The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-11-02
HOW THE DEMOCRACY VOLUNTEER
ED FOR THE WAR.
HOW ABOLITIONISTS STAYED AT
HOME AND SLANDERED
THEIR NEIGHBORS.

The fippancy with which disunionists
charge the conservatives as ''copperhesds,
traitors and rebels" has frequently elioited
remark. 1t partakes of the "stop thief'ing
policy, and proves nothing out the desire of
disunionists to direct public attention away
from themselves and toward others. By
shouting loudly, ''sraitor, copperhead and
REBEL" they indulge vain hope that amid
the clamOr, their. own efforts to destroy the
country may escape notice.
Nothing is more unfounded than these
charges against the democratic party. 1t re-
quires but little examination to prove from
official records that three-fourths of the glor.
lous band OF heroes who went forth to battle
for the national life. from Illinois, were orig
inal democrats. How unjust, then, the ae-
cusation that these valiant soldiers were or
are recreant to duty and country Little is
cared for the epithet comprehend 1t means
nothing or anything. 1t has no fixed sgnif-
oance but the words "sraitor" and "rebel"
have a distinct and unalterable meaning
Let US see if it be true that democrats and
We have short but intallible method of at.
tanning truth, and to brand with falsehood
those who call these criminal names Facts
and figures are our arguments. These send
the lie back with precision to the very teeth
of the slanderers
The county of Massac was stronghold of
conservatism. 1t gave Mr.. Lincoln l27 votes
the Union, being just fve-sevenths of the /
whole population liable TO service Admit
ting these l27 v0ters to have been repu blican, |
and that they all volunteered, an improbable |
conclusion) there were 378 democratic sol. |
diers enlisted.
Alexander county gave Lincoln LOG votes
I'd cent 20l soldiers
lin gave him 107 votes and sent 332 |
more taan three-fourths of her peo-
TO service
ia Save Lincoln 127 votes and sent 65l |
Tu4 to the war, 524 democratic soldiers
o'es4nson county gave Lincoln just 30 votes
and gave 865 men, 825 democratic soldiers to |
the war, more than four-ffths of the whole !
number liable to service.
Union county gave Lincoln 157 votes and !
908 brave men. ISL of whom were democrats, |
TO save the Union.
Gallatin gave him 22l votes and sent 773 |
soldiers to the war, being seven-ninths of her
serviceable population.
Williamson gave 173 votes to Lincoln, and
gave 1,O3l soldiers, 858 Democrats, to the
war.
Jackson gave him 3l5 votes, and sent 9o6
soldiers.
White gave him 756 votes, but gave the
army 1874 soldiers.
Hamilton gave him 102 votes and the
army OIL soldiers, 8l5 of whom were demo
Gratis
Franklin gave Lincoln 22S votes, and the
army 92l soldiers
Perry sent 200 more soldiers than she cast
votes for Lincoln
Wayne gave him 620 votes, and the army
l,O4S.
Jefferson cast 459 votes for Lincoln. and
sent 300 of her sons to the field
Marion gave him $50 votes, Ills soldiers
30 the war.
Shelby gave him 97l votes and the armv
1, 122 soldiers.
These are and were all democratic conn
ties.
This list might be extended ad tntnituu
but this sufices. These facts and figures are
stubborn. They brand with mark as pal
pable as that borne by the primitive liar and
those who asssil democrats and
conservatives traitors or rebels. They do
more they show beyond peradventure that
these slanderers are beyond the emotion of
gratitude. While Speaker Colfax, Beast
Butler, the southern loyalists and radical
presses, whose throats have grown hoarse
,creaming traitor and rebel agsins. our brave
Ismooratic soldiers, these arguments, that
annot lie, repel their scandalous accuse.
ions.
But the record is incomplete without aB- |
Their page of history. Il shows that the j
say- At homs veterans are prolific enough in {
,rong abolition counties. These had q good /,
: number of votes for Mr.. Lincoln, but very &
W soldiers for the war. Deducting from
lem the conservative element, and the mar ,
N of soldiers from radical districts is OK 0