The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1863-11-11
WHAT is A COPPggHEAD !!

The Hon. Levi Bishop, of Detroit, recent-
ly gave the following plump answer to this
question
We often hear il said OF Democrats,
He's a Copperhead, he's a bitter Copper
head, shun him, cut him, don't counie4
nance him, don't associate with him, don I
! trade with him, don't give him business,
ruin him, crush him, for he's an inveterate
Copperhead" Well, what is Copper
head Our opponents are very fond of
coming names which they imagine TO be
severe or opprobrious. | remember how
they got up the term iocofoco, and applied
il by way OF reproach TO Democrats aud the
Democratic party But they rubbed them.
selves iltle too closely against he term.
That term reminds one of usein domes-
tic institution which "goes Off by way OF
friction and our then political opponents
soon iound that The political FIRE, enihusi-
asm, and combustion, associated with the
term locoloco, were damaging 10 those
who invented it rather than 10 those TO
whom II was applied.
The Abolitiogists, ever conscious OF the
just odium into which they, their party,
their party platform and their political nos
rums have ialien, on account of The trem-
endous calamitieS they have brought upon
the country, have engaged in the dignfied
business OF coming opprobriors terms and
applying them 10 all who will not be led,
or governed or driven by their ruinous fan
aticisru The form tsro1norbaadf3 Ia ono
of their choicest epitheis. To hear the
marked emphasis with which they pro-
nouHce' it, one would imagine il 10 be The
cardinal expression OF the age, full of point
ed well defined, clear and comprehe nsive
and Specification an expression that told
the whole story, carried every political
point, silenced every competitor, van9uish-
ed every dispntant, and like charity, COW
cred a multitude Of sins in those who ap-
Piled it.
But what does it mean! What is its sig
MITIGATION In what consists It's severity or
It's reproach1 What does the 'crittern mean
when he applies il! Who will give the
answer? AS generally applied and ac-
copied, take il 10 mean a sound national
democrat; one who loves the country, lis
Constitution, its freedom, and its free instI-
tutions; one who would by all the means
in his power promote the fraieraal and
friendly union of all the States, and the
people of all the States, and who is willing,
ready, and determined TO maintain the con-
slituiion and the Union in their original in
tegriiy, against all the assaults OF secession
on the one hand and of abolition on the
other; one who eschews and detests polli-
cal abolitoniem in all lis phases, in all its
couu Ptions, and in all It's usurpations, and
who deplores lis bitter, bloody, and deslruc-
tive iruils.
la short, q "copperhead" is nan who
| designs simply TO maintain our system Of
free government as the fathers founded il,
as their successors administered il, and as
we and posterity are bound by every motive
of interest patriotism and honor 10 continue
/ it. He still adheres as all Democrais adj
here, to the good oId-fashioned constitutions
al Union Democracy. He knows POLITICAL
| Iy no Nouh, no South, no East, no West,
and he opposes whatever he finds 10 be
/ destructive of that system OF free govern
ment, whether found at the East, West,
North, or South, or if perched even in the
/ presidential chair at Washington. In this
view most freely acknowledge myself a
firm, determined, incorporating, and if
our opponents please, mos. inVeterate
''copperhead."
| 1t is sometimes said openly, and often
insinualed, that "Copperhead" or DEM
ocrat is in favor of secession, is in favor OF
the rebellion, is in favor of dissolution OF
the Union, is in favor of mobs, mob law,
mob violence; in favor OF the defeat OF the
Union armies and of the disgrace Of the
Union flag; that he is opposed to enlist
ments, opposed to necessary taxation, op-
| posed to raising necessary armies, opposed
10 The Government, and opposed 10 all prop
! or means and agencies BY which the Union
and the government can be maintained
These are caiumnies-alI calnmniss-de
liberais, wiifnI and malignau, calumnies.
A Democrat, or nCopperhead,' y if you
please, will sustain The GooamneaI OF the
United States under ell circumstances, and,