Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-08-17
The copperhead revolution.

The Copperhsad papers Of New York
city are ripe fer Northern insurrectien.
They clamor for forcible resistance to the
Government, in enforcing the draft. But
they fear that Governor Seymour has not |
stamina enough to march up unhinchingly /
to the dire resort. In sentiment he is
right, in speech and writing he is to the
point, but they fear he lacks nerve to
launch himself, with all the official power Of
the State, agsipst the National Govern
ment. They, therefore, wheedle and threat
en- by turns, in the hope Of bringing the
Governor up to the scratch.
The following extracts will show the
temper of the organs of the Copperhead
conspiratOrs. Their reliance is upon Gov
ernor Seymour. If he does not fail them,
the aNorthern Revolution" in aid of the
Il Southern Rebellion will come off accord
ing to the carefully pre-arranged pro-
gramme. The New York Daily News says
HThe most pslpable proof as detailed by
Governor Seymour, of design TO thin out
the Democratic population by an unfair
execution Of an odious Act, has convinced
the masses that they have nothing to ex-
pect from the dominant party but perhdy,
| Injustice, and oppression. They must rely
ubon themselves and their State magls-
| trstes for protection. While the judiciary
remains firm and honest and Gubernato-
rial authority sustains the Judiciary, the
/ five hundred thousand bsyonets OF Despot-
ism will not prevail. But there must be
no wild exhibitions Of passion, no riotlng,
no wasting Of precious strength. OPposi-
ton to central tyranny will be most effect
i've when conducted according to legal for
mula. and under the direction Of constitu-
ted State authorities. Organization is
virtue and necessity, but let it be organ
ization to assist, not TO violate the law.
The men that framed our Government were
wise and farseeing. They left not the
people and the States at the mercy of ty-
rants. There is ample provision in our
Constitution and our Statutes to clothe with
legality resistance to oppression. If Gov
ernor Seymour will use the powers where
with he is invested, they will be found suf-
fcient for either moral or physical protec-
ton of State Governments and individual
liberty"
But it is evidently feared that he will
not, so the lash is laid on in this style;
"The only danger then exists in posi-
bic weakness and infrmity of purpose in
our Governor. We have every assurance
that he will be equal to the occasion, and
that he will redeem his pledge that the
rights Of the people shall not be violated.
But the ordeal has not yet been passed, and
until the hour Of decisive action shall have
come, we cannot measure the courage OF
our champion. He has spoken brave words
to the people; he has written wisely and
boldly in their behalf; he has thus far ap-
proved himself their friond, their ally, and
protector. None have cause TO doubt his
fortitude and faith. The Democracy, not
Of his State alone, but of the entire North,
have given their cause into his hands. He
cannot betray the trust. He will not in
cur the shame and ignominy Of betrayal.
Throughout great political conVulsions,
when great questions are at issue, and all
feel deeply and earnestly upon contested
questions, the intermediate man, the shift
ing, sufiipg, and uncertain statesman, the
leader who dare not advance and the spOs
tie who shrinks from practice Of his doc
trine, is the most mischievous of political
characters. The hours are being born
which will develop the attributes Of Hora-
ito Seymour and unVeil them to the world =