The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-04-21
The PRAYER of q Traitor.


Ey DENNIS A. MAHoNy, The Saint and
martyr Of Iowa Copperheadisn, has sent
TO the Dubuque Herald form Of prayer,
which he anxiously desires the people TO
use upon the coming fast day appointed
by the President. He very considerate-
ly suggests, however, that instead of 90.
ing to their churches to do this, ii be done
in the secret iecesses Of their own hou
ses. He says:
AS the clergy. wiM scarcely an exception,
have prostiuted their sacred calling. and sac.
riligeously inverted the places of Dv ne wor-
.hip into political meeting houses / suggest
that instead of going to the churches on the day
recommended by the President in his proclaim
alton. the people retire into the most secret re-
cesses Of their homes, and implore God to have
mercy on MS MS nation, and to forgive the
people of the United States for having, in their
fann,ical phrenzy, placed the government in
the hands ofthe wicked men by whom it has
been subverted to the basest uses, and prosti-
tuted 10 the most infamous purposes"
1t never strikes tins egolistical and
money making raitorous martyr that
there is possibility that with himself
on one side, and the clergy. with
scarcely an exception on the other.
that the wrong may be with him. Oh.
no.! He is SO immaculate that he can
turn upon the whole body. OF clers ymen,
and rebuhe them 10 their faces with sac
rilpge and prostitution Of their calling
And all the ignorant drunken loa(els in
the Copperhe,d ranks, re-echo the charge
The clergy certainly ought to feel bad.
But lie then goes on with The prayer.
after the manner of the Episcopal worship.
The outrageous thing occupies nearly
two columns Of the Herald, and we can
only give few extracts. Here is one OF
the first lies worked up in this prayer
For having in the midst of the prosperity
which Thou did, bestow upon us with law
ish hand, become envious of the like prosper
ty in our ncghbors, and provoked them into n
war with Us.
Here is another:
For having, in the period OF two brief years
become, from Al nation of ireemon, nation of
subjects TO n despotism more olious, more dis
gushing, more iutoe;able, than any other which
opmesscs minknl under the name, form, sem.
blance or excuse of government.
ra M Have mercy on us 0. Lord
Again he pitches into the clergy
For having countananeed and supported
preachers OF the Gospel in the infamous prac
tice which they have almost universally and
habtually become addicted to, Of exciting the
evil propensitics Of the people Of the United
States TO such IN extent ae to have aided in
producing rebellion and devastating war, and
for listening TO the counsels, and being influ-
eneed by, the averice of these ministers of Sa-
tan instead of being influenced bv Thy teach
ings, rs we find it l. the Gospel Of Christ, Thy
Soa,
Have mercy on Va, o, Lord.
And how hear villa, the in amous
wretch has 10 say Of our soldiers:
For having been the cause Of sending forth
Thousands OF Infamous Uretches 10 commit upon per
sons and property fie crimes Of rape, Lrrgtqrg ar.
son. larceny, and other crimes ratch can only be
named By demons,
Have mercy on US O. Lord.
What do the friends Of the soldiers
think Of This :? The soldiers who have
given up home and its interests and at
fractions, and braved the dangers of the
camp and the field, al the call OF patriot
ism. are here. rs 10 former illusions,
branded by 4 IS vilIanous traitor with
every vile epihel his pen can indite. Is
il not wonder that the wretch is allow
Cd 10 walk the earth =? Is it not Il great,
er wonder that men in our midst can be
found 10 endorse and TO honor him ?
Think Of the infamy Of putting that jun
bic OF lies into the form, aud giving il
the sacred character, OF prayer. We
doubt II in al! the Plu,onnn hosts, ,here /
could be found wretch capable Of such
hypocrisy, ouch villainy. What a glor