New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-24
THE PROGREss OF TREASON.

West, and We may expect before many days
are passed to discern more surely the extent
and strength of the Democratic conspiracy
against the Government No intelligent obsery-
er Of events since the beginning of the war
can have doubted that the Rebellion had its
niles all the while in the North-tbat armed
treason ON the one hand, and lurking disloyslty
on the other, equally meDaced the Nation. The
traitors of the North have waited only for the
most favorable moment to disclose their pur-
poses and strike the heaviest blow at the life
of the Republic. They silently plotted mean
while in secret, one or another, bOder or less
sagacious than the rest, occasionally lifting
suddenly crushed by the power which be be.
licyed be- could insult with impunity and defy
with success. There has always been open
disloyaty enough to give the lie to the impudent
preteuse that the North was at fret q unit for
the war. and WAS only divided by the Emanci-
patton Proclamation. Latterly treason has
found il c0ny, Dicnt to date It's origin IRON The
change ia tue policy OF the Government, OF
which tbe Proclamation was the final announce
ment. Smninonins 10 Is aid the active political
prejudice. OF other days against Abolition, and
entering the arena a, the special champion Of
State rights aud the Constitution, 1t began to
confess Tia character aud purposes and trained
i, guns directly ON the Government
The first Distinct report came from the
/ North-Wcs The Fall elections in the East
were contested and carried against the Adj.
ministration on very different issues-too
numerous and too familiar to need restatenien'
now But in Illinois and Indiana, the Denoc.
racy, having obtained control Of the State
Legislatures openly, though of course by de.
grces, undertook 10 withdraw those States
/ from cooperation with the Government against
/ the rebellion. In Indiana they sought to de.
prye Gov. Morton-a Republican, loyal, earnest.
and able-oi his righiiu control over the mill
tary affairs OF the State, aud 10 vest it in
Military Board. Democratic meetings were
numorously held, in which the Government
was vehementIy assailed, while no word of
Condemnation against the Rebels was ever to
be heard. Copperhead newspapers added what
strength they had to the reasonable move.
ment, and were scarcely at the pains to con.
cea IFS real purpose and drift. SO the work
went on.
/ la Illinois the Democrats had undi.puted
sway in Senate aud House, believed Themselves
SECURE of popular support in the State, the
Egyptian half of which could in any event and
to any extent be depended upon, aud as in
Indiana, had only TO crush a Republican Gov.
ernor in order to swing Illinois directly across
the Governments path. Not content with at
tempting to organize an Army Board which
should assume charge OF the military funds aud
large portion of the military power OF the
State, they sought TO attack the personal ana
official character of Gov. Yates, skytommttees
OF investigation, with serious charge.. But the
most determined and desperate measure
prepared by the Illinois traitors WAS
the appointment Of Commissioners to the
Peace Convention at LouSylc-a Convention
proposed by Kentucky wholly in the ihtercs
of the Rebellion. Whatever delegates were
sent to It would be sent 10 work only the VIII
OF their master, Jefferson DAVIS. 1t Illinois
should set the example, it was takrn for
granted that the remainder of the North West
could not but follow Ler lead, aud thus the
first decisive and irrctrace.ble step toward
severing East and West would have been
taken. For this Convention, nominaliy called
to consider possible plans of restoration Of The
already Rcbellious States being really about to
assemble only III their behalf, would have adj
vanced unhesltatugly to the most practical
means for their assistaIcethc detachment OF the
Northwest frat from support Of, and secondly
from connection with, the National Government.
Ia Illinois as in Indiana all measures were tried
in aid of the conspiracy. Knights of tho Golden
Circle took possession OF whole regiment
raised for the United States service, mutinlcd
prematurely, aud gave to Illinois the sad dis
tluction Of furnishing the first regiment of
traitors from Northern State ru1c meet.
ings were mOie Numerous. more outspohenly
dlsloya and insolently defiant than elsewhere.
The ChicagO Times aud other newspapers less
powerful bbt equally malignant were blatant
with unhullled treason. Jefferson DAVIS, look.
ing as from the outcrmost realms Of darkness,
early announced his hopeiulncss Of nd from
tho West, aud gave the signal to his fellow
traitors 10 strike The first blow. Nothing
seemed TO be wanting to assure it's success.
Fainter echoes came from other States of
tho West. Ohio, Wisconsin. Iowa. were not
without their share in tho work. Ohio espe-
chilly spoke BY the voice of her most widely
notorious traitor on tho loor Vi COnsress, Val