The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-01-23
" hat L. Treason.

More men are in the danger of the preaching
high treason, than may be aware o, tina, fact.
The late charge of Judge snalley, to the Grand
jury Of the United States Circuit Court in New
York city, should prove a warning to contractors
for arms, ammunition aai other articles "coa.
uabaud OF war" aud 10 express companies, COM
mon carriers e.. Other classes, deliberately
intending treason may rs well take caution also.
Judge smaley quoted the following passages
from the Constitution of the United States:
THAT treason against the United States shah
consist only IN leyNiBg war agains; them. or in
adhering 10 their enemies, giving them aid and
comfort Again, the same section provides tia,
thc Congress shall have power 10 declare the
punishment of treason" In pursuance of the
power thus conferred, Congress passed AN act
which was approved April 50, 1890, which pro-
vldos ia section one, that if anv person or per-
sons owing allegiance to the United States 81
America, shall icyE war against them, or shall
adi,r" 20 iher oicme>, giving them AID Snd
comfort wiIhin the Omitted States ur elsewhere
AID shai. De thereof convicted, on confession in
open court or ou fut Je-timon, al iva witnesses
10 abe samc over. att Of treason. whereof be ar
they SHAH stand i.ictcd. such person ar persons
shall be adjudg.d guilty. - TREASON against the
United States, ara stall suffer death See ?
That ID ANY person or: persons, having kuowl
edge al tle commission Of ans of the ires-
SONS a''t >aln. shall conceal ana NOT, as soon Ms
u4, pc. d.>c'o-. tra make tnowu the same Ia
| tlv President a. abe United States, or some
one cd tAe judge 90 Justices thereof, such per-
! s't or Tsf,ous. oa conviction stall b., gcigdeed
guilty % mispris,op IL treason. and shall b. I'M
pr-o"rd n"i exceeding seven YEAR, ard fined
not exceeding "ne thousand dollars"
~ 10 What nay eonstruc;iv..ly constitute tres.
son, she julg- ,ass
" Ia the language # Chief Justice Marshall
II is pot the iutelti0a Of the courts Ia saw tina,
no individual can be gully of this crime, who
hn- net appeared in arms against has country.
On The couIiary, i war be actually levied that
~. /! body Of men be actually assembled fOr
thu purpose ~ cifcctnC, by force, reasonable
purpose, all those vino perform any part, however
inmate, or however remote from the scene Of
| action, and who are actually ieagued in the gen
eral conspiracy. Ia be considered az trators."
The jadge then saws;
- AZ the Court have already said 10 YOU the
combination snt asseulblise of a body of men
@lth The design oi SEWING and the actua. Selling
~ the forts aud other public property in ard
near Charleston, South Carolina, and In some
other States. j. leyving OF war against the
| nitcd States Consequently. any aud every
person who engages therein j. by the law regaf-
ded a. lcvying war against the United States
and ali rho a.ilsere 20 than are 10 he regarded as
enemies, aud az ,1k0 gire them aid or comfort
in 'o'f'b Coro'ira or Nc,r York, ar in any other
portion OF the UHitrd States or elsewhere. come
within the express provisions OF the LIST section
Of the act oi aoth April, 1890, and are guilty
81 treason"
The entire body OF Locofoco leaders might
a. vel make ready, under this charge