The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-27
TREASON IN PENNSYLVANIA.

TREASON IN PENNSYLVANIA
1t is remarkable that the city, founded by
William Penn, the impersonation of peace and
non-resistance, should have become pre-emlnent
for its atrocious disregard Of human life. In
no American city are there so many riots and
murders, in proportion to the population, as in
Philadelphia IL is remarkable that the State,
settled by William Penn the Quaker should
have marked its career by more trials and con-
vctions for treason than any other State. From
extreme opposition to the shedding of blood, its
inhabitants seem to have rushed TO extreme
bloodthirstiness 1t seems to be their highest
: ADDITION 10 signalixe their apostacy from the
'fpy:sc,psS anu 'sf.M !. -. asa Ia, s.,,'
~ they wss Ssiyy 's.''gg3 |Fe' thsls neeDliar
regard for human life, to make themselves no
less distinguished for their utter contempt for it
In no other State could the Christiana dis
turbance have been magnifed into treason in
no other State could you have empanneled
| grand jury reckless enough to indict forty
American citizens for high treason, guiltess no
toriously of having medtated any design for
the overthrow Of the Government or of having
put it in the slightest jeopardy.
Richard Rush mourns over the fact that his
State is the only one in which treason has re-
peatedly been attempted against the United
States. The real cause of mourning is that the
State should have been dsgraced by treason
trials and treason convictions for offences which
amounted to no more than misdemeanors-that
it should have sought time and again. to infiict
penalty 50 revolving to the public sentiment
of the country that the Federal Executive was
constrained to interpose its pardoning power to
battle her bloody -mindedness.
1t was in Philadelphia that the abominabe
doctrines of constructive treason were first
preached in this country and it is not Won
derful that from that time to the date of Judge
Kanes charge attempts to establish these
loathsome doctrines have been confined to that
city. Such attempts in any other city in any
other State, would have received no countenance
The grand jury of Philadelphia, in giving an
account Of their labors sermonze sanctimoni-
ously on the cause of order, and are cool enough
to volunteer lecture on morals to the Ameri-
can people generally They carry their zeal
against the Christana offenders so far as to
attempt to prejudice public sentiment by conf
IDENTIFY assuming their criminality as traitors.
We copy the portion of their presentment re-
Iatng to this matter, with their names, that the
country may know who these humane gentle
men are, and posterity award them due honors'
About the period when the grand jury
were terminating their labors great public
outrage occurred in the neighbOring county,
Involving in its consequences the grave crimes
| of murder and treason. Their attention being
drawn to the subject by the very able and in
teresting charge of the district judge, the Hon.
John K Kane, they entered into its careful
and dispassionate investigation. Their labors
have resulted in the finding of indictments
against thirty persons for the crime OF high
| treason against the Government OF the United
States, and other indictments for minor offences
arising out of the same transaction
Although The grand jury have felt no hesita-
ton in performing the duty imposed on them
by the law of the United States in presenting
these serious accusations for trial, yet we can
not but profoundly regret the necessity which
has led to it. At period like the present in
the history of the Republic, when under the
mild influence of II National Constitution, pred
cated on the principles of recognising, re-
speeding, and indicating the rights and institu-
tons of every member of the Confederacy, our
country has gone on increasing in greatness,
prosperity, and happiness it is painful to the
heart Of the patriot that such an outrage upon
the dignity of the nation and its laws should
have been perpctrated as that which has led
to the indictments found by us. 1t is to be
feared that the immediate actors in this drama
of blood have if not directly stimulated been
encouraged by those from whose social and
public position, and intellectual culture, better
things might have been anticipated.
From such sources we should expect to be
taught that obedience to the laws of the United
States, enacted by the constitutional authori
ties, was the first of obligations imposed on an
American citizen and that any other resist
ance to them than the constitutional resistance
, by change of law-giyers was among the polit
, cal heresies most to be repudated by an Ameri
, can patriot 1t is, however, TO be ardently
hoped that the bloody tragedy of Chrstiana
, may have wholesome and abiding influenc,
on our future national career that it may
, impart moderation Ia political zealots impress
/ u
to the public laws while they remain unrepcal
, ed on the statute book and manifest that Their,
is but one true remedy for grievances, real Oh
supposed, under which the nation may suffer-
the remedy prescribed by the Constitution.
The grand jury cannot bring to q close thi'
presentment without testifyng their high ap
probation of the professional efforts of the
United States District Attorney John W. Ash
mead, Esq, who, by his great energy and abii
ty in the discharge Of the duties OF laboriou'
term has materially facilitated the labors Of
the grand jury, and rendered most important
services to the Government.
THOMAS b. FLORENCE, Foreman
Samuel Castor, Adam Mintzer,
Walter Devices, Simon Nudge
John H. Diehl, Isaac Myer,
John Dolby, George e. Richards
A. L. Gerhart c. Stockton,
nj. Keyser. Andrew Scott,
l. Lamplugh, Ambrose J. White,
Charles r. Long G. B. Wilstach,
William G. Mentz, Alan Wood.
Benjamin Mflin,
Attest JOHN H. DIEHI, Secretary"
+ Levying war, according to Chief Justice
+ Mansfield, means Infringing in or raising an
army" To constitute treason, there must b.
general resistance to law, with the intention
of suverting the law-making power. Some O
the Chrstiana offenders, indicted for treason
resisted the action Of particular law in par
ticular instance, without military array, or any