New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-24

motive for pushing matters to extremity as the bare
detention Of so valuable an officers person might
me: and was accordingly in hopes that an Official
demand from for his immediate release, as having
been under the sanction of flag Of Truce when he
landed within his posts, might shorten his capt,yaS
or at least stop his proceeding with rg0ur against
him. But the cruel and unfortunate catastrophe
convinced me that was much mistaken in my opin-
ion of both his policy and humanity For delivering
himself up las il should SEEM to the ranconr excited
by the near accomplishment Of plan when might
have effectually restored the Kings authority, ana
tumbed him from his present eNaiifu SITUATION, nc
the principal actors in il and consequently regard
less of the acknowledged worth and abiites of me
amiable Young man who had thus fallen INTO his
hands and in opposition to every principle OF policy
and call of humanity, he, without reinofse, put MN
10 most ignOminious Death, ana tnis, ~ u moment
when one of his Generals was by'lis own appoint
ment in actual conference with commissioners whom
| had sent to treat with him for MAJOR Andres re-
lease. .,s o ,., o..
the Fncmy's shore (nanifcstly nj the instance and
under the sanction of the GeneTai oinccr VINO nad
the command OF the distrct and his beng avowediy
compelled by that officer 10 change ms dress ana
name and return under his passports py Land were
circumstances which, as they much lessen the I'M
puted criminaty of his o1ence, 9ignt at ieist 10
Oninion respecting it, notwithstanding his lmpru-
dence of having possessed himself OF the papers
which they found on him. Which, though they led
IN discovery of the nature of the business that drew
him TO a conference with General Arnold, We're not
wanted las they must have known Tor my lnforlna-
ton. For they were not ignorant that hio myself,
been over every part of the ground on which the
Forts stood and had, Of course made myself per
fectly acquainted with every thing necessary for
facilitating an attack of them. MI. Washington
onght also TO have remembered that had never, III
one instance, punished the disailcctea ColonlstS
within my power with Death, put on tlc contrary,
had in several shown the most humane Attention 70
his IntercessOn even in favor OF avowed spies his
acting therefore in cruel manner III opposition 10
my earnest solicitations co1d not oa fneo ~ NE
ever could be- possibly expected TO his cause byputng
the object of them to Death Nor could he be insesi-
Die had he the smallest spark OF honour .d III ls %"
ignomnous) would never detera BRUSH officer rom
tTpading in the same steps, whenever the service Oh
his country would require ms exposing hi,sril 20
tho like danger in such war. But the subject al
fects ne too deeply to prOcccd-lor can my heart
cease to bleed whenever ] reflect on the very I'M
worthy fate of this most amiabic ana valuable young
man. who was adorned with the rarcst End0wmeniSS
of Education and Nature, and (had ne hvedl roiih
not bat have attained TO the Highest ionours VI HIS
PROFESSIONAL
Such is Sir Henry Clinton's version of what has
universally been conceded to have been one OF
the saddest events in our Revolutionary struggle.
How far this version may affect our estimate of the
wisdom and correctness of the course pursued by
Washington, cannot tell 1t il clear that Sir Henry
regarded the execution of Andre base outrage,
not sanctioned by the laws Of honorable warfare,
and TO be especially condemned because il was III
such marked contrast with his own treatment OF
spies found within the British lines The verdict OF
our own historians seems so be unanimous that
Washington was justified in putting to an ignomini-
Gus death one who came in such close relations to an
officer holding high rank in the American army, who
was doing all in lis power to ruin just cause, and
whose name is branded with eternal iuiamy as the
traitor Arnold" J. c. s.
Providence. II. l.. May 13, 1875.