Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-22
Partisan RecklessD> :. -
mept y .esS and Encourage
> the Rebels. o.

IA
Inc ,0. al of yesterday Tuesday morn
ing pee" q az editorial article thus:
~ Mill be seen BY the accounts published this
Forming that the Copperheads OF Indians, led
on by Knights of the Golden Circle, have at
last thrown Off all disguise, and come out In
open opposition to the Government.
Our readers know, as everybody doee, that
the Journal, like all the papers Of its politics.
uses the word " "Copperbead" as term Of re-
prosch and attempted ridicule Of Democrats
and Conservatives-in short, Of all men who
are not downright Abolitiopists. In this light,
then, look at the above false and atrocious
statement--namely. that the political opponents
of Abolition in Indiana, who comprise ma
Jorlty Of the voters In that State, have "come
out In open opposition to the Government'-or
in other words, in forcible resistance to the
constitutional and lawful authorities Of the
United States.
We believe the editor Of the Journal to have
more penetration and candor than to give credit
to any such assertion as the above. He made
It, doubtless, for mere partisan effect. II may
admit Of that excuse, such as 1t is, bu! Of no
other. In times of domestic peace and public
tranquility, such reckless statements might do
little comparative harm. But in the present
distracted state Of the country, aside from
breeding mischief and discord at home, they
have damaging effect upon our soldiers in the
army, who are led from such false representa-
tions to believe that there are, as a correspond
ent of the Journal expresses it, "more traitors
at home" than can be found down in rebeldom
sSuch malicious partisan libes upon the North.
ern people, scattered among our soldiers, are
worse than bombshells from the enemy, and
tend to impair the efficiency Of, and utterly de-
moralizs the army
According to the Journals statement, this
open and forcible resistance to the Government
In Indiana, was but the natural and necessary
result Of Copperhe eadiam-or as it would cay, If
It had the moral courage to throw off all dis
guise, of Democratic and Conservative teach
iugs. The inference Is plain from the JouynaPs
language, that similar resistance may be ex.
pected In Ohio and other States where the
Conservative element Is in the ascendency with
the masses, or strongly preponderates. No in
telligent man, familiar with the politics Of
the country, could arrive at any other conclu-
sion from perusal Of the article In the Jour-
nal, and yet probably its editor would be the
first to deny that he meant to convey or give
countenaDce to any such impression.
But he has written and published this, and
many similar articles, as other journalists Of bis
political faith have done, and they have gone
abroad on their mission Of evil. Not only do
they create discord and embitter party feelings
at home not only do they tend to ruin our army
10 the field; but they encourage and strengthen
the rebel cause In the most direct and efficient
way According to the Journal and other Abo.
lition prints, the people OF the North are 90
divided that il may be fairly questioned whether
there Is not this day Q msjority in favor Of at
once buying peace by acknowledging the inde-
pendence Of the Southern Confederacy. Will
not the rebels seize with avidity upon such
statements and promulgste them to assure their
confederAtes that II they only perseyere success
against divided people is certain1 1t would
seem that the Abolition journals were deter
mined to insure, If possible, the ultimate tri-
umph of the rebels, or else to stimulate them
to prolong the war, until both parties, worn out
with privations, devastation and slaughter, will
be glad to welcome even a military desrotism
for the sake of some sort of order and security
to life and property.