The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1863-01-03
WHY A TRAITOR"

IN explaining, 10 the satisfaction or our ven"
cradle contemporary, Why We alluded to Mr..
MAHoNY, sometime since, as traitor. For
the edi6eation of our nsighbOr, If be .is
really in search Of information, We will once
more endsavor to explain to him "Why o
traitor :"
''Ths Constitution as it ia, gives q very
concise definition Of treason against "Ths
Uuion as il Was p and ole of ths crimes,
therein specified as ''treason,'' 10 giving aid
and comfort to the common enemy 10 time
of war. Can our neigbbor deny that the
gentleman referred to, has been guilty Of
this2 Did be not as an editor, and pc.
litical leader, do all in his power to bring
discredit and dishonor upon the Govern
msnt? And is this not giving comfort, di,
rectIy, to the enemies of toe Government,
for is there not JOY in Dixie over every ev-
idencs OF dissatisfaction in the North p
Has he not, to the utRost Of bis abilities,
endeavored to create in the public mind the
belief that the men, to whom has been en-
trusted the administration of the National
Government, are incompetent, dishonest and
corrupt? And has he not, in thus sowing
the seeds Of dissatisfaction AMI discomfort
among the people, done much to destroy
thai uDanimity Of sentiment and purpose in
favor of upholding the Constitution and the
Iova -h;nh ha
public mind, in order to carry the Nation
safely through the present gigantic convul-,
sion? And is not the act Of withholding aid
frem the Government, to all intenss and
purposes, giving aid to it's enemies9 Has
not the whole tenor of his public life been
such as would have delete ious influence
upon the cause rof'the Government, aud cre-
ate in the minds Of the people, feeling of
distrust, discomfort and ,enmity toward
the Administration and the work in which
it is engaged? Has be not, by misrepresen-
tation and falsehood been influential in
keeping many men out Of the army, who
would otherwise, to- day have been in the
service of their country? Add is not dis
suading men from the support of the flag,
in time Of war, the most potent and efficient
aid that could be rendered the public enemy?
Now, We have, in the foregoing specifca.
tions, stated DO misdeneauor of which the
gentleman in question has not been guilty
Of which every individual number of his
Herald, during the last year of its existence
will not furnish the proof. That the ten
dency Of his political course, since the out.
break Of the rebellion, has been to give aid
and comfort to the enemy, is fact patent
to the reading public, and cannot be gain.
said. The people of Iowa know that DIN
Ms A. MAHoNY has been guilty of he acts
set forth above, and DENNIS A. MAHoNY
knows that these acts, by the letter and spirit
Of the Constitution, are treason against the
United States. Our neighbor may harp
upon the "right to oppose the policy Of the
Administration" but be caunot neutraliZe
the laws Of cause and effect; the Admins
tration is the Government, opposition to
the Government is aid to it's enemies, and
aid to its enemies is TREASON.
UThe subject of "cOmpepsated emau-
cipati0n" is beginning to receive coDside-
rable attention. A bill will probably be
brought before Congress, this session., for
the appropriation Of about twenty millions
to aid Missouri in purchasing the freedom
of her 81 yes. Many able Arguments have
already been produced. for and against the
measure. Those opposed to the appropria-
ton insist that emancipation in Missouri is
matter in which the General Government
is not peculiarly interested-a matter con-
corning the State oBly; and, that the money
thus appropriated would be simply a gift
from the United States 20 the State of Mis-
souri,, from which no National pecuDiary
benefit would ever be derived. On the other
hand, the friends of the measure hold that
the public lands, lying unsold in the State
of Missouri, wonId be enhanced 10 value,
by the abolition of slavery in the State, to
an extent sufficient to repay the Govern
ment, with interest,", for all money spent in
aid of the work of emapcip alton. Good
arguments are produced Oh both sides, and
pecuuiarIly considered, the scales. may be
said to stand evenly poised; but when we
place the great cause of Humanity land
Civilization 10 the balance, upon she side Of
Freedom, slavery 10 instantly sent to the
beam
CO ORPHEus G. KERR's last letter con-
cludes as TO- lows-referring to the heroic
dead, upon the bloody fields Of Frederick
burg:
"May kind Il aveu gee pauehs in the
blood yelling from their loyal hearts but
the blush Of . soldiers honor; the glow Of
. patriot Gre in which all :hsir human err
rOrs went up TO God as the smoke Of glO-
rious saorifce.. They sleep their last, sleep