Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-07-28
UNION COPPERHEADS.

"The age of miracles has passed Is
. saying so commonly repeated and with
out contradiction that it has been received
commonly as fixed fact. We confess
10 our heresy on this point, and deny the
doctrine as being verify. We see daily
90 many strange occurrences and animals,
and those of species not described by any
dead or living historian of the animal
kingdom, that we are compelled to believe
against our will that a new and miracu-
lous creation of reptiles is going on daily
and hourly in our midst by some malign,
magic or madness.
We affix to the head of this article a
name for one Of these new tribes believ-
ing that where no one else has affixed a
cognomen to a phenomenon we have a
right so to do, without taking out a pa
tent for the same. This animal, unlike
its congenor, does not "crawl upon its
belly" neither does it "eat dust" unless
it be gold dust, for its appetite and forma-
ton clearly indicate it as belonging to the
omniverous species. 1t is endowed with
o voice, even like unto the voice of man,
and can with all ease hiss and spit out
venom, crawl on its belly (when it scents
prey) like unto any of our familiar SER
penis. Nay, more like the old serpent Of
Eden, it lies with an ease and naturalness
that it leads those who listen to its voice,
as did the great first progenitor of the
whole class, the first mother Of our race
into sin and woe. The resemblance goes
farther; it too is possessed with the spirit
of ambition; 1t seeks official position, but
here it is somewhat unlike Lucifer, though
It seeks the highest it will accept any
down to the lowest, and if nothing better
offers is open to Government contracts.
Its personal tastes are for peace or piece,
and may be seen with the New York
World or Neps and the Baltimore DAILY
Gazette, or all three of them in its posses
sion. 1t, when in the right sort of crowd
for the purpose, makes loud professions OF
what it has done and expended or is will
ling to do and expend for the Union, and
very soon thereafter will be found around
some corner, or in a dark doorway with
q select few of the most unmitigated Re-
bells in close and familiar whispers. 1t
will frequently be heard denouncing abo-
litionists and abolition measures as the
cause and continuation of the war among
the doubtful and weak of faith. 1t will
be heard uttering the most lugabrious
lamentations of the immense Government
debt, its inability to pay and the necessity
for, and certainty of reputation. twill
be heard insinuating doubts as to the ac-
tual results of battles fought. Of the pro-
sress of the Union arms and preaching |
up the improperly of Withholding from
the people information Of movements and
the habitual publication Of unreliable
statements from official sources, and many
more like traits. All this is done under
the guise Of being ''jnst as good Union
man as anybody" and better. too. They
are believed too, and that by Government
and many of its officials; they are protec-
ted and petted, they are exempted from the
Inconvenience of embargoes, passes and
the other thousand and one inconvenience
Of state of war, and are thus furnished
by those who are sworn to "protect, de-
fend and support" the Constitution and
Government of the United States, with
the argument best calculated to act on the
weak, the faltering. the selfish, and the
doubtful 70 act against the Government,
The Constitution and the Union with the
Union Copperheads.