New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-17
NORTHERN TRAITORS.

TIL. Worid-a paper printed daily IN this
city-s one Of tie stipe1diary organs OF the dis
LOYAL faction now organizing Revolution in
the North. While that revolution is yet im-
perfectly omplisheI-whilo the purposes and
proportions OF tho Democratic conspiracy
against the Government are still partially con-
ce aled-whle the masses Of the Democratic
party are still so far loyal that treason must
DO nsldiou.ly minated rather than openly
preached-while the power oil the AdmiDistra.
ton ID not yet 70 far undermined that it might
not be- used against an avOwed ally Of JeGer
son Davis ut the North The U0rd ana its
coniederates find it still eSpedens to make an
occasional and formal profession Of loyalty.
Traitor IL Il word stl Of such uncomfortable
Significance and in spite Of the efforts Of those
whom it most fifty describes, still so eateu-
siycly unpopular at the NORTH, that they hcsi-
tato ~ ncccp. it oponly-though boidcr and
honester Rebels at thc South long since wei.
coined aud deGcd tho disgrace OF nearly
synonymous term Bat the real intent and
character OF such journal surely betrays
ITSELF and in 10 way more unmstakably than
by ia praise of traitors less cautious but not
more guilty than itself Its panegyric Of
Saturday on Mr.. William Il. Reed Of Phila-
dephia is 50 notable instance that it is
worth while to pursue u moments inquiry iutO
the character of has loyalty and patriotism.
Mr. Reed is lawyer, not without ability
aud experience. Being lawyer, he will not
complain If no is tried on the evidence which
he furnishes a. ainst himself. He printed, on,
ths 9TH of November, lc63, "a Payer con
tanning n Statement and Vmdicati0n al Certain
Political Opinions. read before the Democratic
Association, Chcsnut Hill, November, ls63, y
meant, says his brief preface, for his neighbors
aud personal friends. IL WAS very carefully cir
culated. low copies coming into any hands but
those of ifouds 10 Mr.. Reed aud sympa.hIzors
with its sentiments. Yet, even among them,
the document was considered go openly trea-
souaj.e and dangerously eXphci. tlag Mr..
Reed VAS oatly advised to suppress it, The
eirort was diligently made, but nevertheless a
single copy found i's way into n newspaper Office
and was publicly printed. There can be but one
icrling on reading it-amazement that its author
was not instantly arrested, summarily tried BY
cour..maItlal or other speedlest method, and
promptly hanged or shot.
The celebrated resolution adopted on the 18th
OF January, 1o6l, by Democratic meeting ut
Nnrona Hall, in Philadelphia, is here ayowed
b. Mr. Reed 10 have been his exclusively in
its origin. That resolution is as follows:
R,,s That in tLo deliberate Judgment oil the Druioo
sy OF Phn.iephs and, fa know 1t. Of PenDay Iva
whole SoutET We shall most sincerely dsploie-msy
release this Conn Attn from tie bonds which now con
meet with the Confrdeany and would autotiIe sud Ka
eUlRE tons through Convention TO be- assembled for
ts purpose pi trhDs !os .hH be ea.f
uhsAe, ls,h lhs Mort, dnI Eat phos, Cindtes has PIC
epifdsi a.. mIery upon p' OK WIN ouR BKErnKHS %
rHK Sou1H. wuo.k wnos9s own, rhcfie,
n.ylranil shaH ,iad bv ho's ready when occasion
oder. 70 bind together tie broken UnOD and place
Of loyalty aud Devotion"
That resolution was written some months
before the Rebellion broke into open war. In
famous rs it, sentiments then were, it might be
supposed that the subsequent hideOus development
Of tho Southern conspiracy would have shamcd
their author into regret for such An expression Of
sympathy with ito leaders and plans. But Mr..
Reed is neither susceptible of shame nor cnpa-
bio of conversion. So late as last November.
hs deliberately declares that this resolution OK.
presses bis present opinions, and that Il such