The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-09-25

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 nus
band. whom 'she dearly loved: within
the British lines in New York. Instead
ot this, she tearlessly goes to Philadel-
phia, where Congress was in session. and
where An enraged 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. II ia
incredible, that if she were guilty, that
she would have voluntarially confron ted
Congress at a moment of such exaspera-
ton, and when the people were eager for
victim. No one who reads her letters
contained in this velume 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 her, 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
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
Philadelphia, or join her husband in New
York, the choice was not left her by the
conncil of Pennsylvania. On the goth of
October the council Of that state adopted
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 to
her fathers family, full of respect and
tenderness, bear abundant testimony
that, whatever may have been her hus-
6ands faults, he was ever most devoted,
faithful and affectionate husband"
THE JUSTICE OF MAJOR ANDRE FATE.
The remainder of the chapter in MIR.
Arnold's book is devoted to an argument
on the much-disputcd question of tile
proprlety Of Wash!ngton's action in or
derlng the execution of Mai. Andre. In
answer to the question, "Was Andre a
spy, and was his death in accordance
with the laws Of war, as prachccd and
settled by the civilized nations Of the
earth! the writer rchearses the admitted
facts of the case, and then quotes num-
Der OF authorities to show that the Youth
ful English officer was spy in the mean
ing of the law of war, and deserved the
usual penalty of his act. The sophlstrv
or the argument that Andre was pro-
tected by pass issued by Arnold Is thus
exposed: "Thc idea that conspirat,r's
pass Will protect CO conspirator is po-
sltion which is scarcely debatable. An
officer, when acting clearly beyond the
scope OF his authority, does not bind his
principal any more than any ordinary
agent. When all officer acts in coIlusion
with the enemy to bctray his trust, the
act has no color Of validity, legal or
moral, as against the principal who is to
be injured. Again, the pass vas a shan,
on the lace OF it. 1t was given to John
Anderson, not to Maj. Andre. 1t is per.
tectly we'll settled that pass is not trans
1erable. and pass to a man under a false
or fictitious name is void. The person
named in the safe conduct cannot transfer
his privilege to another"
The closing words of the chapter show
the considerations which doubtless influ-
enced Washington in regarding the plea
that, in spite of Andres crime, his life
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 himself
may be tried as rebel, and he dare not
execute Andre; because he tears that, in
event of failure, il might add to his o.n
personal danger It ~as, therefore, nee
essary that Andre should die. 1t was
felt by Washington to be necessary to
show the world that mo greater impunity
would attend the acts of him who, as a
spy, sought the obstruction Of the young
republic, than would have attended the
act if committed against. t C oldest and
strongest government in the world This
act Of national sovereignty was executed
with dignity, humanity, yet with an
int1exible firmness, that showed how
strong was the hand Of Washington at
the helm