Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-06-12
Have We any Traitors Among
UsH

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much abused man who lived some
eighteen hunded years ago, and who
died terrible and most unatural death
leaving his memory under q cloud. In
other words, the author seeks to prove,
and does prove to bis own stisfaction,
that Judas Iseari0t s00s not traitor! On
the contrary, he was, according to the
learned authors theory, one of the
most devoted and loyal of all the fol-
lowers of Christ. True the appear
ances are against this hypothesis and
the colleagues and contemporaries of Ju-
das never so understood the matter !;
but then they were, for the most part,
ignorant fishermen, blinded by fanati-
cal passions, enraged at the loss of
their Lord and Master, wholly absorbed
in the contemplation of q single idea,
and so were incapable of appreciating
the patriotic principles and sublime
motives which actuated their unfor-
tunate brother"
Mr.. Disraeii's is that, in betraying
the Savior to his enemies, Judas con-
templated a result diametrically op-
posite to that which followed. He had
taken counsel with those who desired
the separation of Palestine from the
Roman Empire and he expected that
as soon as the populace of Jerusalem
learned that Jesus was in the hands OF
Cesar's officers, restrained of his liberty
and menaced with death, revolution
would commence which would result
in throwing off the Roman yoke and
re-establishing the Independence of the
Jewish nation, with Christ at its head.
Neither the act of Judas, nor the mo.
tive which prompted the act, was Grim
inal per Sc. The crime consisted solely
in the failure of the enterprise, and
the failure resulted through no fault
of Judas, but through the ''determinate
counsel and foreknowledge" of Omnip-
otence. Judas was the victim of cir
cumstances, of mistaken zeal, and of
the workings of Providence, and is,
therefore, to be pItied rather than
blamed.
If there had been a copperhead press
in those days the unfortunate Judas
would not have had to wait so long for
his vindication. He would have had
apologists enough; and his name would
not have been, for fifty generations,
the synonym of apostacy and treason.
We have now many learned essays
written to prove that Floyd and Thomp-
son, Cobb and Toombs, Davis and Beau
regard, Lee and johnson, were not
traitors-either in fact or intention.-I
As matter OF fact, they did ''levy
war" upon the United States, or rather
upon the Northern Vandals who had
possession of the Capitol and Govern
ment. The Constitution says that
"levying war" against the United
States Is "treason :" yet no one but a
fanatic will hold that these high-toned
gentlemen had any evil designs in what
they did-they intended not TO destroy,
but to save. They had been grossly in
suited by the election of Northern
Abolitionist as President. The act
was unconstitutional" though done
in a constitutional manner. Could
those high-toned gentlemen submit
ought they to submit-to such an out
rage?
They never intended to break up The
Union. True, they passed ordinances
eft secession and raised q new flag; but
they did that only to entitle them to
belligerent rights. They were the orig
inal Union men, and as soon as they
had Vindicated State Rights, and driv-
en- the Vandals from the Capitol, they
intended to reconstruct the Union on
correct and enduring principles. II
the had succeeded IN their enterprise,
the country would now be united,
prosperous, and happy.
Judas Iscariot left no written decla-
ration as to what his motives and inten-
tions were. but his biographer can infer
them from the circumstances. Before
the commencement of the war, Jeffer-
son Davis declared that if the GoYern-l
ment would give him a sheet of blank
paper, and allow him to write upon it
his own terms. he would not remain in |
the Union. He maintsined that posi-
tion all through the war, up to the |
time of the surrender of his armies
Has he retracted that assertion yeti
Do Beauregard, Lee and johnson claim |
that the war was waged on their part |
for anything but perpetual separationf
Do they deny that they made war on |
the United States with view TO oom-
pei the recognition Of the independ-
ence of the Confederacyi No. Yet |
they have in the North men who, in |
their behalf. deny that they were act
uated by any such motives, and who
declare that the Confederate armies
were fighting the battles of constitu-
tional liberty.
1t is favorite theory of the Demo
cratic organs, just now, that because
JEFF. Davis was not tried and executed /
as traitor, therefore, he was not gull
ty of treason. That is truly logical in
ference. When Satan,
with ambitious aim
against the throne and monarchy of GOd,"
headed rebellion in heaven, was he
not guilty of treason Yetn, after the
of his rebellion, he had
been put on trial before a jury Of bis
felloW-rebels-with Beelzebub as fore
man, and Mammon and Moloch mem
bers of the panels it likely that he
would have been convictedl
If it were practicable to try, convict
and execute all the leaders in the re-
bellion the performance would be too
bloody for an enlightened government
like that of the United States. jeff
Davis and his compeers in treason are
no longer formidable or dangerous to
the government; and it is mot prudent
10 make martyr of a felon.
Davis may never DO tried by jury Of
his countrymen, but he and his gener-
ais and counsellors must stand their
trial at the bar of history and abide the
verdict and sentence which will con-
Iign their names and memories to ever
astipg infamy. His spologists, the
will escape arraigument
before that Court. only on account Of
heir personal insignifcance; and in
hat they and their children have cause
'f rejoicing Columbus Morn. Jour.