Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-03-30
Copperheads and the Draft.

OoppofUtaO5 ana the UralL.
Ihe facility with which our people, of all
creeds and sects, have adapted themselves
to every great measure OF the Government
that had for its object the suppression OF the
Rebellion, is one of the most remarkable
| features cf the history of the war. How
| ever great may have been the opposition at
! first, in a comparatively short period it pas
| sed away, and the measure was not only a.
quiesed in, but approved The Emancipa-
ton Proclamation, so bitterly opposed-so
| counter to all the accumulated predjudices of
| 4 century of familiarity with slavery and is
protection and extension--is now admitted
by all wise and true patriots to have been
eminently proper and right, while the freed
the battles of the nation. 1t is true there
are yet some who denounce the Proclama-
ton and the President, but they are the
chronic opposers of the Government and
sympathisers with the rebellion, who have
endorsed no single act of the Administra-
tion, but have constantly, uniformly, and all
the time endeavored to throw obstacles in its
way, and to promote the success of those
who are in arms against their country.
When the ''Conscription Bill was passed,
it called forth perfect shrek of horror
from Copperhead editors and orators all
over the land They denounced the Draft
in unmeasured terms. They counseled its re-
sistance, and declared that the people would
never submit to it. The copperhead organ
of this place in an article headed Passage
of the CONSUMPTION Bill and Annihilation
OF State Sovereignty said that the act
was unconstitutional and revolutionary,
and that the great question Just now is ,ciU
the people submit 10 this sudden and rerolu-
tsonory Transformation fatoo q military des-
pot's0. % The effect of their counsel was.
that hundreds of revolvers were sold in this
town, and purchased with the avowed in
tention OF resisting the draft. One of the
enrolling officers of this county was shot in
the foot-others were threatened both orally
and in writing.
But the draft was made and another i,
in progress The opposition has vanished
and now the most active men in hunting up
money to procure substitutes, fill the quotas,
and comply with the provisions of the con
scription Bill are these selt-same copper
heads We hear no more of shooting and
of resisting the law which demands
your money or your life 1t is no longer
asked whether the people will submit TO
it. - The question NOW is who viii sub
scribe to the bonds to raise money to fill our
quota?
Thus the people adapt themselves to every
great measure for carrying on the war, until
1t shall result nthe overthrow of treason and
rebellion. Though for time they may be
mls-led by the bad counsel OF demogouges,
tricksters, and traitors-it is not long until
they yield obedience to the law, and dem
lnstrate their willingness to comply with it's
provisions. Strong as may be political pre-
judice, and feeling, where there is no ac-
tnai sympathy with treason, there will al
ways, sooner or later, be obedience to, and
support of the government Men and mon
ey will be furnished in abundance-our ar
mics viii be strengthened and encouraged
our enemies will be taught that there is no
hope for them in any division of sentiment
that may exist among us--and the spring
upon which we are entering under
such favorable auspices, will crush out for
ever the last remains of the Southern Con- |
splracy.