The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-07-24
Treason In PAiIaAslphia.
On Saturday las. charges of conspi,


On Saturday last charges of conspiracy
against the United States. correspond
ence With rebels. and high treason, we're
preferred against three men, and tried
this week, before United States Commis-
sloner A Fl. Smith, which have had
singularly interesting and very important
results. Newspaper interference with
cases undetermined by the law we hold
to be generally improper, but the evil
dence we have already published so con-
cusively establishes the existence OF
widely spread treason in the North, that
we do not hesitate to fix the attention of
the public upon the testimony of two
United States detectives, who, with re-
markable skill and pertinacity, obtained
the confidence of the persons accused
snd we're admitted to . knowledge OF the
entire conspiracy. They found these
persons engaged in contraband trades
sending Information to the rebel authori-
ties. and planning q piratical expedition
from the port os New York for the des.
fruction of American vessels. A Captain
Benedic, assured the detectives that his
chief object was not money, but to de all
possible good TO the rebellion, all possible
harm to the Government. His confeder-
ates IN treason appear to have been gov
erned chiefly by sordid motives, though
not without strong sympathiss with the
rebellion
Interesting as the case is in itself-for
1t possesses the picturesqueness of sem
saiinnal modsrn- drama, and might eaaily
be wrought into capital story lit has
deeber interest as i, indicate that the con-
cealed disloyalty Of the North is m ele-
ment, larger and more dangerous than
the people are willing to admit. This is
but one Instance of revealed corruption,
but how many more have been success
fully hiddec! 1t is fallacy to suppose
that murder will OUT on the contrary
is il probable that, for every murder dis
covered, another remains unsuspected.
The detection of this conspiracy should
convince US that other conspiracics, equal.
y dangerous, exist undetected, and every
loyEl citizen shsuld aid the Governmen,
with all his power in bringing the guilty
to punishment.
Among the letters TO persons in the
rebel States, secured by the detectives,
were several which implicate prominent
peace men Of Phiiadelphla One Of these
letters is from Professor Dickson of the
Jefferson Medical College, who writes to
his Southern friend, "the cry in the
streets OF the fall OF Vicksburg is killing
me by inches We think that this ex-
posure Of his disloyalty, and the addition
al exposure which is sure to follow,
should kill him yet more rapidly. Tho
the letter was not fully read in Court, we
have the authority of the District Attor-
ney for stating that it contained impor-
tant information. intended for the rebel
authorities What can be thought of the
man who, occupying q responsible posi-
ton in college of loyal city, degrades
himself TO the low rank of spy? What
excuse can he offer for his treason p
Granting the most that can be claimed
that diseased conscientiousness attached
him to the rebellion, that misfortune can.
not absolve him from the charge of hy-
pocrisy. Virtually, he held his profes-
sorship and his position in society upon
understood terms of LOYALTY to the Gov
ernment; openly be dared not. and did
not, express the sentiments be cherished
Undoubtedly he permitted the public to
believe him loyal, while secretly he sen,
traitorous Information to the enemy, and
complained that the national successes
we're killing him by inches. Professor
Dickson is in very unneviable predica
ment. and We are not surprised that Mr.
Vandyke, counsel for the defense in this
case, should have wondered he was no,
arrested. Other gentlemen. doubtless
have profound reason to dread the read
ing Of the letters in the possession of the
District Attorney. In fact, their impor.
tance may be inferred from the fact that
the defendants waived the hearing on II q
charge of high treason, because the hear.
ing involved the reading Of the letters
and preferred committal to their publca
tion. The public interests demand tha,
when the trial is resumed these letter.
shall be read, and their writer's held te
the strietest account of the law.