Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-15
TOLERATED TREASON.

There are certain men and certain newspa-
pers that assume as much right to talk treason
as to backguard their political opponents.
They do not seem to recognize obligation 10
uphold and defend the government of the
country. They excuse and defend the seces
sion traitors with all the ingenuity they can
command, and assail the regular government
of the country as if it were an outlaw. Moth
ing but the very remarkable leniency of the
government and the great forbearance Of pub
lie opinion in the loyal states, saves them from
such visitation of justice as they deserve.
Open sympathy with treason, public de-
fence of traitors, aud persistent denunciation
of the government for its endeavors to put
down armed treason,-these things should not
be tolerated. They are not matters of opinion
me rely. They are acts hostile to the govern
menf itself, and are are as really reasonable as
the war movements of the traitors in whose
behalf they are done. Freedom has its re-
sponsibilities and limitations. No man is free
to commit murder or treason with impunity !;
and all aiders and abettors of either crime
should have no federation from either law or
public opinion.
The organs of treason in the loyal states,
are few in number and they are SO impotent,
it is said, that patriotic people afford to toll
crate and despise them. This may be true,
and yet there may be lack OF attention to the
mischieyous influence OF what is held TO be so
impotent. There are a few reasonable crea-
lures in congress, such as Vaandgham of
Ohio, Burnett of Kentucky, and Bayard of
Delaware. They seem very impotent for mis-
chief, at first thought, for they have no more
power to control the action of congress than to
unmake the sun But they have an infiu-
ence, nevertheless, and it is full of mischief
1t is said that their course has already en-
boldened the secession spirit in Washing
ton, and led concealed traitors to come forth
and talk treason on the street with growing
impudence. We trust that something more
than scorn will be dealt out TO such promoters
of rebellious disorder. They should be held
to strict account The men who have the
audacity to stand up on the floor Of congress,
and foully assail the welfare of the nation by
defending traitors and talking treason, should
be expelled without ceremony.
Open traitors who come with arms in their
hands are not half SO embarrassing to the gov
eminent as those who come as "neu.rals, or
"peacemakers," and Indignantly denounce the
government for daring to defend itself against
traitors, in arms You never hear these
creatures denounce anything that may be
done or proposed by the JEFF. Davis
conspirators but, iii their view, it is very
wicked for the government to accept the war
they make and take measures 10 put them
down. The traitors who pursue this policy
know very well what they do. Argument
with them is almost useless, for they mean to
uphold treason, and they do SO by such meth
DDS as seem to them in their circumstances to
be the safest and most effective.
1t is true that such traitors are not very
numerous in the loyal states; but there are
more of them than ought to be here There
are one or two JEFF. Davis organs of this kind
among the newspapers of New Hampshire,
three or four in Connecticut, three or four in
New York, and few in the middle and west
ern states Among the meanest, brassiest,
and most malignant are those that come
from Connecticut. Their course shows
that they were long ago made incap
able Of patriotism by their party rela.
tons with the southern extremists. Total
depravity never had more striking illustrations
than they afford it. We grant that their infiu'
ence, never very great, is lessening every day,
and that the old political dynasty to which
they cling can never be restored but this
cannot justify treason nor prevent the mis-.
chief that comes from giving it federation.