The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-03-08
Yhe Eate Of Treason.

Seen opcs aiken BY terrible avcnger.-
The murderer Cain, to escape from the
horrors of his own gull, fled to land
of vagabonds: and the traitor Judas
having sold his Master fer pal ry sum
of money, to escape the vengeance of
a prosecuting remorse, flies 20 suicides
hal or. Arnold. escaping from his
Kindred, friends ard country fingered
out life more horrible than a thousand
deaths. The cursed and cxccratcd of
his own people, he lived the dcspiscd Of
those he stopped to the low hell of trca-
son to serve. And those of his day,
whose treason was less enormous, lived
a life of shame, the rcproach Of their
neighbors and countrymen The odium
and curse hgh ing ON them,, in the dark
hours of the Kevolu ion, was transmitted
and chung 70 their postcrity as a heritage
of infamy bcqueatcd by the arch-enemy
of mankind.
And what was the crime of these me n
who in the Revolutionary era of our
country fell under the ban Of torg?-
They were apologists of attempted
tyranny and oppression. They were
willing to submit 10 political injustice
which subjcc'ed them to but compare
lively slight inconvenience, IA her than
tempt the horrors of war and an untricl
future. They were those who had a
reverence for rulers whom hey regarded
as superiors. But by indulging this
strong prejudice, resulting from the
power of custom, and willingness to
suffer injustice and oppression from a
class whom they had been cduca cd to
believe had a right to rule, they turned
their hands against popular government,
and for this crime were they cast out
from among their brethren with a curse
that folowe1 them and their posterity
like Gaming sword.
The great spirits who rebelled against
the expressions of the British govern
mcnt, did it with much reluctance
They did it af err jus'ifying their course
to the world by arguments thai were
unanswered and unanswcrablc. They
did it after exhausting every effort
through years of supplica ion and
entrcaty to the British crown, to allow
them simply the rights of Englishmcn.
After their petitions, for weary years,
offered in the most respectful manner
for simple justice, had been spurncd,
and the insults and wrong of the British
government followed by war upon the
colonies, and the shedding of blood by
British soldiers at Licking; on, the
American people arose iii arms-thcy
arose to defend the rig GIFTS of civil and
religious liberty, TO defend popular
ins,itu ions and establish them on a
firmcr and broader foundation they
arose in arms with fall knowlededge
of the terrible struggle that was before
them ); they rose to stikc for liberty or
death.
But how does this record compare
with that of Secession We constan ly
hear the seccssionists referring to the
acts of those founders of our system of
government for preceden's to their own
INDUSTRIOUS atrocities. But the difference
between the object sought to be obtained
and the melting motives in the two eases,
are as wide as the chasm that divides
heaven frcm hell. The one took up the
sword after it had been drawn against
them, to fight for popular government
The other drew the sword first aud
made war upon the government Of the
people in order to establish upon its ruins
an aristocracy, where usurping few
should rule instead of the popular will.
The revolutioniss of rs laid before the
world record of truths which they con-
tended for and record of wrongs and
outrages they had submitted to, which
challenged the world to deny, and
which to the present day remain,
and will to the end of time remain un-
answered.
And what plea has secession laid
before the world to justify the calamities
| of its atrocions era which is fast drawing
to close?
A record Of lies to serve as its monu-
ment of infamy. Unjustifed by single
plea founded in truth, IL stands before
the world bloody remorsclcss robbcr.-
Not single instance of wrong can its
defenders es 'ablish, of their ever having
suffered by the Government. But on
the contrary, that Government which
they unpsovoked, have assailed, has
been the most indulgent and parental
toward them Of anything the pages Of
history can show. The short career OIL
these ruthless robbers and opprcssors