Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-05-19
An Eloquent and Significant
Letter.

crat of New Hampshire, recently addressed
the following letter to an abolition paper in
that state:
To tile Editor ot'Me National EAGLE:
In your issue Of the 18th inst, notice a
communication dated at Hilton Head, s.
c.. April l, 1863" signeG &c. Ii W."
purporting to have been written by a sol-
der, in which iud the following senten-
ces:
Il would like to come north and stop
one week. l would appoint a comprehend
funeral every day, and would see that a
corpse was ready"
would as soon shoot a copperhead as
i would a snake by that name
From the language of The republican
press and orators, i understand "copper"
head" to be democrat. 1t is black guard
term, but do not quarrel with the repub-
licaD presses and orators for using it, they
being the best judges of what is becoming
and respectable for them ir the matter If
manners. Such being the meaning of the
term, the soldier, therefore, who wrote the
the letter published in your paper, ayows
bis determination 10 shoot aud murder his
fellow citizens because they believe in the
democratic faith, and support the urinci>
pies and policy of the democratic party.
You publish the letter without word. or
comment, or dissent from the gtrocious and
numerous sentiments which il expre sses,
You thus. unwiilingly, hope, contribute
the influence Of your paper to stir up to
deeds OF violence, outrage and blood. the
latent undisciplined passions Of society
which. when once let loose. like famish-
ing wives. know no restraint or mydera-
ton.
Are we. democrats, many Of US your
neIShbors and subscribers to your paper 20
inter that you approve Of such sentiments?
We desire, and are entitled to, distinct
answer to this question.
Have yuu reflected upon The probable
Consequences If the utterance of such in>
lam nIt tory and vile sentiments a. are con-
tanned 10 the letter Of the soldier above re-
terrei t., and are too common in the col
umns 1t the republican press, and ID the
mouths OF republican orators?
ii they were to prevail would you be en-
hrsly suf? II democrats, or copper
heads" as we are called, liz derisi"n, bv q
party who carry upon their shoulders the
a~Iul and appalling sin IF being the prima.
~ authors # the present civil war and the
destruction Of the UniJn-are to be shot
down and murdered In cold blood, do you
thlnk that the public peace would be long
msiutHiDed ID the north, and that you, re-
putlicans, would escape ali danger2
Lay 10 such 1attering auction to YOUR
soul" The beginning o! such business is
the beginning Of civ!l war and anarchy
here III the north. The fret democrat sh6t
down Will be the signal for the slaughter o.
a republican, and the horrible work once
begun, where w0uli it end And what
would be the fate Of the republicans be-
tween the fire Of the rebels on one side.YuG
the outraged and incensed democrats on
the otherE VIII answer no further than
to say, that the democracy wouli NOT be
the greatest sufferers 10 the end and would
not be aGnihiiated.
As to the soldier who wrote the letter
above alluded to, if be lie a soldier. ard has
thus disgraced his patriotic calling, al L
have 10 say, is, that he has uttered senti-
ments wurthy only of vile execraLle Inur
deTer. Let BIN come on, and dare attempt
70 execute lis atTOcious threats. lie xouid
uOt make many c9rpses before he would be
one himself. Both he, and ycu, and ali
republicans, should understand. that il is
tue hfm spirit aud resClute purpose of the
democracy 10 defend themselves, their
property, and their Tights, to aay extremi-
" winch the occasion may demand.
We DO not enter INFO any defense Of our
patriotism and loyalty 10 COMPARISON with
the patriotism and loyalty of republicans.
We have always been true TO our country
aud to the Union. We have been ueither
the origlDstors nor fermeuters of a sections
al party which has resulted in the destruc.
ton OF the Union and 10 civil war. We
nave opposed the causes and the men that
nave brought these calsmitOus result uI on
our country. And we have rallied with as
much zeal as the republic ans, to thu support
OF the existing administration in its const-
tutional measures to repair the huge mis-
chle.s 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 peo- |
pie Tor they agency in this terrible bust
ne's OF destroying our country; aud from |
which responsibility we do not intend they
shall escape, by any threats or menaces Of |
violence to ourselves. Add finally, the
democracy are resolved to maintain their
righte 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 orators. / say to nv
democratic friends be ready for any emer',
gency.
! therefore submit to your cool and calm
judgment, whether it is best, or prudent. for
republican presses, orators. or soldiers. to
indulge 10 any more threats to murder
democrats or to commit outrages upcn
them, because they claim and will enioy
the rights and privileges of American Cit.
zens. can hardly think the leaders of
the republican party really desire to inaug.
urate murder, revolution and anarchy q,
ther own doors. But, may be mistaken.
Their iniatuation in this dark period Of
our country's peril and suffering is aston.
lshIrg. and noGody can foresee to what fol.
y, crime, and calamity, it may leai.
The very fact that you have published.
without Dissent and censure, such a letter
as that which has called forth this commu.
nleation. Is one ofthe gloomy presage1 of
impending evil which overshadows our now
sufficiently afH c,ed country. s
1t the administration and the republican
soldiers would display half as much resolu-
ton aud energy 10 cepqueriBg the rebels az
they manifest in Their endeavors to put
down the democratic party. they might win
some victories which would be creditable to
themselves and the cou1try. But, the con-
quest and subjugatiOn OF the democratic
party they will End to be an utter impoFsi.
bility. whether they try to accomplish the
result by contumely, threats. or arms. IL
ls bigh time that they eomprehended this
tact, and acted accordingly.