our country and to
the Union. We have been neither the orig
inators nor termenters of sectional party, |
which has resulted in the destruction of the
Union and in civil war. We have opposed
the causes and the men that have brought
these calamitous results upon the country.
And we have lalled with as much zeal as
the Republicans to the support of the exist
ing Administration in its constitutional meas |
ures to repair the huge mischefs which the |
Republican party has been instrumental in |
bringing about at the same time being re- |
solved to hold that party responsible at the
bar of God and the People for their agency |
in this terrible 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 what ever source thew |
may. And in view of the bloody menaces
which appear in Republican newspapers and !
fall from the lips of Republican orators,
say to my Democratic friends-Be ready |
for any emergency.
therefore submit to your cool and calm |
judgment, whether tits best, or prudent, for
Republican presses, orators, or soldiers, to
indulge in any more threats to murder Dem |
Al