The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-04-16

iuo SoppoIhehut huu EuUllc OpiHlou
We are for crushing the Sacesh; wO
are also Tor crushing tho Copperhead, -
To. our miul, there is snOt, essentially, a
lots difference between them. They are
simply varieties of lho same species,- :
The one moves in the highway, tho 9th
or in the grass, The one carries his ven
ON in the head, the other in tho tail,--
The one strikes at the heart. the other
at the heel. But they are malignant,
alike deteslOble, alike fatal TO the Re.
public.
We say that we are for crushing II en-
both. Yet not by The Same means. For
the one, lead and iron. For the other
nothing Of that sort atall. let no vic.
lcnce touch him. In his case, it would
only scotch, not kill" There isa su.
rOr quietus. There is an agency us in-
pNlpable rs tho air. which yet, ifbrousbt
I ftly TO hear, would practically ex'ermi,
nate every Copperhcad in tho land
We mean public opinion.
Sentiments are daily uttered hrrr on
the street corners, u tho public convey
ancO', in the social clubs, in public meet.
ings, nay in the public journals them.
selves, which, 70 all intcnts anil purpo.
ses, are as lraiiorOus us could come from
the lips Of jeff. Davis himself They are
uttered without fear, and. what Il more,
without danger. Their authors seem to
take positive pleasure, a certain, sort
of malignant sOtiSIaciiOn,in abusing their
PrvHege Of FREQ speech, because, ,forsooth
it shows how brave they are. when they
in their hearts know there is nothing to
be afraid Of Now we maintain they
ought TO have something to be afraid Of
Not imprisonment not banishment, not
Iynchiog--though the Tories Of the Rev
olution, who were not a whit worse. cx.
porenced n plenty Of all that sort of
thing-but tue instant denunciation Of
every loyal man within hearing. There
are no terms Of resentment and contempt
in the English language which may not
fty be applied 10 the wretch that, IN
day like this, openly revilrs his country
and speaks on the side of her enemios.-
There is no more virtue in holding your
peace on such occasions. or answering
only with smooth words, than there
would be in doing the like under the
abuse Of the women who bore you
There are provocations, as we have read
at which "the soul of every God.crcntcd
man flames wholly into one divine blazs
Of sacred wrath" and this most assured.
" ought to be one of them. Talk Of
tolerencs, or charity or Iho htof free
speech in that couniryl--ilis mock
ery. a
lfloyal men would only exalt their
patriotism to the right pitch, and then
keep steadily true to themselves. there
would be a quick end 10 the Kissing and
singing Of these reptiles. II is happy
provision OF nature that this kind OF crea.
turo is always cowardiy. Courage ia .
qnaIity.that never assors with this in.
hrrent vileness Even ifit were not So
1t There were actually real pluck and
grit in these parasites of treason, there
Jet ought to be forco enough ia public
opinion to put them down. In the COZ:
federacy We know, an Intensity OF feeling
prevails sufficient TO COW even the most
noble. Unionlsts exist il,ero in no in.
considerable numbers. Yet we have to
hear Of the first man who jares openly
toavow himself for the Union, far less
to insult and browheat the Setessionists
about him. They all feel the stern pres
sure Of the dominant feeling, and make
no sign. Ifthe rebel temper can so in.
timidaie the bravest spirits Of the South,
shall we pretend that loyal temper can
have no control over the most sbjSct ma
lures Of the Meth? II the one class
dare mol even announce their honest
convictions; though ever respectfully,
may not the other class be somawhOt re-
strained from pouring out their rankesl
spite? To doubt il is childish. II can
be done. Itought to be done. 1t must
be done, or the present tameness will
still further degenerate into Rn absse-
ment Of soul that will surely bring on o
most ignominious and ruinous peace.