The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1866-05-15
c" The communication from "E'
will appear in our next. as (.
Circular.

Circular.
We direct attention TO the Circular
IN this mornings paper from Captain
SPEAR the Commandant of the Post
The objects of the notice are sufficient.
ly distinctly expressed without
rep, tition here. That there either is
now or will inevitably be great destitu.
tion IN this District is well known to all
who are cognizant of the real condition
Of some OF tho whites and many of the
freedmen. AS we presume this circular
contcmplatcs some system of relief we
hope our people will afford Captain
SPEAR such assistance as he desires.
It. will be observed that the interval be-
fore the reports must be made is very
brief nd requires prompt attention.
Treason said to be Defined in Tennessee.
From an exchange we. clip the follow.
ing item:
In tho recent case of Dc Witt G..
Williams, convicted in Tennessee of
treason the court held that man can
be guilty Of treasoa against bo;h the
United States and the State of Ten"es.
see by the same overt act. and that the
Presidents pardon, whilst it annnled
the oif'nse against the United States,
was of no effect in regard to the ohensc
against the State
From our study Of the history and ma.
ture Of the Constitution of the United
States, we positively assert, ANA we an,
dertakc TO sustain the assertion by
Legitimate argument, that not only can.
not treason he defined as the above case
would imply, but that the definition
therein given is y partisan one, and is in
keeping with, and is dictated by, that
vindictivc spirit which characteristics The
party in power whose motto is "might
is right"
The determination of that party is to
hang the Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, and
to prepare the way for jnstifying that
sinful and shameful act, its partisans are
drawing definite conclusions from gen
erali!ies, and thus eviucng the truth Of
the saying OF that. great legalist, Lord
COKE. that fraud lurketh in general.
ties"
But to the argument. The third
section of the third article OF the Consli.
tuition provides that
Treason against the United States.
"Shall consist only in levying war
against them, or in adhering to their
"enemies, giving them aid and comfort,
SIC"
Now it is an historical fact that when
this section was under discussion in the
Federal Convention in 1887, serious
objection wns raised against it on ac.
counL'ofits liability to, misconstruction.
LUTHER MARTIN, Attorney General of
Maryland, and delegate from that
State to said Convention in his report Of
the proceedings Of the Convention to
the Legislature of his State, expresses
those objections in the following words:
"'By the principles of the American
revolution, Toaoer may and ought to be
"resisted even by arms, if necessary.
"The time may come when it shall be
"the duty of a State. i'll order to preserve
'itselffrom the oppression of the general
government, to have recourse to the
"sword-in which case the proposed
"form ofgovernment declares that the
"jState and every one of It's citizens who
'act under ats authority, are guilty of a
direct act of treason reducing by this
"Lhe different States to this alternative
chat they must tamely and passioely
"yseld to despotisDs. or their citizens must
"oppose ii, at the hazard OF the halter
r. 4 4