The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-12-24
Andre and Arnold.

EDITOR GOLD LEAF-As Andre and /
Arnold were linked together i'll crime |
we will briefly sketch their history in |
Major Andre was a tai |
ented young officer in the British army, |
highly educated, with polished man.
ners. He was much respected by his
people and was coming rapidly into
notice. But the part he acted in Ar
nold's conspiracy brought him into
notice much faster than he desired.
He was the confidential correspondent
between the parties in trying to carry
out Arnold's reasonable plans. Arnold
wishing to confer with him with re-
gard to the surrender of West Point
induced him to visit him that he might
perfect his plans of surrender. On his
way back from West Point to New
York, he was captured by three Militia
men who searched him and found evil
dence of Arnold's reasonable designs
in his boots. He offered them liberal
bride if they would release him and let
him proceed. But true American sol
diers were not the men to sell their
country for money. Had he offered
them the wealth of the Rothschilds no
doubt they would have answered as
Peter did the covetous Simon. ''thy
money perish with thee" They hand
ell him over to the military authorities
who tried. condemned. and sentenced
him to be hung as Il spy. General
Greene. one Of our truest men. pre-
sidck in the court that tried him. and
signed the death warrant. regrettlng
that it was not Arnold instead Of An
Dire. Greene wrote to Washington few
days before the capture OF Andre to
keep a sharp lookout, as he was i'll
duccd to believe from some suspicious
circumstances that something wrong
was going on. Washington received his
! letter one day too late, and Arm old
hearing of the arrest of Andre made
his escape to the enemy. Major An
Dire wrote touching appeal to Washing
ton to change his death sentence and
not compel him to suffer the ignominy
of ending his days like common criml-
nal on the gibbet. His appeal touched
the sympathies of Washington and his
illustrous associates, but he would not
swerve from his duty. He replied to
his letter saying, Major Andre was
captured as a spy. tried and condemned
as spy, and shall hang as aspy.' An
Dire was hung in Tappantown, in Rich
land county New York, on the Cd of
October 1880. England erected a
monument to his memory in West
minister Abby. Thus died the gifted
| Andre the victim OF the arch traitor
Arnold. After the war Arnold quit
the land of his birth and resided i'll
/ England. His countrymen wanted no
association with him. They would as
soon have associated with a highway
rObber, an inccndiary or q midnight
assassin. Even in England he was
= Stunned and despised' by those who
respected the true American soldier
and greeted him with kindness. lie
spent a wretched existence. neglected
and penniless, with the recollection 0
his base trcachery preying upon his
mind. A gentleman in England want
ed 4 recommendation to some man o
influence in America and applied Il
Arnold as he was a native citizen o
the country. With a look of sadness:
the man said he never could forget
Arnold said Il am the only man il
England that has no friends in Amer
tica." The English government CAV,
him a small pension, either as reward
for his base efforts to ruin his country
or to relieve him in his destitute con
dtion. He died in obscurity on jun
18th, 1901. unregretted by any survive
Oh American soil. Like fallen Juda
he passed away in the dark shadows q
despondency detested by all true cit
zens of this great Republic. When Ia
entered the service Of his country 3
the commencement of the struggle fo
freedom no one suspected he would NO
be true to his country. He was con
f sidered man Of bravery and honor
and no one doubted the purity of h
intentions. He was trusted and con
suited by Washington as a man Who's
, opinions should be respected. III
stood by Ethan Allen in the capture o
Ticonderoga and Crown Point, ant
split his blood at Quebec controntin:
the foe. He had military genius Of ;
high order. and had he pursued WIS.,
and consistent course might have rank
S ed among the greatest and truest o
. American patriots. But wanting IL
firmnsss of character and integrity .
purpose he fell into disgrace with TIL
curses OF his incenscd countrymen rest
ing Oh hi. head. When the news tina
Arnold was plotting to surrender We>
5 Point in the hands of the enemy f.l
2 upon the ear. Of our people their fee
! ings Of surprise and indignation wer
incomprehensibe. 1t blasted his fam
and left him the loathsome object {
their hatred and their scorn Wha
true American ever speak. Of him with
out calling him Arnold the traitor !:
r. w HARRIS