Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-08-02
Frsm the Indianapolis Journal.
The Threats Of COpperheads--
Shall there be another CIVIL
VVnr!

1t is To be hoped that the wisdom of Con-
gress and the patriotism of the people will
carry the nation through the perils which
environ it. But it is no longer to be CON
cealed that the late rebels of the South and
the CoppeTheads of the North are forming
an alliance TO carry out certain measures,
and that they boldly avow that ifthey do not
succeed civil war will be the result. 1t may
he that this is but an idle threat, designed
to intimidate the weak, and that no steps
will be taken to put il into execution; but
the fact that Just such threats and the justi-
ficatiOn of civil war in the case of cOntin-
gency which they aimed to bring about,
preceded the rebellion, it is well To be on
guard against the recurrence ofa like event.
Ii was hard to believe in 1860 that anv con-
siderable portion ofthe people could he led
into rebellion against the Government on
account of the election of lIr. Lincoln: but
they did so, in spite of the confidence re-
posed in them, and it is not incredible that
the rawlings of COpperhead papers and
threatenings of Copperhead speakers may
influence the masses of the parry to resort
to violence to defeat the will of the nation
a. expressed by the ballot box.
Ever since the meeting of Congress ex-
trcme Journals, like the Chicago Times.
have been suggesting the dispersion Of Con
greSs at the point of the bayonct. They
would have President Johnson assume the
role OF Cromwell. and instead of the proper
healing of The Thirty ninth Congress, =
the World heads lis daily reports of Con
.ressional proceedings, The Rump Con
.rrcss," and it is mainly spoken of a. the
Rump by Democratic newspapers. The
Parli; mcnt known as the Rump. which was
dispersed by Cromwell refused To submit
To the chances of reelection. b:lt attempted
To hold position indefinitely. Although
this was an usurpation of power. it was for
cOmmendable purpose. and with itS disSo-
luton Republicanism was destroyed in
England, and the Government reverted
back to the hands of arbitrary powcr--the
PrOtcctoratc being no less tyrannical than
the monarchy which followed the restora-
ton. Dut the cpithet applied to- the Parlia-
merit was pcrpetuaied 10y the mOnarchists
of England and il has been long looked up
ON as an illegal body even IN the United
States. and lis application To any body ot
men here is for the purpose ofinstilln" in
To the popular mind tie idea that il is an il
legal body. and not entitled io respect or
obedience The course of the Democratic
press towards Congress is the first step i'm
'.aS been taken. and with such unanimity bv
tie leaders ofihe party in all parts of the
country that the conclusion j. irresistible
that il j. the result of Il common understand
inc between them.
In speech at Reading Pennsylvania. last
Thursday. Montgomery Blair predicted
that should the Radicals carry the elections
in October. the result would be the cstib-
E-I,,, .,ftx
ercSSess." While he claimed that the Rad
icals would try to do many terrible things.
he bodily stated that the the Democratic
members of Congress would unite with the
regularly elected members from the South -
The term of the present Congress does not
expire till the itli of March next: but if the
Democrats and Southern rebels. for il is Ger
tain that none of the unconditional Union
men of the South would be party to such
movement, contemplate coup d'etat in
case the next Congress does not contain a
majority of Democrats, why may they not
strike sooner: They would be a. much
justified in taking such step on the sd of
December n ON the 18th of March: and il
the people can be swcrved from their fcalty
to the Government by such speeches as this
Of Mr.. Bairs. they viii be as ready for rev
olu;iOn this fall as next spring. We are in
formed by the report of his speech that
'.IIe also warned his hearers that they the
eve 81 another civil war. the battlefield, of which
would - in the North while the South would Ieniain
uniici lie d>claim-d speaking Tor any sensational
purpose but earnestly warmed the people Of the North
against the evil effects of tamIering with the iUnda
mental law ofthe land
What steps shall be taken to meet these
threatcnings: Shall the demagogues who
threaten, be encouraged by the timidity of
the people. or shall there bc an OutburSt of
indignation against this infamous attempt
TO cocIce the people of the land into stul-
tificatiOn of their course during the past
five years? If they fail in heart now: and
allow the Oppo>itiop to gain even few
members of Congress in the ensuing cleo
ton, the men who make these threats may
be encouraged to attempt their execution.
Now, no less than in the dark days of the
war, is it necessary for the people to stand
firm, and resist every attempt to weaken
their integrity TO the county. The same
patriotism and determination which bafiled
the demago-ues who tried TO weaken the
nation by continually pleading the poverty
and weakness of the Government, will car
ry us through the present crisis in safety.
and it is To he hoped avert the civil war
threatened by the Democratic leaders.