The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-24
Antidots for . Moral Treason"

Those traitorous acts which may be performed, and
those reasonable sentiments which may be promulgated
without infringement of the criminal laws of the
try, but yet calculated and intended to give aid and
comfort to the enemy, have been well treated cons
utng moral treason"
There is no statute law in the United States for the
punishment of "moral treason" Traitors may stalk
abroad at midday, promulgating their reacherous sen
ments with imPunity. so long as they are guilty OF no
oUert act They may encourage the enemy through the
press-they may denounce their own government mer
ihng the OF God, and proclaim the hostile country
to be deserving of the prayers and sympathies OF the
world; and yet this is not legal treason They may ad
wise and cheer the foe, at a distance they may join
the adversary in head and heart but nevertheless they
are amenabe TO statute law long they keep their
within the American lines We now find thou
sands taking advantage Of the lenency of criminal
code and It is not improbable that Santa Annals army
would be thousands stronger than at, present did
not act OF Congress afX the punishment OF hanging
by the neck until dead the offence of joining the enemy
in person.
As the laws annex penalty to the commission Of
moral treason, should be taken TO draw upon
the heads OF all traitors at heart the scathng rowns Of
outraged and indignant people In regard to the read
lest Of eliectng this object apt suggestions
TO US in paper from the enthusiastic west The
Ohio Patriot, OF the 18th instant throws out the foil ow-
ing hints, which, if generally adopted cannot fail to ex
ecise wholesome influence upon the future if not up
the present We bespeak for the proposition OF the
Ohio editor the consideration of our friends generally
The patriotic portion Of the opposition will probably favor
the project they may thereby escape oIgm which, in
the absence Of evidence may hereafter unusty attach to
their characters from the fact OF being members OF the fed
eral party:
"A REGIsTER-TMELY PRoPosrTIoN.-l has been sug-
gecd that the of the country may be promoted by
the opening of register in every CITY, town. and vii
age tor the purpose Of preserving authentic record OF
the torsm which may DO displayed by individuals during
proposed record the OF such perOnages make
themselves Jealous in pleading the cause Of the and
oppose the into which the people and the government
OF the United States have been forced by Mexican aggre
siou insult and robbery. Besides the OF the ndyd-
uas who pronounce against the business OF such
sentiments particularly odious should be placed
the register. Where individual expresses sympathy for
the enemy wishes the death OF the President the down
fall of the national administration, punishment for hay
engaged in the war; the sentiment oil the should be
egstcred in his own language near possible. All
intended for entry the record should be yer
ed by the name of the witness contributor.
'fhe above is general outline OF the plan Such record
years Had such register been kept in 1872 the dsni-
ais of those who opposed the OF that would
avail them nothing We hope that our friends everywhere
in Ohio will move in this matter without delay"