Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-04-23
The Copperhead Coalition with the
British Government.

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American public since the great conflict
begun, has had more beneficial effect in
making disloyalty on this side of the lines
take the back track, than the remarkable
letter from Lord Lyons to Earl Russell,
dealing with the political aspects and ma.
chinery of the late elections as brought un.
der his own observation. A perfect BON
shell under the feet Of the corrupt poll
ticianssof the Empire State, especially, there
is little doubt but that they would have
given everything could it never have seen
the light; but in print, and read by the
whole people, it is one of those things con-
stituting great landmark of these times,
and fairly gibbctine the opponents of the
war. Particularly damaging are its revela
tions to the New York troupe, because, it
the whole country is scanned, there is no
place where public sentiment is so vindctivc
in relation to the past conduct of England
mo community that is so sore on the Brit.
lsh perfdy at present in permitting the de.
predations of ships from British ports
Thoroughly commercial as are the constitu-
cnis Of Brooks and Fernando Wood, it will
take something more than Pewter Mug"
demonstrations and eloquence to reconcile
them to fellowship with the representative
of England in wire pulling, with the pur.
pose Of betraying their own country; some
thing more to reconcile them to their losses
on the high seas. Indeed, so angcred is
New York city at what is taking place on
the ocean, that indignation at the course of
England seems almost to have made it
forget the aspects of the rebellion itself in
debating what shall be done to protect its
commerce and to demand redress.
And there is more in this matter than
even all this indicates. A feeling inimica
to England is perhaps more a matter tradi-
tional there than any where else on the con-
tinent. Evacuation day"-thc celebration
of the period when the British troops left
The city-has always been one of their great
anniversaries, celebrated with military pa
! rades and every coGconlitant which could
mark the glad remembrance of deliverance
from the presence of foe; and when we
req amber, further, that one of its regi-
ments refused to turn out-on the occass on of
the visit of the heir Of the British throne
to tllot locality, one might suppose that
little additional was wanting to mark their
dislike of any special recognition OF Eng
land as an intermeddler in our affairs
But now, in hunting an ally to second the
Confederate delegate in England-Jas. NJ
Mason-in bringing about mediation =
another name for intervention for war,
the evidence is placed on record that the
Woods and Brooks faction could find no
one more suitable than the representative
ct our old enemy \of that power Of all
others-as we have shown-least liked in
such a contingency. And the whole tenor
OF this letter proves that this movement
was made stealthily, in guilty consciousness
that il would not answer to let the people
become aware Of what they were doing.
And their programme in the case, as
Peace Democrats, was pretty much iden-
tical with that Of the old Peace party
here. Like the latter, they wore the great
champions Of the writ of "hnbeas co,p,ts;"
they did not believe in having any restraints
put upon their scheme Cor comforting, OF
aiding more substantial lily, traitors who
were in arms to destroy the Government.
Like the traitors in the South, with whom
they sought close partnership, they had
come to doubt the power of the disaffected
anywhere to put stop to the preparations
of the Government for crushing the rebel
lion; and SO they looked abroad, through
the British representative here, to see il
the great Power which had already inter.
fered in favor of Mason and Sldell could
not be induced to take one more step, and
by some authoritive mediation" put stop
to the war in which their friends were get.
ting the worst Of it. No wonder they acted
this fragrant part quietly, stealthily; !; nc
wonder that while they made it plain enough
to this sought-for foreign ally that theil
wish and purpose was sought to ''put ar
end to the war, even at the risk of losing
the Southern States altogether" that ri
soas plain that 1t ,oas not thought prudent t.
orop this dcsire'-that some hints of il
dropped before the election, were so III re-
ceired that strong declaration in the con
trary sense was deemed necessary by thu
Democratic leaders"
There can be no doubt, looking to til,
whole tenor Of Lord Lyons letter, but tina
these interviews, sought" with him by tn,
Democratic leaders," must have resulte,
in pretty full betrayal of their plans ant
purposes. All remember that the grea
point to be gained by mediation" or "in
tervention, was an 'armistiee;" tina
treacherous breathing spell which nigh
give to the failing Rebels wind for renew
al Of their desperate struggle. And as for
eign mediation. or Intervention, wa
insisted upon in the one case, so treaoher.
in the loyal States proposed to reach tn
same point by different road, by a "Con
veDtion.'' Let us call attention to one sig
niGcant passage in this remarkable letter.. =
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