Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-07-09
A CoPPERHEAD LOOKING GLASS,
A Parallel Between Federalism. In
1914 and Copperheadism in 1868.


In Autumn Of the year. 1914 the pros
poets Of our country were as gloomy as
they are at present. We were Involved
in War with Great Britain which had
been prosecuted more than two years with
little success and less glory. Our enemy.
who had thus far been enabled to fight US
with her left hand only. being so deeply
involved in the great European struggle
with Napoleon. was now released by his
downfall from that embarrassment, aud
prepared to turn her whole force against
rs. Her fleets swept every sea. We
had no commerce. Our finances were dis .
ordered. Onr currency was going the
downhill way. Our territory wa. partly
in British hands. Our Capital was
threatened. and soon after captured and
burned. The war, which had begun BY
an invasion of Canada on our part. was
now prosecuted on odr own soil. In short.
we seemed in . bad way. and many
thought the Republic going under.
Under these circumstances. the Federal
lists Of New Jersey held large and most
respectable State Convention to denounce
the conduct of the war. and clemor for
peace. We quote tho following form
al declaration OF their views to show how
strikingly History repeats itself. aud
how true was Solomon's observation. that
There is nothing new under the sum-
Read it. patriots. and remembering how
soon thereafter the clouds broke away.
resolve never to despair Of the Republic
Here is the New Jersey platform:
THE wALL-vRooN PLATFORM OF 1914.
Deeply affected by The gloom which
surrounds the destiny of these States, re-
duced to condition so precarious, by q
course Of pisruie not to be psralleled, this
Convention nevertheless. con6dipg in the
final discernment and virtue of the people
do not despair Of the republic. We will
not confound the people and the men in
office; our calamities and misfortnnss are
caused by the weak, violent and fatal
measures of the men in power.
This Convention would earnestly re-
commend to the people of each county
to hold meetings, make nominations, and
usc all diligence and prudence to prevent
the reelection Of the adroeafes Of tie war
Whereas. The right of the people to
express Meir opinions upoh the conduct of
men in office. their ability and motives is
brought into question. the persons now
in Office and their adberen.s denominating
it "moral treason and "enmity to the
country" for the people to speak and vote
against them and their measures, as If
in their ruinous and changing acts, opin-
ions and policy. were to be found Ameri-
can liberty and independence.
We. the Convention of Friends of
Peace in New Jersey. for ourselves and
the great numbers of frecmen whom we
represent. do PROTEST against such slavish
and anti-rspublican principles. We hold
it the first and m ost precious OF all rights,
that the people enjoy, perfect freedom of
opinion. of speech and of suffrage.
II those who have got into office and
govern as they will. shall contend that
exposure Of them and tho abuses Of their
trust whether from folly or wilful meas
ures Of violence and wrong. is Opposition
to the country and Government" We re-
peat our protest against such manifest ar
rogance and insult to the common sense
cf mankind. Silence sud passive obedi-
enee to acts Of folly and oppression and
national ruin never were and never ought
to be imposed upon the good people of
these States. On this point. those are
the real enemies Of their country who sup
port and countenance the opinion that the
men in Office are infallibls. and gloss over
their malconduct and destructive meas
ures by calling such measures the Gov
ernment."
How are the dreadful evils Of power
abused. and whole people falling into
the depths Of public and private ruin to
be avertsd. if to complain OF and expose
and constitutionslly resist such men and
measures "is enmity to the country?"
/ If the constitution is violated by per-
sons in office. shall these acts pass into
picS0 tcut ouu fctuoiu unfcufsbScu DeC8u>c
to expose the fact and the delinquent is
"oppos;tion to the Government"
II the President makes or interprets
laws. arming the subaltern agents with il.
legal instructions. giving them power
over mems persons. property and lives,
without trial by judge or jury. and the
forms of legal procedure; if the major.
tiles of Congress should create new States
to give prsponderancc to Southern policy
and domination most destructive to the
1 constitutional weight Of ancient States OF
any of them:-If tho majority in Con.
grsss should he found so rash and lost to
consequences a. to risk under such cir
cumstances the Union and great interests
of these States to the chance of WAR; il
the men in power reject armistice and ne.
gotistion. preferring to risk ther country
and all its rights and blessings upon the
issue Of the sword; If they after making
this war and directing it. should from the
beginning conduct it without intelligence
vigor or system; IL military command.
are given BY tho President under his
counsel to mon who, one after another
without exception. prove themselves
laughing stocks oil the world. sacrificing
the lives Of thousands brave Americans
! by rashness. ignorance and cowardice
and bringing disgrace upon the American
) usnos. Is = ecens of kov.J1.ee and nrof