The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-05-07
Treason and Traitors

Treason against the United States" says
the Constitution, Consists only in levying war
against them, or in adhering 10 their enemies,
oiuino them aid and comfort" Such is the
crime OF treason; those who are guilty Of any
OF these things are traitors, and the laws Of
the United States fix the penalty for such
crime. II Is death !
We are aware some squeamish people have
been smltten with conyicton-possibly, to
save the necks OF disoyal friends-that trea-
sod consists only in acts. This is no doubt
the case In time of profound peace. Were
the United States at peace with all nations,
and with no rebellion within their own bor-
dsrs, of course there could be no such trea-
son Is that which consists in "adhering to
their enemies, giving them aid and comfort
for they would have no enemies either to lad
here to- or TO "aid and comfort" Under such
condition of things treason could only be
evinced In acts; by "levying war" against the
United States. But not SO now. We are in
the midst of war. The enemies of the Unit
ed States have their weapons aimed al the
throat of the nation and, 1t seems clear to our
mind, that he who publishes word or makes
public speech intended or well calculated TO
encourage the enemy, or TO stimulate them 10
greater activity or to more persistency OF eff
fort, knowing that such must be its natural eff
feet, Is traitor within the meaning of the
constitution.
Have we any such traitors among us? Look
at facts. The two most gigantic armies known
70 modern history, are now standing face to
face between Washington and Richmond,
ready TO engage in conflict big with the in
terests not only of the nation but Of Universal
Liberty and the institution Of free Govern
ment. Upon the issue Of the pending con-
fict of arms possibly may hinge our national
over its enemies, and march onward and up
ward 10 the pathway OF greatness and glory,
giving liberty 10 millions yet unborn, or wheth-
or rebellion shall triumph, the star of Liberty
be quenched In sea OF blood, and the dark
and turgid tide of despotlsm roll over and
submerge the land every acre Of whose sur
face has been consecrated to freedom, the act
of conservation having been recorded with
the best blood Of the past generations. Al
most every family is represented In the con-
tending armies, and which ever side is victo-
rious, sorrow and sadness are 10 send their
mementoes into thousands of before happy
homes. n word, the nation Is 10 the last
great struggle with gigantic rebellion, hav-
ing II by the throat, with fair prospect of
success If every man does his duty, and no in
terest of freedom or of constitutional liberty
10 betrayed by domestic traitors.
Iris at such iuncture, with the eyes of all
civilized nations upon us, and with the posi-
tive knowledge that any word published in
the free States may be known at the Rebel
Capital and headquarters in single week,
that paper In the loyal State of Maine, even
10 the Union-loving city OF Portland, mot the
Argus) insults every loyal citizen, taunts eve
~ patriotic impulse, derides the struggling
nation, and encourages every rebel in arms by
such utterances as these:
We have now entered upon the fourth year
oil our civil war. And yet, we have fewer ad-
vantageous results 10 boast OF, than have cur
adversaries, all things being considered.
The capital OF our nation, through an una
bated aud feverish fear OF the enemy, when
our peaple, month by month, have had renew
ed promises OF subjugating, from the hemmed
10 rulers at that capital, has been held, and is
now held, only as an entrenched camp-ground,
rather than as proud and defiant citadel of
liberty and safety, and political power; and
martial law has supplanted the civil power at
pleasure tcith the daddcioUs tread of a IT,
rants heel, not only there, but in nearly eve
ny State OF the Union that Is LEFT ,oithin our
precdrious possession.
True we have achieved by our gallant ar
mics, and navy combined, many splendid VIC
tories over the foe. But thew IN turn hare
achieped scarcely less in number, or less in
importance ouer our armies. And IL Is unde
niabie that they have wrought out many
m0retdcts Of heroic daring and glittering
chiudlrg, than we have done on the federal
side.
Look at our vast resources Of war
and say before God aud the world have
we, In the progress made In our three years
Of war and Invasion of the South, anything TO
boast over our antagonist?
We confess, In humiliation and shame, our
judgment that zee hare not
We reassert our conviction, that, all things
considered, we have more 10 be ashamed Of
than 10 boast Of, In the results Of our last three
YEAR, history.
As though this was not enough, the rebels
are told - for the article we quote from was
written for the Richmond market, and will
ind Its way there through northern traitors
that this waste and worse than waste Of
efforts TO subdue the rebellion sis all owing TO
the imbecile administration of our public
AFFAIRS that the Chief Magistrate Is running
the nation "and building up our sdyersares
1.-THE Rebels) as a rival and jubilant people
In the esteem OF the world"
Though this editor taunts foreign nations
for not "daring to recognize their the rebels)
existence as a Government" he says:
The North Is still repulsed and unsuecess-
Jul power before the world, and in the judg-
ment OF the world.
We stop here, and appeal to sensible, loyal,
Union-loying, party -dlsregarding men, TO say
In their own hearts, before God and in view
Of the great impending confict-rerhaps at
this moment being waged-whereint these ex-
tracts fall short Of rank, downright and undis-
guised and damning treason; treason as de-
fined in the Constitution treason which In
time of war consists In adhering TO the enc
mica of the United States, "giving them aid
and comfort" We think the writer of such