Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-02-25
The Copperheads and Slavery.
One of the most singular feafr1res of :

One of the most singular features of the
present state of politics Is the bitterness with
which Northern COprcrheads hare assailea
every measure of the government calculated
to injGre or in any way interfere with the 10
! terests Of that ''divine and Christianizing in
stitution," African Slavery They have con-
templatcd with the utmost serenity all the
diabo,ieai plottings of all the hordes of rebels
and traitors for the Acknowledgement and over
throw Of the government; but when once
slavery has been toucheti--wilenevcr any
measure has been proposed affecting the
property interests Of the rebels, these peace
men, these wouldbe patriots, these Pha.isees
II politics, have become almost insane with
rage, and their utter&Aces have hc2.ne a
dlatrlbe about abolitionisn ana the rights of
the South, pientifully sprinkled with cuio-ics
Of the Constitution, and anathemas against
the administration for their despotic meas
uIes, and closing with prophecies of soon
coming ruin, uttered amid r2anv sighs and
tears Now, why all this excessive sensitive
ness on the subject Of sla5 or- and this con-
slant prating Of the rights Of the South >
Why these lugubrious prophecies of the over
throw OF the constitution and the liberties of
the people to result not from the existing re-
bellion, oh no, but from this administration
Why all this talk about peace, when, if there
is one thing that the rebels have uttered of
tener than another, it is that they will accept
Of no terms of peace which shall not acknowl-
edge their independence? Ii all arises from
the fact that the slaveholding democracy has
in ali time past been the tower of strength in
the democratic party, and now this rabble
remnant OF a once powerful, and in many re-
spects, noble party, failing to see that this re-
bellion, from its very nature, has changed the
old order Of things, look upon the overthrow
Of slavery as a blow at their party Again,
they have been accustomed to associate with
e 'ery measure against slavery the odious term
OF abolitionism, and anything which smackcd
Of this, to them, unholy doctrine must be met
with their bitterest opposition.
It is positively amusing to see with what
madness these Copperheads are seized when
ever that dread subject of abolitionism is
it has about the same effect upon
them as the sight Of water upon a mad dog. |
Can they not see that however reprehensible |
this ism 7atg1d have been in times past, when |
the country was at peace, it now has far
different signifcation? Then it contemplated
the rupture Of peaceful relations and an en-
tire revolutionizing Of society now it only
the taking advantage of revo- |
luton il the interests Of slavery to wipe the |
curse from the land, and thus aid the cause
of the Union, which should be, and is para
mount to all others. Then it was aggressive, |
now it is essentially defensive These Cop |
perhcads, frightened at name, stand afar off
and come not into the light lest they should
be convinced. The stern logic Of this rebel ,
lion has made an anti-slavery man Of every
democrat who has gone into, and remained III
the war; lFiSc0asGa.