Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-03-20
The Coprerheads and Public Opinion,
Prom tho n, Y. Times,

we arc Tor crushing the ScceSh; wt
are also for crushing tho Copperhcud. II
our mind, there is not, essentially, IL iot,
difference between them. They arc sim
ply variety Of the same species. The one
moves in the highway, the other in the
grass. The one carries his venom in the
head, the other in the tail The one
strikes ut the heart, the other ut the heel.
But they are alike malignant. alike dctrs.
table, alike fatal to the Republic.
We say that We are for crushing them
both. Yet nor bv the same means. For
tho one, lead and iron For the other,
nothing Of that sort ut MI. Let no vio-
Icnco touch him. III his ease, it would
only Scotch, not kill" There is surer
quietus There is an agency us impalpn.
bio rs the mir, which yet, ir brought Ii;Iy
to bear, would practically exterminate
every CupperhCad in the land We mean
public opinion.
Sentiments arc daily uttered here on
the street cOrners, in the public convey.
anceS, in the social clubs, in public meet.
inss, nay in the publis Journals them.
selves, which, to all intents und purposes.
arc rs traitOrous us could come from the
lips Of jeff Davis himself They are Ut
tered w!thOGt fear, and, what is more,
without danger. Their authors seem to
take q positive pleasure, n certain, sort Of
malignant satisfaction, in abusing their
privilege Of FREQ speech, because. for
Booth, it shows how brave they arc, when
they III their hearts know there is nothing
to lie afraid Of. Now we maintain they
ought to have something to be afraid Ul.
Not imprisonment, not bNniSlunent, not
lyuehing-though the Tories Of the Rev.
0lution, who were not II whit worse. expe.
rienced u plenty Of all that sort Of thin;
but tho instant denunuiation Of every
loyal naan within hcaring There are no
terms of resentment and contempt in tho
English language which mny not Eitly be
applied to the wrotch that, in IN day like
this, openly reyies his country and speaks
on tho side OF her enemies. There is no
more virtue in holding your peace on
such occasions, or answering only with
smooth words, than there would be in do.
ing the like under the abuse Of the wO.
man who bore yUu. There ARE prUvoca-
tiOnS, ns wo have read, ut which "the
soul of every GOd.createIl man flames
wholly into one divine blaze Of sacred
wrath" and this most assuredly Uush,
to be one Of them. Talk of tOIcrencc, or
churitv. or tho right of free SueCch in
that connection lit is IL mOckCry.
II loyal mcn would only cxaIt their pa.
triotism to tho right pitch, and then kcap
steadily true to themselves, there would
bo quick end to the kissing and sting
ing Of these reptiles It's Il tllappy pro.
vision Of nature that this kind Of creature
is always cOwardIy. Courage is u quail
ty that never NssOrts with this inherent
vilcness. Even iri were not SO, If there
we're actually real pluck and grit in these
parasites of treason, there yet ought to
be force cnOngh in public opinion to pu;
them down. In tho cOnFedcracy, wo
know, an intensity Of feeling prevails SUI.
ficont to COW even the most muDIG.-
UniOnists exist there in no incousdGrable
numbers Yet wc have to hear OF the
first man who dnrcs openly to avow him.
self for the Union, far less to insult and
browbcnt the SccCsSionisis about him.
They all icol tho stern pressure Of the
dominant feeling, and make no sign. II
the rebel temper can so intimidatc the
bravost spirits Of the South, shall We pre-.
tend that Ioyal temper can have no con.
troll over the most ahiect natures Of the
North7 II tho ono class dare not even
announce their honest convictions, though
ever so respectfully, mRy--not the other
olass DO somewhat restrained from pour
ing out their rnnkcSt spite? 10 doubt it
is childish. 1t can hO done. 1t ought to
be done. It must be done, or the present
,nmcnCss will still further dcsCnCr0tcliuto
an abascment of soul that will surely
bring on u most gnOminiUus ind ruinOus