The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-06-19
Arnold and Andre.
(Chicago Tribn,,c.l

lChlcaGo lrtGhit0'J
The John Carter Brown Library, in
Providence, X. l., contains a ellis
tory Of the Origin. Progress and Ter
mination of the American War;" by
Stedman, an officer in the English ar
my. This particular copy Of the book
once belonged to Sir Henry Clinton
who conducted the negotiations with
Benedict Arnold, and sent out Majo,
Andre to confer with the traitor. His
comment on Stedman's account Of the
attempt to betray West Point into
the hands of the British is: "lgno-
rance of the whole transacti0n-tuo
tender a subject to explain upon now"
BY the time he finished reading the
book, however, he seems H. lave de.
cided to record what seeIss,l to him
fair statement of tho case. The fly.
leaves at tho end Of the second vol.
ume contain this curious record, which
has just been published for the first
time: .- ya,,. .....
Arnold opened negotiations with
Clinton in 1880. He said that the al
lance with France had disguised
him, and that he would, on this &C.
count, go over to the British, provi-
ded he was guaranteed personal Sc
curity and idemnity for any loss Of
property he might sustain. Sir Henry
was ''liberal" in his promises. He
got from Arnold, on several occasions,
''most material intelligence and
finally, at the latter's request, sent
Andre to meet him on neutral ground.
At this time Clinton was still nncer.
tain whether his correspondent was
really Major. General Arnold. Sew
eral meetings were planned, but each
one was prevented BY some enexpect.
ed circumstance. Finally, on Arnold's
suggestion, Andre visited West Point
under flag Of truce. He had been
charged by Clinton mot to change
dress or name on any account" and
to carry no suspicious papers. If
this l,ssn had been carried out, An
Dire would have Incurred no risk what
ever. But Arnold, either for some
unknown reason, or because he lost
his presence of mind for the moment,
persuaded or compelled his visitor to
disguise himself aud pass through the
American lines with only Il passport
and his wits to protect him. Both
resources failed. Arnold, when be
heard of Andres arrest, fled to New
York, and carried the news to Gin.
ton. The latter was grieved, but
supposed that bis friend would soon
be exchanged. He was Mortified when
"Mr. Westinghouse Council Of War
condemned Andre to death. His
having landed undeva flag Of truce,
at the request Of Arnold, and his
having assumed a disguise and taken
false passport at tho instance Of the
latter, are urged in his curious docu-
ment as reasons why lis .Is. should
have been spared. This IS not very
conclusive reasoning, butbetter could
not be expected from such a warm
friend as Clinton. He ends his note
by saying that his heart will "never
cease to bleed" at the thought Of
Andres fate. Much as We may de.
plore the untimely death If q gallant
gentleman, whose judges grieved
over the sentence they hid to pro-
nounce, it can scarcely be seriously
denied that the use Of 4 fig Of truce,
under the circumstances, only az.
sravated the guilt Of the a,y vino was
caught with tho written l:,oofs of his
crime concealed upon his person. He
was a good man, a,ad u brave man,
and q smart maj, bnt another spy of
the American Revolution was great
er than lie. Andre, hung for his share
in q plot to corrupt soldier, can not
10 compared with Nathan Hale, u
legitimate spy, whose work had moth
ing vile about it, aud who went to
the scaffold regretting that he could
give only Que life for bis country.