The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-02-05
THE Traitors UsiNaasi&cd---Les
aae People Read aad Beware.

Since the commencement Of this unjust-
able war against the Government, we have
often insisted that tho leaders Of the opposi.
tion--the seIf-styled Democratic party-were
with bat few exceptions, in corrupt and ac-
tive sympathy with the rebellion, and at
heart opposed to its forcible suppression by
the Government, and we have warned the
people against being influenced or cajoled by
tn Sc disloyal leaders, through the ins'ru.
mentality of partizan prejuiices, and in the
name of political action, into participation
Of that opposition, which niust, persisted in,
result in open hostility to, the Government
We have again aud again asserted, and
asserted because We sincerely believed, that
these leaders were actuated by the most sell
Ash ambition AMI corrupt motives; that
their professions of loyalty were but COW
er Tor their treason, and their declarations
that they were opposed tn the rebellion and
~ favor of its suppression by the strong
arm of the Government, Were insincere and
positively false; that these professions and
declarations were made only bec,IS. Of the
itnpolicy and unsafety of openly avowing
their true sentiments and positions, while
the Government was successful, unenlbar-
raised, and its battles victorious that the
purposes and plans of these domestic Trait
ors, were at first inSiduously. and under the
cloak ofpatriotism, to stir up the bitter pas
sions and political prejudces Of the masses
Of their party 10 every possible way among
other things, by continually finding fault
with, and upon every occasion misrepresent
ing the policy AMI purposes Of the Admin
istration; by decrying, as tyranny, every
act of severity against traitors; by denounc-
ing, in the bitterest terms, as unconstitution-
al, every vigorous measure for the suppress
sion Of the rebellion /; by cha.acterizing the
war as an abolition crusade against Southern
rights; by stigmatizing tho legally elected
Chief Magistrate Of the Nation an abolition
despot and the admins 'ratsa OF the GOV
ernment an abolition despotism; and thus
by degrees to divide the North, break the
loyal unity Of the people, create dissension
in our midst, destroy confidence in our rul
ers, bring the administration into odum and
disrepute, peTplex, embarrass and weaken
the Government unite and Strengthen its
enemies, and then, when they should have
accomplished this. that thsy intended to
show their true colors and cake the bold stand
of open aud decided opposition to any far,
ther prosecution of the war, advocate an
immediate cessation of hostilties accompa-
MED by the most debasing propositions Of
peace to the rebels, the purport object Of
which would be to throw the North west
into the Southern Conf,deracy. That these
were the intentions and purposes Of these
corrupt and disloyal Leaders we confidently
believed, and so admoniShed the people. In
this were we doing these men injustice p
Were we wrong, or were we right? That
we were right there can be no longer aly
roo to doubt. Men of Wapclo County
and Southwestern Iowa, would you be con-
WINGED of the treason of these leaders p
Would you catch glimpse of that whirl.
pool of disgrace and death into which they
would lead you? Then read and ponder
well the re solutions published in another col
umn of this paper. They were gotten up
by these men in our midst, and bear all the
marks of satanic inspiration. They were
printed in the Mercury Office and secretl,
circulated among the faithful by the agent.
OF that reasonable junto in our midst, which
is too well and unfavorahly known of all 10y
e! men to need more specific designation
To the same end we also ask you to peruse
and reflect upon the following editorial o
last weeks .Hercury which we here produce
nearly entire:
Peace, Let lis Have Peace.
Is there man in all the length and breadth
of the land who does not desire peacc, who
would not with joy and gadness hail a mes.
senger Of peace as one S mt Of God to bless
the land.
We take it for granted that there is no me
so lost to reason, humanity, christianity and
enlightened patriotiam, as not to desire the
restoration OF peace aud good will among all
sections of onr common country. The only
difference that can obtain amang honest PEG,
pie, is AZ to the terms of that peace and aui-
et which they all so much desire. This can
not be obtained by fighting. Var and
ESaee ire antagenistic agencies. War new
or can bring Peace and true Republican Lib
srty. 1t may bring about sUBJuGATioN and
yAssALAGE, but never PEACE and LIBERTY
We ,nav fight on, after the loss OF many
more lives and the expenditure of millions
upon millions more money, yet the very
same question will be upon US for All Just
ment. Cant that question be now adjust
ed? Can the people now take the matter
into their own hands? Fanatical politicians
have had control of the army purse and ma
w of the whole country for two years, and
have made no progress in the field of adjust.
,nent. Men and money have been by the
and nothing, absolutely nothing has been
done to settle our national troubles. How
long shall the people wait? Nov many hun.
dredS Of thousand more men and ilhsns
more of money must be furnished to enable
the administration to experiment upon the
chances of peace as the fruits of the par
to enable it to test the possibility OF gath
ering grapes from tiiorns or figs from this
Ties"
For ourselves we say, no more men and
I no more money to carry on war Of aboi-
ton. war for the destruction, not only of
L.. II - ~ tho IT,;n,,