Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-04-01
copporhead Meeting in Bazstta. Z
BAzsTrA. March %. 1862

BAZETTA, March %, 1868.
Dear Chronicle Herewith | send you
the minutes of a Butternut meeting that
came off in this town last night:
Pursuant to announcement per the
Constitution, the Democracy, or Copper
heads las they persist in calling them.
~selves,) of this vicinity met at the Town
House. for the purpose of c~onsoling each
other in their depression caused by the
organization of the Union Leagues.
At an early hour, seven assembled
which number was by degrees swelled tC
nine. accompanied by their numerou,
progeny. After waiting until quite
late for an audience, the meeting
was called together by Prof. Green, other.
wise known as Cicero Second, proclaim.
ing that they had come to the conclusion
that they had met for some purpose.
Chief Justice Freer was called to the
Chair, and stated the object of the meet
ing. Speeches then being in order, Cice-
70 arose with his usual dignity, and told
them that this was a niger war, and, af-
ter making a few similar remarks, was
about winding up by telling them, in
tones of thunder, to stand by the Consti-
tuition THE Warren, suppose he meant, J
unto death-but the Copperheads opened
their mouths, and he knew they wanted
more so up he scared on the pinions of
eloquence until he reached the topmost
pinnacle of oratory but here, alas his
~eloquence and words fed, and left him
speechless and embarrassed, an elevated
balloon when the gas has escaped; after a
moments pause, he descended to the re-
hearsal of a scurrillous story, which he
said he had direct from a certain CONAN.
This brought down the house. and the
speaker took his seat amid thunders of
applause.
The President now ooh the stand, and
preached constitutional rights as ex-
pounded by jeff. Palm; told them that
if the country was saved it must be done
by Copperheads, and proved it by quot
ing the opinion Of oneJudge Miller, aman
who for Sirty years had voted the RepuLH-
can ticket against his W convictions, but
had finally got into the traces with the
l~utternuts. and like them was now Civ
ing might snd main to the-JrescAing. He
next emitted his venom upon the Union
Leagues; he did not know the exact
meaning of the word league but
thouglit-knew that if Dan. Webs.er's
dictionary were consulted it would be
found to imply something criminal at
least.
Reading from a Copperhead sheet a
lengthy article describing a secret socie-
ty of Illinois, called the S. B. lStrong
Band Society, which he thought TO be
similar to the Union Leagues. worked
amazingly upon the credulity of the agi-
tated eight. The excitement was increas-
ed, when he told them that the Leagues
were pc ssessing themselves of all the
arms and munitions of war in the coun-
try, and referred illustratively to the re-
cent enactment of a powder ordinance by
the Council of Warren, and signed by the
Mayor; this brought forth such expires
sions of rage mingled with grief that the
speakers voice was drowned and the
sat down.
Cicero now told them that these arms
were to be used to carry the elections at
the ballot box, at which the b%utternuts
billed over all shouting that the Leagues
couldn't have their guns. $50 we're out
there.) With this determination fixed
in their polls, they adjourned to a future
night, and crawled off to their holes.
WATCH'EM.