The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1864-04-12
Stand Firm.

We have known some sincere Uuion
men, constitutonally conservative and
non eombative, disliking the strife oil
politics and Of parties, prone to regard
carelessly the issues presented to the
peop,e in their election coutests-we
have known such men, even through the
great struggle in which the country has
been engaged, to stand by and persist in
asking Tor the ympathizers, alders, and
abe,,ors of treason, consideration and
credit for honesty of motive, and for a
genuine feeling Of patriotism and love Of
country. We have known them TO de-
precste all reflections upon the sincerity
of comprehend laaders-all assertion as
TO the possibility that copperhead malice
could reach to the extent Of treason aud
revolution. We have known them to
condemn what they term the :" radi.
calism" of that earnest friend of the
government, who persiste in regarding
copperheadism as only an adjunct and
heln 10 treason. We have known. them
willing to admit and to declare, that
should the power Of the government pass
into copperhead control, they had full
faith tie war for the integrity Of the
Union would be prosecuted with a:
much zealousness, the supremacy of tie
constitution would he as determiaedly
assured, as with the administration con.
trolled as at present In other words
they regarded the copperhead party, and
copperhoal doctrines, as only a develop
ment OF an honest difference in politica
policy-that did not contemplate, anl
could not result, adverse TO the perpetuit,
OF our institutions, nor to the help of thu
traitors and reyolutionists seeking K
overthrow our government and the prin
ciples upon which it is founded.
We have always been impatient 0
this blindness. We have always insist
ed, and do still insist, that there has beer
testimony sufficient TO fortify and sus
tain the doctrine that copperheadism
meant nothing less than lreason-tha
the whole movement was traitorous
impulse, originating in traitorous hearts,
intended TO bolster up traitorous inter
ests and to inure to traitorous success.
That not only the leaders of the party
have thus deliberately schemed, but that
the mass have knowingly followed their
party prejudiccs and party hate to the
point of desiring treason's triumph. No
loyal man has failed TO note these facts
,hroughnt this whole contest, and no mat
ter how much he has latterly consented
10 forgive and forget, in the certainty Of
the eyentful triumph Of loyalty, has no
right 10 relax his vigilance against the
enemy. In the light of the recent cop
perhead developments IN ILLINOIS, where
soldiers of the Union army have been
hunted down and murdered By copper.
head bands, led by men elected 10 Office
By copperhead votes and moro particu
larly in the light Of The declarations
boldly made in Congress only day or
Two since by LoNG of Ohio, HARRIS OF
Mary land, and WooD Of New York, de-
claring blunlly in favor of secession and
a recognition of lie Southern Confed.
eracy-we say in The light OF these de
ye!opments, il is no Ii me for Union men
10 doubt, ifthey eyer doubted before, the
reasonable animus and tendency of
coupe rhead sm-no time 10 relax efforts
against its supporters and uphoders---
no lime TO relax vigilance against home
traitors. We say 10 Union men, hold
every man firmly and Incorporating.
ly to The obligations Of loyalty-loyalty
in word and deed.