The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-06-13

whom tha war men Of tho North (war DEM
ocrats as well as cthers,) call Copperhead
will not aid US in putting down this rebel
lion. That is enough for us to know. There
is no middle ground. Every man is aiding
TO support our government, or he is weak
enine il, and acting in common with trait
ors to destroy it. One OF two things must
ensue. The government of which Lincoln
is tho head must prevail in this bloody
contest or JEFF. Davis government must
prevail. Choose ye this day between them.
ask no man to endorse all the acts OF bin
coins administration. Many tTue-hearted
patriots cannot do it. ask no man wbeth-
er he approves of the policy of the admin
istration. ask only that you choose be-
tween Lincoln and Davis-between the
constitutionally chosen President and the
traitor who is fighting to destroy the con-
stitution and the government. You point
to certain isolated acts of Lincoln and say
they are unconstitutional, therefore, you
condemn him. ...'
Know We not that Jeff Davis whole
course is one of organized rebellion against
the constitution. Would il not be well to
put him down first and then attend to Lin
coin? You say that Lincoln has violated
the rights ofcertain American citizens, be-
cause his officers have arrested certain per-
sons who were believed to be plotting trea-
son and aiding traitors. l say jeff. Davis
officers, for loyalty to the Union, have
seized hundreds of men and hung them on
the nearest trees. Can you not find
enough to condemn and fight against IN
that, without fighting your government
for continuing few dangerous characters in
times Of peril?
You say the Copperheads are the genuine
Democrats. Sir, who authorized you to
speak for the Democratic party. Democ-
racy means a government OF the people
means that the will of the majority shall
control. You oppose the authority chosen
by the voice of majority of the people,
and call our lawful chief Executive trail
tor, and the father of tyranny and of des-
potism. =.
Would that I could gather together in
one vast assemblage all thetrue Democrats
of the country and ask them if this is their
Democracy. Would you be willing to
abide their verdict? You ARE the same
Jackson Democrats Would that that
immortal old hero might rise from his
long sleep and rebuke the men who make
blasphemy of his name. Would that he
might rise and crush the enemies OF the
Government which Washington and JET
ferson and Adams founded, and which he
himself defended and preserved from the
attacks of traitors such as threaten 1t now
with destruction.
In speaking of John Brown your excited
feelings lead you into profanity. Thatpoor
half crazed old man, committed what was
called an act of treason against the State OF
Virginia, and paid for his crime with his
life. Would not charity, if not justice, sug--
gest that that punishment is sufficient, and
that it is unnecessary to follow him after
death with cursing and reviling? jeff Da-
Wis and those same Virginia authorities
that hung John Brown for treason are now
guilty of high treason against the govern
ment OF the United States, and by their
acts thousands, aye tens and hundreds OF
thousands of men lose their lives and al
most every family circle in the land is rem
| dered desolate. If John Brown merits a
bed in hell do not these greater criminals
deserve still deeper place in the eternal
| burning? But there are class OF traitors
| still more base, more vile, more fiendish
than these. They are the hypocritical
| traitors who say they are Union men, while
with tongue, pen, and what influence they
| possess, they oppose and embarrass the
| Government in its endeavOrs to preserve
it's own existence. They are the cowardly
plot treason at home, while their friends
and neighbors fight the battles of the
country upon which the safety of the pro-
perty and cowardly carcasses Of these same
traitors depend. Below John Brown, be-
low jeff. Davis, far down in the depths of
seethng hell is place for the snivelllng,
sneaking, whining hypocritical traitor OF
the North, who dare not take the field for
the rebellion, but who remains safe at
home, belches forth his treason and his
curses against the Government, and then
with sick ening, hypocritical whine, claims
| it's protection. l.. Il. GARRISON.