The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-02-21
Benedict Arnold.
SpeciaL Correspondence Of the Cold Leaf.

Special Correspondence Of the G0ld Leaf.
Benedict Arnold was one Of the men
that figured in our revolutionary strug-
gle that forfeited all claim to the re-
spect and esteem of our people. He
was brave man, and was at one time
thought to be a friend to our cause.
Had he been true to his country until
the war cloud passed over, he might
have been honored, loved and respect
ed, sharing in the glory and tr!umpbs
of his people, and left behind him an
enviable record. Bat wanting in moral
frmness to resist temptation, and pre-
serve untarnished his reputation, he
went down despised by his country
men, with the brand Of infamy upon
his brow. Instead of nobly doing his
duty like other patriots, he vilely sought
to surrender the post it was his duty to
defend into the hands Of the enemy,
and place the iron heel of despotism
upon the necks of our people. Had
General Greene's letter been received
by Washington two days earlier the
traitor instead of escaping to England
would have been hung side by side
with the unfortunate Major Andre.
Better had it been for him to have
lived in obscurity, unknown to fame,
than to overshadow his future in in
fanny and disgrace. Major Andre, the
unfortunate victim of his treason, was
captured with information to the enemy
concealed in his boo:s. One OF his
captors, John Paulding, died in the
northern part of Granville after the
war a very old man. I heard an old
citizen of Granville say he had heard
him relate the circumstances OF An
dre's capture. Major Andre was an
educated, polished gentleman, bu
Oike too many young men) was found
in bad company and reaped the con
sequences. General Greene presided
in the court martial that tried hin
and signed the death warrant, but h
would have signed it more willingly
had it been Arnold instead of Andre
The sad fate of the accomplished victim
touched the sympathies of our people
He made an earnest appeal to Wash
ington to let him die as soldier, ant
not as disgraced culprit under thu
gallows. But the great commando
would not swerve from his duty to hi
country, and replied to his touching
appeal, "Major Andre was captured
as spy, was tried and condemned a
spy" | never think of his fate
without wishing the hand of justice
had fallen on the arch traitor. Th'
avaricious Judas betrayed his Master
but his remorseful feelings prompted
him to return the money and hans
himself, feeling like Cain that his "pun
ishment was greater than he coult
bear The vile Catalina the Roman
traitor, conspired against the countr,
that had honored and protected him
and went down in blood executed b,
his countrymen, with his name chron
icled as foul blot upon his country
history. Arnold the arch traitor
failed IN his attempt to ens!ave hi
race, sought refuge among the foes o
his country, in his wretched seclusior
broodlng over his treachery and dis
grace, feeling as he himself expressed
it, that he was "the only man on eartl
that did not have friend in Amer
ica." What citizen of this great ant
prosperous country ever speaks of Ben
edict Arnold without calling HIM OR
noM tie haitor?' No approving
voice is heard in his defense.
r. w. H.