The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-09-24

Still less docs he disclose what his friends
would not have ventured to repeat, that
on the way he basely made love to this
afflicted lady, thinking to take advantage
of her just feeling of indignation toward
husband and her helpless condition. to
help him in his infamous design. Yet
this is fact if the family tradition is
true. And being Indignantly repelled,
ne treasured up his revenge, aud left a
story behind him worthy Of his false and
malignant heart, to blast this amiable
lady's fame when there might be no one
to disprove or deny It,"
Gen. Arnold's biographer goes on to
argue further that the conduct of Mrs. !
Arnold on the discovery OF her husbands
treason is utterly inconsistent with guilt. |
"That woman of her years, still almost |
q child, should have been capable of i'm
posing upon Washington and his aids is
incredible. If guilty, when Arnold an
nounced to her his fiji gnt all papers indi-
eating guilt would have been DESTROYED
and when Washington gave her permits
sion to go to her father in philadelphia,
or join her husband in New York, if con-
sclous of guilt what would she have done2
Guilt is ever fearful; it flies when none
pursue. If guilty her punishment would
have been death. in the intense excite
ment then existing, neither her youth and
beauty nor all her domestic virtues could
have saved her from the fury of her en-
ragged country. If conscious of guilt she
would have seized the opportunity to
have found safety by the side of her bus
band. whom she dearly loved within
the British lines in New York Instead
OF this, she tearlessly goes to Philadel-
phia, where Congress was in session, and
where an enrage,l people were clam
oring for victim. Nothing but
a consciousness Of entire innocence
could have induced her to remain within
the power of the American government.
when Washington offered her an escort to
her husband and place of safety. It is
incredible, that if she were guilty, that
she would have voluntarially confronted
Congress at moment of such exaspera-
ton, and when the people were e,ger for
victim. No one who reads her letters
contained in this volume will believe her
capable Of acting the double part with
which she has been charged. On the
| contrary, if Arnold had disclosed his
plans to hel, she would be much more
likely, prompted alike by her love and
her clear perceptions of right, to have
tried to save him from the commission of
a fearful crime and terrible blunder.
Whatever might nave been Mrs. Arnold s
final decision as to whether she should
remain with her father and friends in
Philadel phia, or join her husband in New
York, the choice was not left her bv the
| council OF Pennsylvania. On The Goth of
October the council of that state adopted
a resolution compelling her to leave the
state and forbidding her return during
the war. Mrs. Arnold followed her hus.
band to New York, and shared his fate
in evil as in good report. Her letters tc
her fathers family, full of respect anc
tenderness, bear abundant testimony
that, whatever may have been her hus
bands faults, he was ever most devoted
faithful and atfectionate husband"
THE JUSTICE OF MAJOR ANDRE FATE.
| The remainder of the chapter in Mr.
Arnold:s book is devoted to an argument
Oh the much-disputed question of the
propriety Of Wash;nguon's action in or
dering the execution of Mai. Andre. In
answer to the question, ''Was Andre 8
spy, and was his death in accordance
with the laws of war, as practlced and
settled by the civilized nations of the
earth?" the writer rehearses the admitted
facts of the case, and then quotes mum
Der of authorities to show that the youth
tul English officer was a spy in the mean.
ing of the law Of war, and deserved the
usual penalty of his act. The sophlstry
; OF the argument that Andre was pro
tected by pass issued by Arnold is thus
exposed: "The idea that conspirator's
pass Will protect co-conspirator is po
sition which is scarcely del5atable. Ar
officer, when acting clearly beyond ths
scope Of his authority, does not bind hi!
: principal any more than any ordinary
; agent. When an officer acts in collusior
; with the enemy to betray his trust, The
: act has no color of validity, legal O.
moral, as against the principal who is t,
be injured. Again, the pass vas shan
on the face of it. It was gwen to join
: Anderson, not to Maj. Andre. It is per
fectly we'll settled that a pass is not trans
terable. and pass to a man under a falls,
: or fictitious rane is void The persol
named in the 81, fe conduct cannot transfe
his privilege to another"
The closing words of the chapter SHOW
the considerations which doubtless infu
l enced Washington in regarding the Pile;
that, in spite of Andres crime, his lif
might have been spared without preju
| dice to the cause Of the country. Look
, ers-on might have said; Washington
: fears the result Of the war; he himsel
may be tried as rebel, and he dare no
} execute Andre; because he fears that, il
9 event of failure, it might add to his ON
personal danger! 1t VAS, therefore, nee
). essary that Andre should die. 1t wa
felt by Washington to be necessary t,
8 show the world that mo greater impunit,
, would attend the acts Of him who, as
spy, sought the obstruction Of the youns
republic, than ould have attended tn,
. act if committed against e oldest ant
e strongest government int world Thi
, act of national sovereignty was execute.
> with dignity, a humanity, yet viii, 81
S intlexible firmness, that showed HOY
: strong was the hand OF Washington a