The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-03-25
COPPEEsHEAD1s1I.

5 Mr. Clement Vallandigham, member of
Congress from Ohio, made speech last week
in which he avowed himself u "Copperhead." +"
Certain editors nearer home have likewise
reioiced in the title 1t becomes interesting
to inquire what it means, and how it came to
be applied to class of politicians. rs
A copperhead," according to the Ameri-
can Cyclopedia, is ga venomous serpent-the
head is thick-the neck contracted, and its
scales smooth there are 10 rattles, the tail
being short-near the fanks are rounded dark
blotches-it prefers dark and moist places
1t gives no warni' of its proximity-feeds
on mice, small bids, ETC., and seldom attacks
man-it is slow and clumsy in its motions,
and a very slight blow suffices to kill it-IS
is also called 'chunk- head. and 'deal-adder,' -
1t can not be denied that the analogy be-
tween this loathsome creature and the mean,
sneakng politicians who are now distracling
the Northern mind with cries of peace is
quite striking Like the copperhead, the
peace party are " venomous +" in their attacks
on he nation like it, their head " is .un-
doubtedlv thick" like it, their (" neck" and
reach are 'contracted." Their !" scales,'' too,
are smooth p aud they have no rattles to
warn the honest traveller of their insidious
approach Like the copperhead, their. char
acler is stained by dark blotches;;'' and, like
it, they prefer dark places to the light of
day" Like that sneaking reptile, their prey
is small, feeble creatures" and they g sell
dom venture to attack a man." If we add
that our political copperheads, like their rep
tile type, are so ''slow and clumsy IN Their
notions - that they deserve the additional
cognomina of "Chunk heads" and D .af. adj
ders.n and that "a very slight blow" makes
| an end of them, we shall have made the anal
.orv complete. 1t is creditable to the discern
ment of our Western fellow citizens that they
| so quickly realized the resemblance between
| the coprerhead snake and the peace politi-
clan, and baptized them by one common ap-
pellation. g. .5z1 af.rs-5.J Z s-esl=z ss-t =
We shall not waste time in arguing with
the Copperheads. Men who are capable OF
| iustifving the rebels and espousing theil
cause when the blood of some member of al
| most every Northern family reddens South
| ern soil, and the tones of Northern: soldiers
are worn as ornaments by Southern women,
are not likely to be convinced by argument
or to be pervious to any thing short OF {
| bayonet thrust. - .i''-' IS .a.H
But one suggestion we will make. If Mr.
| Vallandigham, OF any. of his fellow-copper-
heads, will visit any large camp OF loya
| troops. either IL the East or in the West OIL
| in the South and will, in the presence OF the
soldiers, express the sentiments they have
uttered at Newark, New York, and else
where; and if, without the protection OF the
| generals and provost narshals, whom they Sc
heartily abuse, they succeed, after delivering
their speech, in making their escape alive
and without a coat of tar and feathers, wt
shall agroe that .Copperheads may fairly b'
1 tolerated. Our soldiers are anxious to have
the challenge accepted. - Hu'pers Weekly
february a8.