Franklin Repository
An Old Indictment
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At the Union State Convention of 1865 a resolution was adopted by acclamation, declaring that the leaders and candidates of the Democratic alias Copperhead party stood arraigned before the people of Pennsylvania for constantly obstructing the efforts of the Constitutional authorities to maintain the life of the nation. We now repeat the counts in the indictment then preferred by declaring that the Copperhead leaders did this--
By inflaming the passion of their ignorant followers against the legally elected officers of the Federal Government, and refraining from all reproach against treason or armed traitors.
By procuring a decision from the Democratic judges of our Supreme Court, denying the right of the Government to the services of the citizens of this State for the defense of the imperiled country.
By discouraging men from volunteering into the armies of the Union; thus rendering it necessary to succumb to treason, or to pay large bounties, and so burdening every ward, township and borough in the State with debt to fill the ranks of our armies.
By opposing the enlistment of negroes for our defense, although no white man was required for every black one who could be enlisted, and this at the very moment when the battle of Gettysburg was raging on the soil of Pennsylvania, and that decisive battle was uncertain.
By denying to our soldiers the right to vote while fighting for the flag of our fathers, on the plea that such rights were not allowed by our Constitution, and by opposing an amendment which removed their objections and relieved our brave soldiers from this disability.
By exaggerating the public indebtedness, decrying the public credit, and teaching that the financial resources of the north were unequal to the suppression of the rebellion.
By a shameful opposition to measures for extending relief to the families of Union soldiers, and by a malignant effort by these means to secure the success of the rebels in the field as such a protraction of the war as would exhaust the nation in its effort to subdue their friends.
By now heaping abuse upon the Government for punishing assassins and their accomplices; by demanding the release of leading traitors, by frowning down all attempts to bring to punishment the fiends who starved our soldiers, and by assuring rebels that neither in person nor property shall they be punished for their crimes.
And if anything were wanting to complete their infamy, we have it in their determined opposition to free labor, and to a tariff which, while it would make labor profitable by protecting the workingmen of Pennsylvania from British competition, would largely increase the revenue essential to the maintenance of the public faith and credit.
The Issue Made Up!
Mr. Seward at Auburn
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The Clymer men are to have an preliminary meeting in Harrisburg on the 28th inst., to call "a real Soldier's Convention"--that is of soldiers who will vote the Democratic ticket. We are glad to hear that the enterprise has been undertaken, and it is all important to have the call properly worded so as to make the Convention a decided success. Knowing how seriously the committee will be embarrassed on this point, we submit the following call for their consideration:
REAL SOLDIERS CONVENTION!
BOUNTY JUMPERS TO THE RESCUE!
SKULKING CONSCRIPTS COME FORTH!
DISCHARGED ERRING BRETHREN WELCOME!
SOLDIERS OPPOSED TO SOLDIERS VOTING ATTEND!
A mass convention of the "real soldiers of Pennsylvania" will be held at the head-quarters of the Molly Maguires in the coal regions, on the anniversary of the New York Draft Riots of 1863--a period in the history of Democracy and real soldiers to which we all point with emotions of profoundest gratification and pride.
The Molly Maguires have organized a committee of heroic conscripts who gallantly killed several conscription officers to preserve their own liberties, and prevent the patriotic armies of Lee, M'Causland, Forrest and other distinguished sons of the South from being overwhelmed. This committee will have ample arrangements made for the entertainment and comfort of the delegations in attendance, in the historic caves and mountain fastnesses so sacred to every real soldier.
The grand procession will be formed with honorably discharged erring brethren soldiers in the front, next bounty jumpers, taking precedence in the ranks according to the number of times they served the government by enlisting; next skulking conscripts who rendered the best service they could to the Union army by staying out of it; next the gallant soldiers who believe with Clymer that soldiers in the service would not be allowed to vote, and all to have appropriate banners, with such strange devices as the patriotic efforts of the different classes demand.
Distinguished speakers will be in attendance. Hon. Heister Clymer, the real soldiers' candidate for Governor; Presidents Johnson and Davis are invited and confidently expected; Col. Moseby, Gen. M'Causland, Gen. Forrest and other distinguished soldiers of the United Republic will attend. By order of the real soldiers' committee,
Wm. A. Wallace, Manager.
A Female School
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