The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-02

K laws and in aid Of the rebels. Since thu
g we have published accounts OF what seen
's to have been a serious and deliberate GU
Il break in Coles county, in that State. II
o particulars 80 far received indicate mo
il wanton and malicious attempt to murd,
q Union soldiers and Union citizens, witho,
t any provocation and simply for the reaso
a thatthey were known to be thesupporters,
o their Government and patriotically devs
, ting their lives and influence to it's defena
. and maintenance. Itappears to have bee
t the result Of secret and concerted resolr
tion Of band of Villains who madly i'm
agine that by ''sprinkling blood in tn
faces Of the people" they will be able 70 re
tard or prevent entirely the onward pro
gress Of the Union armies.
!, Subsequent events demonstrate this con
, cert and agreement II the men who in
augurated the brutal murders at Charles
ton were simply individual desperadoes
merely seeking the qualification of privat
malice, how did il happen that almos
Immediately large number Of men ar
found in arms, in close vicinity, to protec
the cowardly assassins3 Do honest, peace
loving, law-abiding citizens, organize ant
arm themselves to defend such miscrean,s.
Is it possible to conceive that any good citi
zen, any who desires the order of society Il
be maintained, who intends to obey and
support the laws Of the land, could be gull
ty of taking up arms in behalf of law.
breakers, such as those Of Coles county p
Do not the facts convince our minds tina,
they did not occur by chance-that it was
not the result ofsudden provocation or over.
towering passion, but, on the contrary,
were the result Of premeditated, blood.
thirsty and villainous treason? Let it he
remembered, too, that there have been
heretofore some credible predictions that
just such an outbreak might be looked for
in that section. Let us not forget, either,
that Forrest, with a considerable force, had
just made an attack on Paslucah, doubtless
with the intention of crossing the Ohio,
and making raid in precisely that direc-
ton, and constituting his forces nucleus
to which these disorganizers might gather,
and perhaps become formidable. Put NIL
these facts together, and how is it possible
to avoid the conviction that there is wide
spread conspiracy among the leading Cop
perheads, and that they have deliberately
determined TO instigate CIVIL WAR in the
North, if by any means they can accomp-
lish it?
The character Of the organization enables
their leaders TO plan and operate in safety
Their deluded tools cannot net without
risking their lives. Some Of them, it seems,
have already made the sacrifice due to their
folly. But the principal scamps, the chief
plotters of the iniquity. they who are the
authors Of these enormous calamaties to the
simple and credulous, are unknown to the
mass Of their followers. They push their
tools on to their ruin, while they remain Sc
cure because undiscoverable. We may
be able to indicate who they probably are,
We may have q moral conviction OF their
identity, but, except in accidental cases, we
shall be unable to prove their guilty and
horrible completely. They take care oil
their own safety. They are lavish OF the
blood Of their misguided victims.
We wish our readers to reflect upon these
facts. They are portentous Of evil unless
our whole people wisely and prudently
prepare for the emergencies they indicate. |
A due regard to duty will avert any dan
ger from these conspirators. We warn ev-
erybody against the peril Of uniting with |
these infamous clubs-against making
the mere tools of men who do |
not assume any risks themselves. An in
vitation to join such organizations as we
have referred to, is plain request to COM
nit treason. They mean and can mean
nothing else. They who join them do not
AXE their lives In their hands merely,
They place them at the disposal OF treason.
able Molochs who are too cowardly to ven
sare their own. Beware of them. Avoid
hem. The man who invites you to be.
ZONE . traitor il your deadliest enemy.
Lot patriotic people be always ready to take
are Of the traitors at home. We are
enough for them. Let the army move on.
Let Ss take charge Of the enemy in the rear.
- The Copperherds' love of the soldiers
vas again demonstrated at Nation the