The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-23
TREASON IN VIRGINIA.


highly commended by the Richmond IVA. En-
quirer, but severely denounced by the Peters
burg (Va.) hatelligencer.
1t Is curious paper-a compound of law,
divinity, and metaphysics-which must have
puzzled the brains of the plain men to whom
it was addressed. The topics are, treason,
misprision of treason, intermarriage between
blacks and whites, slave conspiracy, exciting
to instruction, seditious writings and speeches,
duties of postmasters, and kindred subjects
1t is impossible to mistake the general pur-
pose of the Judge. He had heard of the FORM
alton of a Fremont electoral ticket in Virginia,
of the issues Of a Republican press at Wells
burgh, of the proceedings of Republican
Convention at Wheeling, and he deemed it i'm
portant to preach the terrors of the law against
the evil doors. The crime on which he fond
ly dwells, is Treason, for which he has as keen
scent as Lecompte of Kansas. And yet he
has not the boldness of that judicial outlaw
He does not pronounce the movements to which
we have alluded, treason he only insinuates
it. He lays down some general principles, and
then winks hard towards certain consequences,
which he has not the courage to lay his finger
upon.
A few extracts will illustrate our meaning,
and at the same time enable US to show that
unwsrily the metaphysical Judge has laid down
the law at times in such way, as to cross the
path of Governor Wise and his Disunion con.
federates:
Treason to the United States consists only
in levying war against them, or in adhering to
their enemies, giving them aid and comfort
This definition of treason, though so closely
limited and rigidly defined, undoubtedly en-
braces .torcible disruption Of the States. 1t
sroutd embrace an insurrection, the object of
~hich as to suppress any LAWFUL and author
ized acts under a lao o. the United States, and
marching with party In arms, and commit
ting acts of violence and outrage in execution
of the object and with view, by force and in
timidation, to prevent the execution of the
law. S. va. VigoU, 2 Dallas, BAG; same
VS.. MITCHELL ib., 348.
=" A conspiracy to subvert by force the Cor
eminent Of the United States, violently TO dis
member the Union, to coerce repeal of gen.
eral law, or to revolutionize Territorial Gov.
eminent by force, if carried into effect, by en-
bodying and assembling a military body in a
military POSTURE is an overt act of levying
war; and not only those who have arms, but
those who perform the various and essential
parts which must be assigned to different per-
sons, for the purpose of prosecuting the war,
are guilty of the crime."-U United States vs.
Burr ct a., Cranch, 47O.
We have italicized portions of this extract,
bearing directly on matters which Judge
Thompson seems oblivious Of There was an
insurrection in Charleston, s. c., some years
ago, the object of which was to prevent the
delivery of mail matter to whom it was sd.
dressed-"a lawful and authorized act under
law of the United States"-and the insurrec.
tionists rified the post Office, and burnt its
contents. According to the law, as laid down
by our Virginia Judge, this was treason.
Again: Governor Wise and his confederates
in Virginia, in the event Of the election of
Colonel Fremont to the Presidency, although
in strict accordance with the law and Constitu-
ton of the United States mediate ga forcible
disruption of the States" Mr.. Brooks of South
Carolina, looking to the same event, counsels
a march, by Southern troops, upon Washing
ton, to prevent his Inauguration, an act Gin
execution of the laws" Quite recently an at.
tempt was made to obtain a meeting of South.
ern Governors at Raleigh, N. c., to plan "a
conspiracy to subvert the Government of the
United States, violently to dismember the
Union" should man be constitutionally elect
ed, whom they choose to regard with hostility.
We submit that all these persons, political
friends of Judge Thompson, have either COM
mitted, or are meditating the commission OF,
Treason, according to his definition.
Again: Discriminating between allegiance
due the State, and that due to the United
States, he says:
This latter is a special allegiance, sacred,
and should be inviolable within the sphere of
its operations. say it is special. but it is none
the less sacred because of its character. The
General Government is limited organization
it has peculiar and well-defned objects IN its
legitimate sphere it is supreme Il commands,
zoe should obey its la,eful behests; to neglect
its ceLfdre is crime TO mediate its destruction
IS akin to parricide. But still it is limited"
Again we italicize opinions which we hope
Governor Wise will accept, and inwardly d.
gest. ain its legitimate sphere" the Federal
Government lis supreme" at commando
we should obey its lawful behests." One of its
lawful behests is, that the man receiving a
majority of all the votes of the electoral col
lege, shall be President. Governor Wise must
comply; to mediate the destruction of the
Government, for this reason, as he does. ia
akin to parricide." This is the Judgment of
his judicial ally, who is endeavoring to find
out some new way to root out Republicanism
from Virginia, 1t is unfortunate that the
Judge can lay down no broad principles of law
and justice which do not convict Governor
Wise and his Disunion associates of harborinp
the most reasonable and parricidal purposes.
But the Judge, anxious to catch the "Black
Republicans in his tolls, proceeds to insinuate
that allegiance to the State is, after all, pre- emf
nent-throwing in a remark which is intended
to blazon his theological as well as political
orthodoxy.
"The Central Government is the created
Government. The States occupy and preserve
the relation of creators, and to these States an
allegiance is due, of the character and efficiency
indicated. Where we make our home, where
we place our wives and children where we
acquire property; where we preserve our own
happiness there an affectionate allegiance
must fasten upon our hearts. And until in the
last days those perilous days shall come when,
in the moral desolation which shall surround
us, men shall be lovers of themselves. coyet.
GUS, Boosters, proud, blasphemous, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural
affection, truce breakers false accusers, incon.
tinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
traitors '-phen the Atheist, the Unitarian, and
the Black Republican, shall unite for the breach
Of the solemn corenants Of the Constitution,