The People's vindicator., 1875-06-26
Major Andre.
4 RENAISSANCE FROM PRIVATE u1s.
TORY.

Last week we published tho con
mcnts of the Chicago Tribune upo
the account given by Stcadn>an, a
officer of the English army, in a wor
written by him entitled "History {
the Origin, Progress and Terminatio
Of the American War; of tho A,
nold-Andre treason and execution
The views taken by the Author of Il,
above mentioned work, of tho par
acted by Andre in that notable an,
historic treason of Arnold is such a
should be expected from friend or
partizan-the conduct of Washipgto,
is mentioned as being barbarous an,
contrary to the usages Of christian O
civilized warfare, and the guilt 0
Andre and cuIpability of Washingto,
is attempted, by declaring and at
tempting to prore, it is but a poor at
tempt, however, that Andre was Gov
cred by the protecting folds Of q fla2
of truce during the interviews will
Arnold, and that flag should also
have protected him on his journey ia
Tatrytown, on which he was captur.
ed. We do not propose to argue that
point, for we consider the PROPOSE
ton such one as no person would
adduce, if lie considered his voracity
of any weight. But we wonder that
the Chicago Tribune, a journal whose
editors arc supposed at least, to he
thoroughly conversant with the his
tory Of the interesting period referred
to, should not have demolished the
beautiful structure this English officer
had reared as English history.
Public opinion, as we'll as legal
courts, is prone to overlook infrac.
tions Of its laws by parties who do SO
unworthily-they are mcrciful t", and
sometimes coudone, offences CON-
mitted for the first time, upon the
ground that the parties committing,
had no knowledge they were guilty
Of a crime, and were therefore, if not
in law, at least in mercy, fit objects
for = charitable example. Military
Law, as 10 the case Of Andre, in which
tue circumstances of the "flag of
truce;" his instructions to remain in
his pass from Arnold, COM
manding tho defeuses of West Point
and the Tarrytown lines, &C., would
have suspended its extreme rigors at
the calls Of mercy for SO youthful,
brilliant and high officer in the army,
Is Major Andre, but this ras not the
Ease the first offence cannot be plead
For him, on the contrary, he seemed
o have had penchant for the busi-
aess of the spy. This is a serious
:barge we we'll know, but it seems
strange that the student of American
history should be so ignorant of such
ixed and proven facts.
We produce from "Johnsons Ira
(itions Of the Revolution q stand. !
'rd authority for historians, (see Los.
ings Field notes of the revolution)
'hich is also coroborated by john
on (not the same author named here) |
n his life of Green, and the following
xtracts in relation to Andres acting
8 spy during the siege of Charles
On, in 1880, then in command of Gen. |
lincoln with the hope that other
who have a leading circula-
ion, will give the matter investiga-
on rs a matter Of record for our
entennial time next year. Andre
as q brave man, an ambitious sol.
ier, and took upon himself many
nties not CONSTANT with dignity
I'd high honor, to advance him in
10 eyes of his sovereign, and this
ould tend as corr oboration, of the
cts here mentioned.
In this visit of my father to the
ty above alluded to, he called to gee
sick friend, Stephen Shrewsbury.
the house of his brother, Edward
'rewsbury, In the same neighbor
,od. There he saw a stranger dress.
in bomespun, asked Edward ,
!!rewsbury who that was, and was
Id by him that the stranger was =
'ck-countryman, who had brought | !
'wn cattle for the garrison, to the !
'posite side Of the river. This an.
'er being prompt and plausible,
thing more was thonght Of the cir
instance. About eighteen months 6
ter this, when my father having
'en exchanged, had returned from
9 confinement in St. Augustine.
ct bis friend, Stephen Shrewsbury. I
Philadelphia. This was shortly
ter the discovery of Arnold's trea.
., and the execution of Major An.
.. It was impressed on my memo.
while q child, BY then seeing on '
ne al I III