The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-09-23
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Treason.


The following upon subject which oxctes
much attention in Our country at present is
from the editorial columns Of tho liethodist:
We have read Of point in space where
gra7itaton turns the other way. Something
analogous to this has lately been taking place
in the history of the country. Treason, the
criminal exception, has threatened 10 become
the rule. Patriotism and loyalty seemed
about to be robbed Of Constitution and gov.
eru1lent, and treason TO be on the point Of
seizing, peryeytiug, and appropriating them.
In the whole history Of nations it would seem
iuossible there should ever have been so trea-
n-pervaded, treason.surrounded, trcason-rid-
den a people as We. The deadly blight with
one or two honorable exceptions, took posses
sion of the Cabinet, and the oath to support
the Constitution became blind behind which
traitors wrought for the overthrow Of that III
strumont. The Executive played last and
loose with the very existence Of the nation
and Senators boasted in the Capitol their pur-
pose to divide it. And while they spoke they
plotted. From Cabinet and Senate the crime
spread to tho army and navy, SO that the men
who constituted the national bulwarks, by sea
and land who were to watch and fight, while
the peaceful nation slept Or while it forgot all
| danger in the quiet pursuits OF civil life, de-
serted their posts, or rather faced about and
| became assailants and sIayers Of those whom
| they were set to defend.
National law-giyers aud soldiers and sail
L y, Ne Of
took their way through the South, and with
! fiery persuasion and iron coercion, soon pro-
duced whole States Of traitors, with whom
the ancient loyalty quickly became crime,
| the flag badge of dishonor, our national
! songs hated discords, and the Declaration Of
| Independence a malicious slanler. What vas
epidemic ia tie extreme South was only less
disastrous in the border, and sporadic even to
the extreme Northern and Western frontier.
One Of the saddest effects of the wide
. spread treason was, that it debilitated patriot
ism, even where it was generally scorned and
repudiated Even after the attack on Sum-
ter, when the first fervor of indi gnaton had
taken time to COOL newspapers were still found
| to excuse the treason and condemn the war,
and the secessionist, more or less outspoken,
was the next door neighbor to the loyalist.
The love for the Union, among its true friends,
was strong, but not strong enough rightly to
color treason, not strong enough to insist un-
relentingly on the suppression of traitorous
newspapers, not strong enough to break up
intimacies with the utterers Of treasonable
opinions and sympathizers with rebellion,
This ariable but fatal weakness showed itself
in the conduct OF the Government as well as
in private life, How long was it before man
fest traitors, known to be aiding the enemy,
were seized aud shut up; how the newspapers
dared to defame the Government for such acts
of necessary procaution and what storm cf
astonished criticism followed!
And to This hour, although the Government
is beginning to measure up 10 the demands OF
the hour, how many abuses are still permitted
to remain. The Government charitaby per-
nits some journals to die for want of patron
age. which should have perished by the strong
hand, while it allows others to live on but de-
nies them the use Of the ost-Ofico for circu-
lation. One bold stroke and righteous as bold,
and safe as righteous, would silence every
treasoaabe press wherever the Government
now has control. There are prints In New
York whose " News might we'll be spared ;
and in Baltimore, there are those for whose
utterances silence would bo good " Tx