The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-08-11

ruins. The leaders Of the movement rely Il
upon the blind partizen feaIty of the masses
Of the democratic party to carry out their
plans.
1t is in perfect keeping that all the lead
ing democratic papers, Of the Northwest,
though they affect to disbelieve the revela-
tons that have been made of this damnable
all justify it. The Milwaukee News aays:
without doubt this story is essentially
a deliberate invention, intended to furnish |
the administration with an opportunity to
intensity its war upon the ballot box in
loyal states, with view to securing Lin
coins reelection by fraudulent and law
less exercise of arbitrary power"
A little further on it says:
'But suppose these absurd allegations
are founded on fact? What shall be thought
of an administration whose in6delity to that
just and equitable law of government enact
ed by our forefathers has united the south
ern states in armed rebellion, and melted
the people of the north to conspiracy so
formidable as to embrace within its pale
hundreds Of thousands in a state?'
1t will be seen that this is no denial of
the existence of the conspiracy, but juSti-
fication of it. Note the faIsehood mixed up
with this justification, that it is the infideI-
ity of the administration to that just and
equitable law of government enacted by our
fathers, that has ''united the southern states
in armed rebellion" Everybody knows
that the southern states were 'fn armed re-
bellion" months before the present admins
tration came in to power, and under the
democratic administration of James Bucha-
nan.
The Meas continues its justification as fol-
lows
''Men do not rebel from choice, and there
is nothing in the character Of our people or
in the character Of the government itself to
induce rebellion and conspiracies so gene
raj as those existing or believed to exist
| Rejecting and patriotic men cannot fail to
conclude that events like til csc can only en-
sue from wrongs in the administration itself"
[ The reasonable heart that dictated the
above knew well that the slave holders Of the
south did rebel from choice and without the
shadow of an excuse, as far as this admins
tration was concerned, for as we have be-
fore stated the facts of history are, that the
rebellion was inaugurated and war actually
commenced months before the present adj
ministration came into power.
We make one more quotation to show
that although the Editor of the N6us pre-
tends to doubt the existence of conspiracy
he justifes and advises such a plot He
continues:
Although we do not believe any conspira-
cy against the government exists III the
north outside that party which is avowedly
endeavoring to subvert the essential princi-
pies Of the federal constitution, we do be-
lieve that the policy of the administration
has united southern people against the gov
eminent and is every day adding new
strength to the rebel army. Nor do we doubt
that the misrule at Washington has produc-
ed wide spread popular discomfort in the
loyal states, which, unless stayed by a
change of policy at Washington, will ulti-
mately result in a popular revolution as
stormy and as bloody as any that ever ours
ed the soil OF France. Our people are not
more vlrtuous Or temperate than those of
other lands where anarchy succeeds poverty
and despair. The ballot box is our sole de-
fence and should be the only and last resort
to avert these impending dang gers If we fail
to avail ourselves Of that remedy in the COM
ing presidential election, no man is wise
enough to comprehend the extent of the
calamities that ma y come"
Here is not only justification of a conspi-
racy against the government but threat
that if majority of the people of the loyal
states, in the exercise of their right of suf-
frage, elect Abraham Lincoln as president,
1t may result in popular revolution as
stormy and as bloody as any that ever ours
ed the soil Of France" And again he says,
that unless some other man than President
Lincoln is elected Sin the coming presiden-
tlal election, no man is wise enough to COM
prehend the extent of the calamities that
may come"
II ''the ballot box is our sole defence, and
should be the only and the last resort" as
the editor Of the Neaos says, why all this
threatening of untold violence and calamity
unless the people vote in accordance with his
views. What if a large majority of the peo-
pie, as we believe they will, notwithstand-
ing these copperhead threats, should vote
for continuing the present administration in
power? # the ballot box is our last resort
the minority should cheerfully acquiesce in
in that decision, and give the constitution
ally elected authorities an honest and loyal
support, instead of threatening bloody revol-
luton and all its attendant horrors.
But this copperhead element of which this
conspiracy is composed have no
idea of making the ballot box last resort. !.
If by threats and intimidation they can fri
ghten the people into their support, so far so
good, but if the ballot box does not decide /
n their favor then they propose to appeal to
arms, to "a revolution, as stormy and bloody
IS any that ever cursed the soil of France. " i
The ballot box is q miserable farce or worse il
"a snare and cheat, if it is 10 be control c
ed by such threats. The privilege of voting t
no privilege at all, unless men can vote Q
cording to the dictates of their own iu dg-
nent, uninauenced by fear on one hand o g
ope of reward on the other. There is a lie
enalty attached to the crime of influencing c.
mans vote by bribery why should there =
ct be even heavier penalty, for inauenc- :,
lg mems vote by fear by threats of per- e.
'nal violence, of revolution, bloodshed aud if
ide spread calamity? This is the plan OF
pom which copperhead democracy propose m
conduct the Presidential canvass. The =,
OF that has been developed was to be the In
a~e--- - $500. - .-