The Great North-Western Conspiracy in All Its Startling DetailsAyer, I. Winslow
History
The Great North-Western Conspiracy in All Its Startling Details
Ayer, I. Winslow
Knights of the Golden Circle; Northwestern Conspiracy, 1864
During the month of February, by Executive clemency, a number of
Copperheads were released from confinement in Washington, where they had
been placed as a measure of public safety. The _Times_ published, and
other Copperhead papers echoed the following. That paper now, in a very
pious spirit, piteously urges, and the prints of like character also
echo it, that "there should be no more party strife," "no more rancor,"
that it has not stabbed the President since he was shot, and the office
is now draped with deep mourning. Aminadab Sleek is going to them as a
comforter, and as tears mitigate woe, he bears with him an onion. The
_Times_ says:
"We submit that this fact should damn this Administration, not only for
all time, but, if there be justice hereafter, to all eternity. There is
not a single civilized government in existence to-day, against which
can be charged a similar display of tyranny. With the title of being
the freest government of modern ages, we have shown ourselves to be one
whose disregard of right and whose outrageous assumptions of power are
only paralleled in the reign of despots.
The liberty of fifty men may seem a small affair; but the matter has
not so much reference to the magnitude of the offence as it has to the
principle which underlies it. The moment Mr. Lincoln, or Mr. Seward, or
any other man, dares to deprive one person of his liberty without due
process of law, that moment has the government been changed from one of
the people to an autocracy--a tyranny. If any man to-day is free in
this country, it is not because he is a good citizen, surrounded by the
protection of the laws, but simply because Seward or Lincoln has not
chosen to order his incarceration.
The epitaph of posterity upon this people is easily anticipated. It will
be--died 24,000,000 of whites, who lost their liberties and lives in an
attempt to give a fictitious freedom to 4,000,000 negroes."
_"Sic semper tyrannis!"_ exclaims Booth, who has read the above article,
and the mission of the _Times_ is accomplished, and it now wants "no
more party rancor."
"Out of my sight thou serpent! That name best Befits thee with him
leagu'd, thyself as false!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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