The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-21
'IRIT OF THE NEW YORK PRESS.
Leading Editorials from the New FORK
Papers Tnls Morning.
COPpERIIE AND TNION-WHAT
MARKS THE COPPERHEAO.

MARKS THE COPPERHEAO.
From t5e Times.
As the cat hid herself under the meal when 1ll
other eNpcdents failed, so the Co2perheaIs now
hide themselves under profession for the Union.
But the shift won't answer. The people know
exactly what Is concealed there. There has
never been time Nhen Vail allndigham, and Fer.
nando Wood, and Seymour did not profess an
unaterable determination never to give up the
Union. On 'h't matter we can cheerfully bear
wiinos that their record Is clear from the start.
They have always protested the necessity Of keep
ing the Union uubrokgn. Vallandigham framed
She Chicago platform, and turned out the first
resolution about uuswerving fidelity to the
Union, with us little hesitation as any other.
Oi course these men are for a continued union
with the South. They are not such fools as not
20 Know that their only chance for future political
power lies in The support Of the South. tn, De-
mocri tic party, FOR generation, has had is chief
81 cngth in the south. Cut the south loose from
the Union, and the Old hulk Of the party wo nd
shoot 10 the holt m IN an instant, and carry down
with II every Cupp rhoad Of every stripe. IL is
no part OF the COpperhead plan TO commit any
such suicide. We conc,de that the whole species
those that are spotted, and those that are all Of
color those with straight tongues and those
with forked tongues, those that cast their skins
every season, and those that dont-are all alike
for the Union
But who cares for that The question is not
whether these Copperheads are or are NOT for
separating from the South but whether they are
or are not for putting down the yuthern Rebel
lion. That is the point precisely which they have
got TO meet. These hourishes about deyOfiOn 10
the Union, whether made by Valandgham or
Mcclellan, are not of the least account. They
can divert the attention of no man OF sense from
the practical issue. What they have got TO
answer for before the people Is not a settled pur-
pose and a deliberate scheme to secure Southern
independence, but the adoption Of a policy which
would either end in that something else
equally disastrous.
1t is policy of suspcnding the war against the
Rebellion, which is plonOunced in the Chicago
platform TO have been II failure" and in tho
place of il to substitute "A course of concession ta
any required extent IL is assumed, notwih-
standing JEFF DAVIS constant a>severatons to
the contrary, that temptations can be offered to
the r. bells that could induce them to lay down
their arms, and consent to renew their COnuec-
ton with the North. This declared purpose t.
prostitute the national sovereignty to the demands
of this wanton and utterly accursed Rebellion is
the exact crime upon which these COppgrheadS
are awaiting Judgment
All their talk about answering fidelity to tho
Union is sheer impeHincnCe. TIE COrpOrel
form of the Union is nothing without a soul.
That sOul Is constitutional authority. Barter
away that authority TO armed revolt, aud you de-
stroy il. You make the nation a prey either
. to oppression or to anarchy. The form may
remain, yet il is but Mexico experiencing
nothing but wretchcdness, and exciting nothing
but contempt.
But we do not believe that even the form would
remain. "a cessation of hoStilities" for purposes
of negotiation, and "an ultimate convention"
would, in all probability, eud in the permanent
division of the rcpubl C. The Confederate leaders
would account the asking of armistice by the
North an abandonment of the war They would
take II, and justly too, as an acknowledgment by
the North of -four years failure to restore the
Union by the experiment of war" Just a the
Chicago platform declares. All further fear of
coerc on being thus taken away, they would,
there IL every reason to believe listen to no pro-
positions for a return to the old UniDn but
pyp N m
Independent Coufedcracy,
The leaders of their Rebellion understand well
enough that II is not morally possible that the
institution which made the Rebellion could ever
again live in peace Ia the old Uniou-that it has
attempted u paTicide which it is not in human
nature 20 tOrgNe-and that whatever promises
any set OF politicians, in temporary ascendency,
might make in It's behalf, would be but rs flax
in the iTe hefOro he pOpu ar wrath that wOuld
surely follow. Offer IN restore the fugitive slave
law, to make any anti slavery uttertnce in
print or In speech penal Otiense; to allow
slavery q 60 into any territory, and 20
establish itself at pleasure under the pro
lection of the National Government in any
State; to remove every let and hindrance to the
African slayc-tradc; to do everything conceivable
for the political and material aud moral further
ance OF "the sum of all yiilanies,' aud then
guarantee Il by recognition of an abs Dlute right
OF secession tie instant any Of these StipulatiOns
are, IN the Judgment of any state, violated or in
frnged,-and yet all such concessions aud all
such guarantees would not be worth the paper
AS well bargain that henceforth on this couti-
Dent light should give place to darkness, and
that every stream should run backward. jeff.
Davis and the men who rule the South are not
such noyices as not To know this. They speak
literally the will OF the Slave power when they
Fay they will have determination or independ.
enCe."
The cries for the Union raised by these Cop
perheads when working for - cessation Of hos
tillties," even il sincere, are worthless. This
solid TACT stands, that cessation of hostiliies
Z would end in disunoni or that, ii BY any posi-
biity It did not, the Union whicA would be
bought by IL would be an intOlerable curse. In
our evil relations there are three classes of men
in II Is country-Union men, Rebels, and Copper
head,
Union man is one who forever maintains
that the Constitution Is In It's own words "tho
supreme law Of the Land :" that President elected
in accOI dance herewith, as was Abraham Lin
coin, bHs right % every executive power civil
and mill airy, attached TO the office by the Con-
Btitu ion and that IL is his duty 70 take care"
as the Constitution declares, "that the laws he
faithfully executed" A Rebel is one who denies
all such rights and po and 0utics, and resists
by rec { arms.
Now what is a COppeThead A COpperhead Il
one VITO believes that the Constitution is the
supreme Law OF the land and that the President
has all executive power, civil aud military, and
that it Is his duty 70 have the laws faithfully
executed except IN case Of rebellion; aud that in
that case he rebellion should rule TO the extent
OF its sovereign pleasure.
The Wa;chwOrd OF the Union men Is reverence
10 the Constitutions OF the Rebels Independence
of the Constitution; OF the COpperheads sacrifice
of the Constitution. Peace Is the object of all.
The Union men would get il by the maintenance
of national authOTity the Rebels by the prostra-
tion OF the national authority the Copperheads
by surrenser e the national authority. TnIt
marks The Copperhead. Having that mark no
cry OF Union can save him.