, 1863-03-03
Ql)lcago Qril,1a,1e.
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1868.
OUR SpRIEGFIELp LETTER,

tf:uM VEt ONu toTEtsI;uHueIt.}
Sri1s.frELp, March !, 1868.
THE corlER1EADs AND THE JUNE skss1oN.
The Corpcrhead Democracy are anticipating
great things from the meeting Of the Lcgisla-
turc in June. They hope not only to carry
their peace measures, but to take the consti-
tutional powers Of the Governor from him,
By the creation Of an Army Board and other
measures. In this way, by sort OF peace-
able revolution, they hope to get both the
civil and military powers of the State into
their hands. This once done, resistance to
General Government would assumc definite
shape. The authority of the Federal Admin
istration to cArry out the conscription act,
would be questioned and deGed, and Illinois
would be, for all practical purposes, placed in
the ranks Of the rebel States.
On the other hand, the Union men arc
greatly alarmed. Letters are being received
here daily from all quarters, especially the
southern portions Of the State, expressing
great fears of the results should the Legisla-
turc meet in June. Some Of these assert that
the Copperheads boast that Illinois will then
take m open stand against the Administra-
tion md the war. Such a stand as will not
fail to carry with it Indiana and Iowa, and
perhaps Ohio.
You will notice how bitter the Democratic
papers arc in denouncing the conscEiption.
They do not all exactly counsel resistance to
it; but, at the same time, they assert that It
cannot and should not be enforced. This
mode Of indirectly melting to acts Of rebel
lion is already bearing fruit. 4 few days
since, two Democratic meetings were held In
Jefferson county, one at the county seat, Mt.
Vernon, and the other at Spring Garden. At
both Of these meetings resolutions were
unanimously passed, calling upon the Democ-
racy to resist the draft by force, If necessary.
Resolutions were also passed at these meet
ings calling upon the people to rise CT naasse
and drive the Lincoln Government from
power at the point Of the bayonet, a Ia Goudy
If your city.
Their meetings and others Of like character
low being held By the Coppcrheads all
through the State have alarmed the loyal peo-
pie, and they are pretty generally protesting
against the Republicans allowing another
meeting Of the Legislature. They say II .
meeting is necessary the Governor can call
one for special purpose. The adjournment
of the Legislature is in reality violation Of
the spirit Of the Constitution, which evidently
never contemplated such q mode Of keeping
Tue LeHlsaLult III perpetual eESslOn, AS II were.
II the Legislature should meet, the De-
| moc7acy arc determined to carry their peace
| resolutions at all hazards, either with or with
out q quorum, and send on their
commissioners. And unless very great
SUCCESS attend our arms in the
| interim, there is no knowing to what ex-
| tent the majority may go in hyoring the rob
| els, or what revolutionary measures they may
| adopt. No sane man believing that what they
will attempt is all they would do If they dared
| am convinced from what l hear from Demo
Gratis in public and in private, that they would
| join the Southern Confcderacy tomorrow If
| they lad any hopes the masses in thc State
won1d support them in SO doing. But there
| Is no possible doubt in my mind that their ul-
| innate intention Is to acknowledge the JEFF
! Davis constitution in this State, and then aid
| the South in all its fll1ibusterinE schemes for
| the conquest Of Cuba, Mexico, the West India
islands, &c. The TIMES OF your city, few
days since, said that the South wanted all this
new territory, and that it Was the duty Of the
| North to aid ller in obtaining it! Now, can
any man believe that any considerable portion
Of tho North wonld aid the South in such q
scheme, by which its honor would be so tire.
mendously augmented, unless 1t was those
States which lad agreed to cast their fortunes
with her and share In all the benefits and suffer
I'LL the penalties attached to q state Of society
in which slavery was acknowledged as its chief
corner stone?