The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-10-04
The Infamy of Treason.

Treason is SO novel a crimo in this country
that We find II difficult to appreciate it in its
iruo light. Ii is but lately that we havo
begun to feel for tho mon amongst us,
caught in reasonable acts, that Ioathing
and dcop cOn:empt with which our fathers
regarded Aaron Burr. The men who passed.
through the fiery ordeal of revolution did
not COMFORT with traitors. On tho contrary,
thoy had very decided opinions upon the
subject of fidelity TO tho Union and tho
government. They held such mon as Burr
to be worse than murderers, inasmuch as
they conspired not against a single life, but
against the lives and liberties of u nation.
Thoy regarded q traitor as an outlaw, one
who by hidoous crimo bad placed himself
beyond the palo Of society-whoso touch
was contamination. whose conversation dis
grace /; to hayo known whom in other DAYS
was ihorght misfortune. as to know him
hereafter was held impossible For his act
Of treason tho very nano of Arnold bocauie
infamous in our history for all time. For
his ono unsuccessful attompt Burr, q man
who had hold tho first position in tho first
society of this country, was ut once cast ou
! from every social circlo, and when bo re
turned after years Of lonely wandering II
Europe, found himself summed as a Lopez
by mon, women and children, poor and ricl
alike.
There is q vigorous justice about this son
timont which il is tino we should emulate
! A traitor to-day is worse than Burr almost
worse than Arnold. Lot the fate of ArnolC
aud Burr be his, and lot il be understood
that he who in our hour Of danger is false
to his patriotic duty, forfeits forever, BY
this bascncss, all claim to honor, respect
and regard.
This sentiment, which is tclt by tho poo
p:o everywhere, seems unackD ow lodged still
by somo Of the highor government officers
There may DO reasons which made it ex
pediont to retain for while among th
government CO ks persons who were s,cret
ly disloyal to tho COVE, nment, but who wer
familiar with the routine of their depnr,
monts. 1t might have embarrassed an
,lisarranged the departments fatally. at
time when the public business was mos
urgent, to have made at onco a clean swoep
But no excuse can be made for the reception
at thoir houses, by high government officers
Of persons known to DO friendly to the rebc
cause.
In a recent lotter to the Home Joursa
Mr. Willis writes that he met at an evenin
arty at MIR. Secretary Stewards a womal
WHOSE OitteT Cnnity 10 tue CniOn cause, an
US violent friendship for The rebels, ha
nevor beon concealed. but is boosted of 8
openly that all Washington knows of il
Mr.. Seward may think this smal, mattc
but simple-minded people out of Washing
, ton think it very grave, and would muc
a prefer to sec the Secretary of State actin
in such circumstances "a did CAPITA
i Doubleday in Fort Sumter. The reb
!. colonel Ripley, wio was once Unite
A Statos officer. sent one day "his respects
:, his old friend Captain Doubleday" to whiC
a the latter returned Tho proper reply, tn
y he "had neither respect nor friendship f
i a person Who was u traitor to bis flag aI
country
Wo can assure governmon. officers tn
o" y they will best earn tho respect of tho matte
> thoy serve 5y letting it DO known that, wi
u CAPITA n Doubloda~, they have neither r
y y spect nor friendship for persons. wheth'
V V mon or women. who are unfaitbful to Il
. . Union, or friends to tho rebel cause
Y. Poet.