The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-09-27

ACTION or STATE LEGISLATURES.

who are simply traitors in disguise.
ACTION or STATE LEGISLATURES.
In the course Of the war for Independents
the several State Legislatures passed numer
Gus acts for the punishment Of the sympa
thirers with the enemies Of the country. Il
Massachusetts, they could be arrested under
Magistrates warrant and banished, unles
they would take tho oath Of allegiance Il
the Whig cause. The selectmen or trustce
of towns could prefer charges Of politica
treachcry in town meetings, and the accused
if convicted by jury, might be immcdiatel,
banished into the region occupied by tn,
enemy. Many persons were subjected tc
these penalties in that State.
Rhode Island passed laws still more severe
against the tories. Any person who should
communicate with the ministry, or theil
representatives, or who should pilot armed
ships Of the Kings or who afforded supplies
to the enemy's forces, might, by law, b.
punished by death and contiscation Of estate
There were also special acts passed in tha,
State, by which the property Of certain per
sons named was confscated and scquestered
In Connecticut, speaking, writing or act
ing against the doings Of Congress, or the
Assembly o. Connecticut subjected the Of
fender to the penalties Of disqualification fol
office. the seizure of his arms and imprison'
ment. For furnishing the loyal troops with
supplies or personal aid, the offender might
be punished by the confscation of his estate
and imprisonment for term not exceeding
three years.
In New Hampshire similar laws were passed
and under them large number OF tories
former citizens Of that commonwealth, were
prohibited from entering within her borders;
and the estates Of about thirty residents were
conGsoated.
In New York those who were opposed to
the Declaration of Independence were pro-
hibited from practicing law in the courts,
and their estates might bc conliscated. A
parent whose sons joined the enemy was taxed
nine pence on the pound Of his estate for
each and every such son. County committees
were authorized to apprchend and decide
upon the guilt Of all persons who should be
accused of correspondence with the enemy
and they had power to punish them with i'm
prisonment or banishment.
The Legislature of Virginia provided by
law that certain tories should be treated a,
aliens, their property to be sold and the pro-
ceeds placed in the public treasury. They
also, by law, forbade certain persons entering
the bounds OF that commonwealth, and sub,
jected them to penalties for the violation o
the command.
New Jersey passed several acts for the
punishment Of tories, subjectins them to i'm
prisonment and forfeiture of estates.
TIE PEOPLE AND TIE TORIES.
Long before the war broke out and during
its progress, the people, without due process
of law, silenced or banished many traitors
and sympathizers. Among the refugee tories
who fed to Canada and Nova Scotia many
had dismal tales to tell Of their harsh treat
ment by their incensed countrymen. refrain
from giving examples Of there summary pun
ishments, which abound in our rcvolutionar,
annals, because mobs and their actions can
not be tolerated nor justified without injur.
tn the we'll being Of society.
That the patriots Of the Revolution wcr'
clearly right in their treatment Of the traito
in their midst, no well.informcd man viii
deny. They were the most dangerous foe
to liberty. They worked secretly as well a
openly. Whilst thousands Of them wer
privately plotting the ruin of the patrio
cause, Others were in open hostility. Owe
twenty thousand Of them, according to Mr.
Sabinc's estimate, took up arms for the Kin,
during the war: Their Vaccinations great.
prolanged the contest and caused an imlnens
waste of blood and treasure. They were tn
most insidious and unrelenting foes OF tn
ireemen Of America who were struggling fO
liberty, independence and good government
Such being their position, it was plainl.
right that they should suffer in person AM
property at the hands of those whom the!
had So terribly injured. The latter, as Mr.
Sabine says, American Loyalist, page 92,
devoted their own fortunes, they importance
most OF the powers Of Europe for loans, ant
they entailed upon their posterity a larg
debt /; and it would indeed be strange if the,
could not have made forced lcyies upon tn
estates of those who not only refused to hell
: them, but were actually in arms, or other
; wise employed against them, on the roya
side
Upon precisely the same principles Of action
it seems to me, our government Is justified II
using vigorous measures against the abettor'
OF this unprovoked and monstrous rebellion
, the tories Of our day. The loyal men o
the country are engaged in struggle ta
, more mouentous thar that Of the revolution
which gave birth to the nation. They arr
struggling for the preservation Of the life o
that nation around which cluster glorie
never dreamed Of by its founders; ; and tn
T man who reinses to lend his best energies +
cause so holy isa traitor to his coantr.
! and the highest interests Of mankind" +"
; q The marriage OF middle age Is com
panionship; the second marriage OF maturi
ty, perhaps the repantion Of o mistake, per
haps the paliid Transcript Of a buried JOY
D but the marrin1a of thr layinr xoiinr Ia b,