The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-09-20
For the Un'On aud Journal
What Is Treason!

War RACES IN the land. II Is not war
with foreign power waged Tor partiran or
ignoSe euds-but q war with the loulest,
the most desperate, and the most diabOlical
band OF traitors that the sun ever shoue up
ON. In vain will the student search the an
mails Of ancient or modern history to dis
cover the iaintest outline Of a parallel to
this utterly causelcss and most inexcusable
rebellion. In npine. in cruelty, and in the
most brutal murders, the pen Of history has
written nothing which approximates in mag
nitude and in wickednes 10 the crimes and
vices which have been committed by the
traitors-in-arms and their abettors. A series
OF long cherished cOuspiracies and OF deep
laid plots Of most deyilish men has at last
eliminated in the present distracted condi-
ton of our beloved native land. The best,
freest government on the face of the globe Is
basely and cowardly attacked by a horde OF
pirates by sea, and by press-gang OF trail
tors by land. These human tends have been
protected and nourished, from their birth,
by the Stars and Stripes. For the protec-
ton afforded by this glorious banner they
owe everything. To it they have given moth
ing save the stiletto Of the assassin.
The Temple Of Liberty is in aames' What
is the duty of its occupants' Must they
screen by any s,phisms of special pleading
those men who are endcayoring to prevent
the extinguishment Of those flames? Who
so idiOtic as to assert that's good government
ought to protect rather than to punish those
in its own midst seeking to consummate its
destruction? The traitors in the North
merit the direst punishment quite as much
as those in the South do. Must the Ship of
State keep on board or hrOp Orerbodrd the
pirates and brigands and their accessories
who are incessan,ly endeavoring to sink her
by boring holes in her sides and bOttom'
Let the traitoious presses and their sup
porters in the land, beware Of outraging tho
patriotism of an intelligent but mersiful and
long suffering people!
The AMERICAN REPuBLIc is fighting for IL,
sristenee' II it is not preserved in its in
tcgrity, every man among US must suffer in
consequence. None can escape the i'm
pending ruin which must follow such an aw-
ful catastrophe. Let every traitor be marked
for the whitening scorn and contempt OF a
patriotic public opinion.
The definition Of treason which follows
will be Of service to many persons. Cut it
out and make it a text to enlishten those
deluded and misguided men who have been
taught that treason is not now in the cata-
logue OF crimes.
Treason, prOdiiio, in its very name
(which is borrowed from the French) i'm
ports betraying, treachery, or breach of
faith. As this is the highest civil crime
which considered As member Of the COM
munity) any man can possibly commit, it
ought therefore to be the most precisely as
certained. '-Bldekstoas.
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subject Of the sovereign power, or citizen
81 ,ho .,,,e 10 which he owes allegiance and
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ivy ' -" - - .N...e..I,.
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''O"''e. "'"'' " "U"'''' ''"'', NV" ."
''e"sg '''''", anu VINO a'e "''"a''y ,'asueu
IN tue Sencrai Conspiracy "e " w 0o"'
1 Craneh 1863.
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