Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-01
The Illinois COpperhead Riot.

Location OF the RIot---Character r Of the Re-
sion---The 54th IIIiHois---Its History
Infamous Character Ofthe Leaders Ofthe
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Must be Dis
armed.
Our latest reports from the West leave ST
fairs in Coles county in mixed condition.
We extract from Chicago papers the fol-
lowing additional particulars. The Tri-
bune says:
Coles and Edgar are adjoining counties
in the first tier Of counties south of Spring
field, the latter bordering on indiana, and
recently the scene Of disturbances similar,
to but less considerable, thsnthose Of fresh
occurrence at Charleston, in Coles county.
Thus by location latitudinally these events
may be credited to Central Illinois.
Our dispatches elsewhere, frem Charles
ton and Nation, set forth the events very
clearly. There are some points we are in
position to explain, from thoroughly re-
liable sources, which throw much light on
the matter. The 54th Illinois Regiment,
now home on furlough, was the old com
mand Of Colonel T. NJ Harris, and recruit
ed from that immediate section. In that
region Copperbesds are numerous, and the
doctrines Of such sheets as the JEFF Davis
organ Of this city passes as current gospel.
Men who hate the war and revile our ar
mics, are the prime sbettors and siders Of
desertions, and neighborhoods where such
views prevail are the fsvorite hsunts Of
military refugees Of this class. The exer-
| tions Of cur officers to capture deserters
have kindled the sparks of treason in these
| counties into FIRE that will burn until its
fuel is consumed. Consumed it will be.
Both Coles and Edgar counties furnish
striking proofs and warning to all other
counties in the State that no local office
can safely be entrusted to disloysl men.
Two meaner tools of the rebellion cannot
be found in Illinois than the two infamous
brothers VIM. s. 0'Hair, Sheriff of Edgar
county, and John s. O'Hsir, Sheriff Of
Coles county. Their father is ex-Sheriff
Mike 0'Hsir, Of Edgar and both are "chips
Of the old block" and Of the three il may
be said that il is misfortune to the loyal
cause that the three are out Of reach Of the
rebel conscription, which would find them
ready made to its uses, and far less dan
gerous to us in the rebel service.
Speaking of these COpperhead rioters
the Evening journal says:
They came to Charleston, Coles county,
when and where the court was in session,
and when and where some United States
officers and troops were expected 10 meet
and go on TO their rendezvous at Msttoon,
armed and equipped, with ssnguinsry
purpose, and with wagon loads Of arms
and ammunition in reserve. They were
led, too, by the sheriff OF the county, John
0'Rsir. Headed by this infamous insur-
gent and desperate, and impelled by mo-
tives and designs such sa infame the
heart of the New York Andrews and the
Lawrence Quantrell, and all the starvers
Of white loyalists and the butchers Of black
ones, they went at this, another disbOlical
attempt to plunge the North into civil
war, with all its direful and frightful con-
sequences.
We have hitherto deprecated, and we do
now again deprecste any act by our
brave fellows, home on furleugh, and
by our loyal citizens that shall have the
least tendency to bring them into collision
with these abandoned and abominsble
miscreants who are plotting and conspir-
ing for the distraction and division of the
loyal North, and the overthrow of the Ma
tional Government. Let our friends keep
the peace, let them never be the sggres-
sors. Let them forbear, until forbesrsnce
ceases to be virtue, and life itself de-
msnds defense, then let them in that
moment Of self-preservstion, justified by
all law human and divine. Strike!-
strike quick, hard, iercely, and with
method; and let the csrcssses Of the vile
enemies Of their country be put into
trench deep beyond the reach of all Chris
tian observation.
Heaven only knows how we deplore snd |
dread these civil feuds and COMMISSIONS
But we do not dread them enough to rem
der US unmanly or pusillanimous in their |
presence, when they are forced into our
presence. They must come to an end
The National Government must bring them
70 an end. 1t is competent to the task and
will undoubtedly perform the task.
Let it disGrm sVery copperhead in the
State, and enroll and equip force in the
State equal to the protection of tho State,
What business have these seditious wretch
g with arms in their hands And why
IRE not arms in the hands of the regular
md authorized militisfor the preservation
# the peace and tranquility Of the Com
aonWealtb.