The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-02-28
RETURNING REASON.

One Of the vilest Copperheads in the State OF
New York, John Van Buren, gives evidences OF
returning reason. In a late speech, delivered In
New ork, he affirras that by war alone can the
difficulties which encompass the Nation be
settled. What has brought him to this conclusion
we can only surmise. He has all along endeav
ored not to believe it, but the indications Of the
times doubtless have forced him to this candid
admission. But the fact has been SO patent to
every loyal mind, and Mr.. Van Buren, has ex-
hibited so plainly the rebel instincts Of his na-
ture, that We feel justified in questioning his
motiyes. Perhaps, as has been intimated, some
of his peace oyertures to the arch rebel Jefferson
Davis, have been spurned, and consequently
John miffed" All can be satisfied, that after
such course as he has pursued, policy, and not
patriotism, is his ruling motive. Confidence can
not, therefore, be reposed in such men. for "pol-
icy" is a fuetuating standard. whereas patriot
ism marks out an undertaking course.
This threatened resistance in the North, pro-
yided it is crushed ere it becomes more dan
gerous, will have served good purpose. Who
believes single one of these Copperheads to be
patriot The thing is preposperous A rebel
army WeDacluS Ool'ltisi pioChuOihS Jul
rivers, in the face of which We are begged by
these men to cease the work Of self-defence, and
permit the assassins of our Government to go
unpunished Every effort Of theirs has only had
the tendency to give aid and comfort to our
enemies-too bold in their scheming and work
ings to be unintentional. They have shown
their hands too plainly to retrace their steps.
But we arc aid in this matter by the Wash
ington correspondent of the New York Indepen-
dent The following extract will show what
is discernible in public sentiment:
"The skies are Frightening The reaction
aries are losing strength every hour, and
henceforth they will be without power over the
people. There is no place where one can dis
, cover a change of sentiment among the people
so quickly as in Congress, especially in the
House of Representatives. The Congressman
does not always heed the popular will with
sufficient readiness, but the observer can easily
see by his conduct that he is conscious that he
is disobeying it. The change for the better in
Congress in this respect, within fortnight,
is marked. The Copperheads are by no means
SO defiant as they were short time ago. Upon
the opening of Congress, Voorhees,, Vallandig
ham, Cox, Powell, Salisbury, Bayard, and
others whom will not mention, were bold and
joyous in their demeanor. They had lost the
sneering, malignant manners of previous ses-
sions, and were good-natured even, certain
were they that this war and the Administration
were about to be arrested and overthrOwn.
Vallandigham spoke too quickly in favor of
stopping the war. l find now that even the
acknowledged Copperheads in Congress are
shy, silent, and begin to grow ugly, which is
the surcst sign of all that they are discour-
aged" The correspondence here cites in
cidents in debates and closes: These are
small facts when taken singly, but together
they form an important mass of evidence, going
to show that the Government will really lose
nothing from disaffectionin any quarter by the
strong anti-savery position which it takes
All loyal men will stand by it through every
emergency, and the disloyal may as well take
their stand with the enemy first as last"