The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-14
BENEDICT ARNOLD TRIED.
PROSECUTED ny Sons OF THE
AMERICAN RFTOL UTIOH.

rhhgeo some ume ago by Chhuncey NJ. Depew
and his compatriots In the Empire State Society.
Sons OF the American Revolution, took place at
the Hotel Normsndio last night. It had been
arranged to have . prosecuting attorney and .
lawyer for the defence. who wero to present
their arguments, after which DIR. Depew
was to sum up, and the audience. acting
as a jury. was TO decide whether there were ex-
tenuating circumstances In Arnoid's case. The
programme was carried out 30 far as the argu-
ments were concerned, but when the lawyers
had finished II vas so late that DIR. Depew de-
cided to sum up Mt some future occasion. Col.
Henry w. Sackett. who is on Gov. Blacks stan,
and Edward A. Sumner, formerly Of Minnesota,
but now Of this city, represented tho prosecu-
tion and defence, respectively.
After the Indictment. which consisted Of q
review Of Arnold's shortcomings. had been
read by Col. John p. 5charf. who drew 1t up.
DIR. Depow called on CO.. Sackett to present his
side OF the case. Col. ,ackett said:
Tho name OF Benedict Arnold Is tho most
Infamous and his memory the most odious In
American annals. II Is now 100 years since the
commission Of that foul crime. but his name
will be always linked with II In our history:
he has been dead for . century, but his name Is
only the moro infamous, and to-day Is on record
In all lands as the synonym of all that is vile
and execrablc.
Now. tho question Is. Is all Of this condem.
nation and detcstation Of this man unjust 2
Has contumely undeserved been hcsped upon
him ? Has q single flower been plucked that
should have been allowed to grow above his
gravoH For my part I am glad I represent tho
negative side OF this argument. ] can sec no
other. For his brave deeds I give credit to
Benedict Arnold. but no one has ever dared.
not even those who were to profit by his
crime, to offer these up as palliation Of hi, act.
llsh had for Arnold. Remember the scene In
the House OF Parliament when Lord Lauder
dale pointed him out and held him w TO his fel-
when another nobleman pointed Mt him as no
stood In the rear Of the gallery and said Il will
NO general discussion OF the character of
the man would be complete without, dwelling
COLONIZATION Of a career OF treachery. The nan
had dd all the qualities Of his ,psnd.hrif. father;
for his cruelty. Tearing insects and birds apart
IN tho road that his barcfooted comrades might
walk on II and cut their feet was another. He
f mss SaHii e bs sSl'a .sa 10 ao S.sSF , Tass' t sSsi nSa
whom he held a grievance. And yet even
as 2 lad he proved his physical courage and
water wheel OF tho mill In his native town.
sometimes making the complete circuit, under
water and all, with It. THIS and other acts
showed the innate recklessness. or courage, you
may call II. OF the man.
Never TO the time Of his death did Benedict
Arnold learn how to obey. Nowhere In his
record of victories and achievements can one
be found which was the result OF orders from u
judgment OF In direct opposition to the orders
lie had received. Benedict Arnold was never a
good soldier. lie was best fitted TO be a gucr-
let us give full credit to him for his energy
and prom ptness when the news OF the skirmish
Boston and went before tho Massachusetts
committee II was with a lie on his lip-.
comes a record Of bravery. dishonesty. betty
%quarrols. and vanity. such as Is embodied in no
THE two battles of Bcmis Height, deserve
Tue mort outraged and abused. aud the most
first battle came the, quarrel with dates
and the suS.sSueni handing IN Of his
away way then. but he saw "A the cornins BATHS
:Sss ~ event. n .s;ysa ana hen AM;
Congress voted. him the. commission OF Major
H isd'' ssn, sHssA Arnold 9S h'a died S'av tSen so ali 'on q
his. past deeds could. have been forgotten
s ssa. %S ..n s.1, some sa n,s 81 tbs to- b sHsr ss s.IeS,. we 9ha
anniversary Of the ratification OF the treaty of
peace with Great Britain.
sion followed tho acts which eliminated in his
treason. Judas Iscariot went and hanged him.
SELF. but benedict Arnold seemed TO be preserved
to show all men how desplca6le Is a traitor
In the hands OF the evil one. IL was n craven
and desplcablc spirit that Arnold, showed all
through the negotiations with the British. his
hagRling over the price to bo paid him for the
betrayal Of his country. his leaving his wife In u
swoon on the moor OF their house when lac fed
to the British ship. and his giving up AS prison.
ers 10 the British the, ooatmen who rowei him
SNOW 70 ,s SSe nature S"irsr and ip Tend e Ms|S Of 'Ss man n'sa'' a"
For ais actSof valor. full honor, but for all
the rest; %iEnominy' shame and everlasting exc
I'VE have heard the prosecution, now let's
hear what the defence has got to say" said DR..
sseIe,t's speech VAS rewarded had died out.
There wa. a craning OF necks to see Mr.. sum
ner; whG came forward smiling Hs seemed 70
that his task was not to be an easy one; but he
went at It in n good. natured way and won his
my client has been called the worst man
since Cam, Judas; Nero; Mspn,s,"pheies: and
that / don't sdm nIt1 anything. before / do any.
thing else ] want TO knock my friend Col. sackett
out on a few little points that he has raised;
when Lord Lauderdale pointed him out
so' called fo4 ,b S.m very tr", sogd l r.S.on ,s s"t
h; wa. not there at lie. time. He was told Of
ne reference a~ilerward, However; and duel
was n bloodiess affair. but only because Arnold
refused to kill his man. saying that he wanted
Col. saokett says that he never served under
the orders of another General. That, too. Is not
So. lie was sent by Washington to serve under
So. Clair. and did so for a long campaign. Aud
about the men " no rowed him out to the Vulture.
They were not detained. Arnold offered them
places In the British army II they chose to stay,
freedom to return to The shore II they did not.
One or two remained with him and
the rest went back. So much for n
few Of the Colonel's contentious. These stories
of brutality as n child are n few OF those
that have been fixed on Arnold. One of the
wors, OF them Is that he robbed hens nests.
How many of you men who are sitting In judg-
mcnt on this man tonight can raise your hands
aud say that you never did that very snIne
thing2 Think for a moment Of the suffering Of
this man ON the trip TO Quebec. Compare IL
with the retreat from Moscow. and then think
that they were getting away from something
while he was going TO u. Think OF TITO glorious
work against the British fleet on Lake Cham
plain which he did, and OF his other wonderful
acts ~ valor which were so much To his country.
Whether Arnold made n bargain with tho
British Government. | do not know. | de-
elmo 10 read history whom IL ISLANDERS my
client. was not alive and there at the
time, and 40 do not know what occurred. But
Arnold has been punished enough, and | want
you to give him n chance now. | do not crave
his forgiveness. ! demand II from the jury. In
The plain LANGUAGE OF your New York streets,
II think y0u'rl all agree said DIR. Depew as
Mr.. Sumner sRt down, that our friend has
made out q much better case than we thought
he would. There In no doubt that in tho years
that have passed since the revolutionary war,