. . . the noise and clamor of the base northern politicians who went out of office one year ago with Mr. Buchanan, execrated in every loyal quarter as among the guilty authors of the civil war and rebellion. They then were pleasant comforters who consoled us, as did Job’s friends. They said States had no right to secede, but having seceded we had no right to COERCE them! They exhorted our troops that the President had no right to call out the militia – that the militia could not be taken out of the State – that none but Back Republicans should enlist – that they had made the war and must fight it out. And then they stood upon the street corners, when our brave boys marched towards Dixie – when the 1st Iowa marched from Burlington – and openly proclaimed their ardent wish that every man who crossed the line might be killed! They openly rejoiced over the murder of Ellsworth and the death of Lyon and felt exceedingly happy at Bull Run.
Time has taught these treacherous mercenary scoundrels caution, but has made then no better. They are the same false, heartless brawling villains who have for years earned their bread by swearing black was white, virtue vice, truth falsehood. Now they throw up their hats and utter a deal of stinking breath in huzzas over Federal victories and Rebel defeats. They have quit sniveling over “our misguided Southern brethren.” They tell us no more about the chivalry being unconquerable. Their programme now is to blacken every man in the Cabinet, in Congress, in the field, whether Democrat or Republican, who is laboring effectively to put down the Rebellion. They are howling “Abolitionist,” “Abolitionist” – the old cry – with the pertinacity of famished wolves. They are looking for a restoration of the old pro-slavery rule of Davis, Mason, Hunter, Rhett and other worthies to their imperial sway at Washington. They desire a reconstruction of the Union, the loyal States paying all the expenses of the war and restoring the broken scepter to King Cotton. They are looking forward to a restoration of the “good time” when northern doughfaces shall again feed upon the bounty of Southern nigger drivers and the life of no man opposed to slaver and slavery extension be safe at the National Capital.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 8, 1862, p. 1
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