North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-03-25
Lawlessness of Abolitionism.

and recommendations. With them the main
tenance of power is everything-to that end
all their energies are bent-to accomplish
that purpose they brush aside Constitution
and Law and WELD the iron band of despot
ism For that purpose were passed the u.s.
cal, the indemnifying and the ConscrIption
acts by Congress, comforting on the President
dictatorial powers. For that purpose secret
armed leagues are being organized in violation
of law, and for that purpose are the cries OF
traitor and copperhead raised against men
loyal to the Government, and their arrest,
Imprisonment and even death demanded by
the Union-hating knaves and greedy plunder-
ers who constitute the Privy Council and
Guard of Honor of the President. But all
these VILLAIN es, these bold, lawless, and ruff
anly measures, sink into comparative insight
ficance in comparison with the latest measure
proposed by one who writes from Washing
tor, and being one of the trusted there, no
doubt speaks er cathedrd. The Cleaveand
Leader, an Abolition paper of the most radi-
cal, bloody and develsh spirit, contains a
Washington letter in which occurs the fol-
lowing startling passage:
"The times require "Conmttees Of safety"
" Congress has done its part the
Executive will do his. There is a
greater than either in the hands of the peo-
pie, The time has come for them TO act
pithom luao and beyond lao. Here is field
in which every citizen can help without join.
ing the army"
Jacobinism revived and expanded. Such sug-
gestions proceeded the bloody reign of the
French triumvirs, Robespierre, Danto and
Marat. This is the genuine voice of the
Mountain, the howl of incarnate tiends for
blood. Let us not mistake the signs OF the
times. They indicate trouble-they portend
an impending atruggle, a death grapp lie be-
tween the lawess and the suppol ters of the
law between those who would overthrow
the Constitution and the Union and those
who would crush and those who will defend
Liberty between the would-be tyrants and
the intended victims between those who would
overthrow the Cons stitution and the Union and
| those who will die, If need be, in their defence.
Let US be calm let US keep within the law
let Us be cool and patient-but lei as be pre-
pared.
Yes, Democrats-all friends Of the Const
ton, Law and order--BE PREPARED, not to
do WI ong or commit legal violence, but to ne
sist the Abolition " Leaguers" whenever they
take the fist step in assaults upon your person
or property,"" witnout law and beyond law. :"
Let the Abolitionsts see and know what they
may expect, if they venture to open their way
to anarchy and outlawry.
In conclusion, we would say to Democrats
and all constitutional men, stand true to the
Constitution, true to all laws in harmony
| with the Constitution, and true to god or
der and peace in the community but at the
same time BE PREPARED to resist these
league conspirators if they dare "without
law and beyond law" to assal your person.
your property, or your legal rights.
The Clcavcland Plain Dealer thus notices
the " League" and cautions the Leaguers in
that region:
"From daily paper published in this city,
we learn that these leagues are organized to
g. counteract the insduous efforts of the Cop.
perheads." The order is to be "of quasi
military character for the instruction OF its
members in the manual and school of the SOL
der" The places of meeting are to be
known as Bdrrac4s." 1t is to be natur-
al arm of defence against traitors at home
and in the army"
"There-you have it. The laws of the
land are convicted of impotency to secure
| the rights of the citizen Free government
is pronounced failure. Military organiza-
tions are to be established everywhere.-
They are to decide who are ccpperheads, anu
copperheads are to be taken care Of There
it is-a deliberate aEowal of Jdcobinism.--
A deliberate confession that the civil estab-
lishment in the peaceful States of the North
have failed. A deliberate publication of the
intent to substitute, under the guise of I'm
ion society, illegal bodies CT armed men, in
lieu of the constituted authorities.
Woe unto these foolish wretches if they
inaugurate such system. Woe unto them
and their children after them if they rashly
and under any pretence whatever, build up
armed clubs throughout this land--let them
heed the revolutionary history of France
Let bankers, merchants, the " "sohd men,"
the owners Of stone fronted mansions, trem
BILE when the time comes that they hold their
wealth at the mercy of furious clubs, when,
as in the old cities of Italy, every house be-
comes an armed castle. and the laws are
powerless We feel an unutterable contempt
horror and scorn for the reckless anarchist
who would deliberately propose or sanction a
project SO fraught with death to American
Liberty"
N