Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-03-26
Aid and Comfort.


The Constitution defines treason against
United States to consist inl.vying war against
them. or in adhering to their enemies. giving
them aid and comfort. This is open and un-
disguised treason, and is punishable under the
laws. But treason can be committed against
the Government without duplicating and
bringing to punishment the traitor. All laws
can b. violated in spirit. and the criminal rs-
capr under the letter. There are laws against
robbery, theft and swindling, but robberits,
theft and swindlrs are often perpetrated with
out duplicating the thief and swinder, be-
cause the letter of the law is not violated.
This is true of all crimes known to the erin.
inal calendar. But of all crimes, the covert
and hidden is the most hrinous in the sight of
God and man. There is some admiration for
the bold and daylight robher. the man who
walks up and says surrender your purse or
your life. Courage is an admirable quality Of
itself But the sly and foxy thief, who robs
you when asleep, or the cowarlv assassin
who s.ahs you in the back, is the lowest and
most dispisablc uf all beings.
All admit the despicable wick"dness of the
traitor-thc brtrayrr Of his country. But
this crime. like all others, has its double
grade. There are open traitors. in which the
Shareholders rebellion gives us many exam
pl,s-the jeff Davises, Flovds. Masons. Brn-
iamins, Brrckinridgcs, Stcph"nScs, ct homo
genus. The boldncss 'and audacity of these
men is admirable, when disconnected with
the great crimes sought to bs perpetratrd.
They stand as patriots and gods when COM
pared with tn. r,a .on of trait ,rs of the second
srade-,he Buchanans. Perccs, Vallandig-
hams, Srvmours. and the whole troupe of
Coppcrhead leaders in the North Black is
not more distinctly marked from white, than
the degree af treason as committed by the for
MGR and the latter. 1t punishment were
mrted in dpgree of severity to the blacknrss
of the crime, the punishment Of the Northern
traitor would be terrible. If justice be done
the traitms at the end of the war, what ought
to lie administered to the Northern traitor!
If the leaders of the rebellion, who are
Southrons, cxpiate their crimes on a gibbct,
what internal invention of torturc ought to bc
applied to the Northern traitors:
The Copperheads continue in their persist
ent opposition to the Governmrnt and are
daily giving aid aud comfort to the rebellion.
They keep mp a steady and constant hire in
the rear. Wherever the Federal armies ad
vance to crush the rebellion, they are followed
by Northern traitors with Encouragement.
They tell the Northern rebels they arc right,
aud that they will surely succeed in dividing
the Union and establishing n Southern Con-
federacy, if they pcrsevere. No matter what
measures the Government adopts in aid OF
the war and to bring it to a SPEEDY close. it is
attacked by the Copperh"ads and combat'ed
with the greatest vchenence. ifit be contis-
cation, it is wrong aud unconstitutional; if it
b. the employment of negro troops it is I'M
constitutional and wrong. Ii it be recon-
struction under the most practical form. and
devised by the wisdom ard judgment of the
Governmest, the Copperhcads denocncr it rs
dishonorable and degrading. On the Prcsi-
dents plan of reconstruction. the Copperhrad
press chime in with the leaders Of the rebel.
The following from the Chicago Times is
sample Of this reasonable spawn. This trea-
sonable rebel paper says:
"Pcrhaps the South will consent to these
terms. If she does the d'grad,tion they offer
will not be half as severe as should he inflicted
upon a people who could accept that degra-
da'ion. If she does, she is not fit to he in the
Union upon terms of equality with other
States, or to exercise any political privilege Of
any name or nature. If shr does. her people
should be compelled to change situations with
their slaves, and governed only bv the over
seer's lash. No true American could propose
such degradation tn fellow citizens, and the
fact that they have been made is proof that
their author is either insane with fanat
icism or traitor who glores in his country's
shame. If tho Confed-rates are not dogs.
they will free, arm and marshal their slaves
for conflict by offering still greater bribes than
are Offered them by abolitionists. before they
will think of submission to the Presidents
terms"
Such sentiments are reasonable The
publication of such articles is treason-but it
not covered and punishable under the letter
of the law. But is it the less treasonable :
Is it not the more reasonable: It is such
treason as should be squelchcd by the un-
written law-bv public opinion. Its punish
ment is just6ablc on the principle Of self
pres ovation.
We do no, know how far this Northprn trait
orsm will be allowed to 70. There is a limit
to everything. and wrong "nd wickrdnrss
sooner or later reaches crisis and receives
its reward. We do not know why justice
does not demand the summary punishment Of
the Copprrhead equally with the Secession.
ists-as particeps crimin;s-.he accessory as
we'll as the principal. Why not The OPP
position of the Copperhcads to the Admins
tration increases the number of troops neces-
sary to be sent into the field. Their sympa.
thy and aid cause the rebels to continue the
Struggle and fight tho more desperately. The
war is thus prolonged, and thousands in con-
scou.nce thereof die in prisons or on the field