Year: 1863

the spurious is vile and worthless.
believe, too, that no party, as such, can
or should attempt to conquer the REBEL
ion, but that all can and should act to
gether in the grand accomplishment.
by no means include in my sweeping and
conscious designation, the great rank
and file of the Democracy, whom know
to be true to the Union who have been
misled by self.constituted and fussy lea
ders, by appeals to their parnzan pride
and prejudices, and creeds and traditions
for such are as mistaken as they ale hon.
est, in clinging to their partizan stand
ards, and attempting to run the political
car in the old ruts and grooves worn in
time of mere party conflict, as though
this intestine war were bloodless can
vas for the Presidency, end to be dispo-
sed of by platforms and regulated by
resolutions. But the self-elected lead
ers, those who invoke partizan strife
who direct the partizan machinery, and
would leopard and divide our Union, if
not madly destroy the best free govern
ment on earth, for the qualification Of
malignant feelings and unworthy aspra-
tions-they have my permission to take
the highest niche in the temple of infa-
my, to which worlds opinion has uni,
versally assigned them for their baseness
for to-day there are the main springs
of this murderous rebellion by promoting
strife at home, and they give it its chief
aliment, and life, and hope, and endur-
ance. They have been, by common
consent, designated as Copperheads, and
no name could be more appropriate
Strutting under their borrowed plumes,
and vain conceits. claiming oficiously TO
speak for Democracy, to whose creed they
seem strangers, they boast of the many
reproachful names the Democratic party
has in other days been able to carry away
triumphantly, and declare their ability
TO render this one reputable and popular.
But they forget that it was that Demo
cratic party which professed and prac-
ticed the principles ofJefferson and Jack
son, which was thus successful That
it was not incumbered by reasonable
leaders of the whole or half blood-that
it did not attempt to uphold con piracy
and rebellion against the government
and that SO long only as its doctrines
were popular and acceptable could it
laugh at reproachful names The true
Democratic party might at any time have
withstood successfully the mere desigua-
ton of Copperhead, but 1t has never seen
the day, and God grant that it never may,
when il could endure such leaders as
these, and carry over the bleeding frag.
ments OF a murdered, crucified and dis
severed Union, both brazen head aud
copper heart


An ancient fable tells us Of serpent
It was, doubtless, a copperhead-which
gave up the lead TO the tail instead of the
head that in attempting TO crawl thro
wall it was stuck, and remained there
indulging in outcry, too williul TO recede
and unable TO progress because of chang
ing TO the front lis tapering tail, and such
seems now to be the position Of the par
ty which now bears a serpent's name,
aud is executing a serpent's mission
The miserable accomplice of rebellion
It's chief hope-its maign and mschiev-
Gus co worker and supporter, has already
had its day, and indications are abundant
that il is TO be abandoned to its fate, bv
those it has, by its snaky influences, be-
trayed into so grave an error as TO apol-
ogize for treason and murder in this at
tempt 10 destroy the Union. The Te
Deums, so recently chanted to rebellion
upon high key, by the sweet singers Of
secession, are no longer within the com
pass of their voices, and they are evi,
dendy about to lower their tone, or, in
military as well as musical phrase, effect
"change of Bass"


As spring opens, we shall see many
who have boasted of their designation OF
Copperheads, crawling quietly out Of
their political snakeskins and taking side
with the loyal masses in crushing. for
ever the rebellion Let us. then. be OF
good cheer and of unfaltering purpose,
and God will enable the seed of the wo
man not only to bruiSe, but to sever the
head Of this political serpent, Rebellion,
that has wound its scaly folds into our
political Eden. and thus preserve our
cherished Union for all coming genera
tions.


Sincerely yours,


ID S DICKINSON