Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-02-04
Enthusiasm of New Converts.

1t is scarcely necessary. says ths Nash
vile (Tcnn..) Union, to mention fact
that can not have escaped the notice of even
the least observing. to-wit: that new con-
yerts are always the most enthusiastic OF
disciples: and certainly words need not be
wasted in proving q propositions about
which there can be no dispute; and in vier
of this, it is not surprising that. just at
this moment. the Coppsrheads have thrown
their whole soul into the cause Of free
speech. The more hardened the sinner. the
more intense his devotion to the cause Of
righteousness. the moment he is converted
from the error of his ways, and permitted
to see the light. osn
Copperheads, and devotecs Of slavery.
have hitherto been awful sinners. the "chief
among ten thousand," though not "alto-
gether lovely" in their dealings with men
who differed from them in their political
views. We rccollect not many years since,
that an Indianian was arrested and impris-
onol in Columbia, South Caroline. merely
brcause of making inquiries as to the popu-
lation and resources Of the various counties,
and because he had in his possession a doc
ument written to exhibit the injustice oil
tho system of representation in the South
Carolina Legislature. Iie explained to
the chivalry that he was merely collecting
material for . Gazetteer, but they suspected
him of hostility to their constitution, and
imprisoned him, and otherwise treated
him so harshly. that he lived bat few
months after his release.
/ We might fill volume with such in
stances; but we have only room for few
of the principle ones. Within our mem
ory-and also that of most of onr readers
and certainly within that of Senator
Powell--Kansas was on several occasions
overrun by bands of ruffians; her citizens
driven from the polls and minions of the
mobs placed IN office; yet neither the Sen
ator in question. nor any who are now &C.
tive copperheads saw anything wrong; in
deed they generally rejoiccd at the success
full overthrow of the elective franchise in
that distracted territory. If Senator Pow
ellis feelings were narrowed by these out
RACES. he managed to overcome them, and
keep silent. salBA
Again: How frequently have Cassius N
Clay. and his friends, been mobbed in
Kentucky, and yet when did Lazarus
Powell raise his voice in tehalf of these
persecutsd opponents of slavery? When
did any Of his party protest against the vi
olation of the freedom of speech and the
press? Suppose in 1856. a citizen OF Mr..
Powell's own town had offered to vote for
! Fremont; does any one believe he wou>l
have been allowed to do so? Would Mr.
Powell have stepped forth then as the
champion of free elections? A discrimi-
mating public can readily answer these in
terrogatories.
The conversion of the Copperheads. and
their devotion to free speech. free press,
and free ballot, is remarkable; but what
is even more remarkable, is the fact that il
only came, when traitors were hushed, OIL
disfrancbised. or when spies were convict.
ed and sentenced. With all their devo-
tions to liberty. we have never heard them
enter a protest against the silencing Of
Union men in the South. or against The
systematic persecution to which they have
been so long subject. Have you tears only
, for traitors, gentlemen?