The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-06-08
Arnold and Andre.
[Chicaoo Tribunal

The John Carter Brown Library, in
Providence, R. [, contains History
Of the Origin, Progress and Termina-
ton of the American War;" by Sted-
man, an officer in the English army
This particular copy of the book once
belonged to Sir Henry Clinton, who con-
Quoted the negotiations with Benedict
Arnold, and sent out Major Andre to
confer with the traitor It contains
many annotations by Clinton His com
ment on Stedman's account of the at
tempt to betray West. Point into the
hands of the British is: Ignorance of
the whole transaction-too tender a
subject to explain upon now" By the
time he finished reading the book, how.
ever, he seems to have decided to re-
cord what seemed to him a fair state
ment of the case. The fly leaves at the
end Of the second volume contain this
curious record, which has just been pub
lished for the first time
Arnold opened negotiations with
Clinton in 1850. He said that the alli-
ance with France had disguised hiG,
and that he would, on this account, 90
over to tue British, provided he was
guaranteed personal security and in
demnity for any loss of property he
might sustain. Sir Henry was "libersl'
in his promises, He got from Arnold,
on several occasions, "most material in
telligence," and finally, at the latter's
request, sent Andre to meet him on
neutral ground. At this time Clinton
was still uncertain whether his cores
pondent was really Major-G General Arn'
odd. Several meetings were planned,
but each one was prevented by some
unexpected circumstance. Finally, on
Alnold's suggestion, Andre visited
West Point undera flag of truce. He
had been charged by Clinton mot to
change his dress or name on any 'ac-
count" and to carry no suspicious pa
pers., He was to return by water, as he
went. If this plan had been carried
out, Andre would have incurred no risk
whatever But Arnold, either for some
unknown reason, or because he lost his
presence of mind for the moment, per-
suaded or compelled his visitor TO dis
guise himself and pass through the
American lines with only passport and
his wits to protect him. Both resour
ces failed. Arnold, when he heard OF
Andres arrest, fed to New York, and
carried the:new to Clinton The lat
ter was grieved, but supposed that his
friend would soon be exchanged. He
was Mortified when "Mr. Washington's''
Council of War condemned Andre to
death. His having landed under flag
of truce, at the request of Arnold, and
his having assumed disguise and ta-
ken false passport at the instance ol
the latter, are urged in this curious doc
ument as reasons why his life should
have been spared. This is not very
conclusive reasoning, but better could
not be expected from such 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 deplore the un-
timely death of a gallant gentleman,
whose Judges grieved over the sentence
they had to pronounce, it can scarcely
be seriously denied that the use of a
| flag of truce, under the circumstances.
only aggravated the guilt of the spy
who was caught with the written proofs
of his crime concealed upon his person.
He was a good man, and brave man,
and smart man, but another spy OF
the American Revolution was create,
than be. Andre, hung for his share in
a plot to corrupt a soldier, can not be
compared with Nathan Hale, a legiti.
mate spy, whose work had nothing vile
about it, and who went to the scaffold
regretting that he could ;giye only one
life for his country.