The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-04-21

the spurious Is vile and worthless.
believe, too, that no party, as such, can
or should attempt to conquer the REBEL
ion, but that all can and should act to.
gether in the grand accomplishment. ]
by no means include in my sweeping and
conscious designation. the great rank
and file of the Democracy, whom | know
to be true to the Union who have been
misled by self-consttuted and fussy lea
ders, by appeals to their partizan pride
and prejudices, and creeds and traditions
for such are as mistaken as they are hon
est, in clinging to their partizan stand
ards, and attempting to run the political
car in the old ruts and grooves worn in
time of mere party conflict, as though
this intestine war were bloodless can
vas for the Presidency, end to be dispo-
sed of by platforms and regulated by
resolutions. But the self-elected lead
ers, those who invoke partizan strife !;
who direct the partizan machinery, and
would leopard and divide our Union, if
not madly destroy the best free govern
ment on earth, for the qualification Of
malignant feelings and unworthy aspira-
tions-they have my permission to take
the highest niche in the temple of infa-
my, to which worlds opinion has uni
versally assigned them for their baseness
for to-day there are the main-springs
of this murderous rebellion by promoting
strife at home, and they give it its chief
aliment, and life, and hope, and endur
ance. They have been, by common
consent, designated as Copperheads, and
no name could be more appropriate
Strutting under their borrowed plumes,
and vain conceits, claiming ofliciously 10
speak for Democracy, to whose creed they
seem strangers, they boast of the many
reproachful names the Democratic party
has in other days been able to carry away
triumphantly, and declare their ability
to render this one reputable and popular
But they forget that it was that Demo
cratic party which protested and prac-
iced the principles Jefferson and Jack
son, which was thus successful That
it was not incumbered By reasonable
leaders of the whole or half bIood-that
it did not attempt to uphold con ipiracy
and rebellion against the government,
and that so long only as its doctrines
were popular and acceptable could it
laugh at reproachful names. The true
Democratic party mightat any time have
wthstood successfully the mere designa,
ton of Copperhead, but 1t has never seen
the day, and God grant that it never may,
when il could endure such leaders as
these, and carry over the bleeding frag.
ments of a murdered, crucifed and dis
severed Union, both brazen head and
copper heart.
An ancient fable tells us of a serpent
1t was, doubtless, a copperhead-which
gave up the lead to the tail instead of the
head ; that in attempting TO crawl thro'
a wall it was stuck. and remained there
in cutlery, too willful 10 recede
and unable TO progress because of chang.
ing TO the front its taperiRg tail, and such
seems now TO be the position Of the par
~ which now bears a serpent's name,
ard is executing a serpents mission
The miserable accomplce of rebellion
its chief hope-its maiign and mischiev
Gus co worker and supporter, has already
had its day, and indications are abundant
that il is to be abandoned TO its fate, BY
those it has, by It's snaky influences, be-
trayed into so grave an error as TO apol-
ize for treason and murder in this at.
tempt TO destroy the Union. The Te
Deums, so recently chanted to rebellion
upon a high key, by the sweet singers of
secession, are no longer within the com
pass of their voices, and they are evi.
IDENTITY about TO lower their tone, or. in
military as well as musical phrase, effect
a 4" change Of Bass"
As spring opens. we shall see many
who have boosted Of their designation OF
Copperheads. crawling quietly out Of
their political snakeskins and taking side
with the loyal masses in crushing, for.
ever the rebellion. Let US. then. be Of
good cheer, and of unfaltering purpose,
and God will enable the seed of the wo
man not only TO 6ruiSe. but to sever the
head Of this political serpent, Rebellion,
that has wound its scaly folds into our
political Eden. and thus preserve our
cherished Union for all coming genera
tons.
Sincerely yours,
ID. S. DICKINSON.
NeSSeS ~ ~ ITaHyif,e and others T,s,u G..