Another Arrest For Treason

"Samuel Williams, the colored man, who is said to have conveyed the intelligence to Christiana of the intended arrest of the fugitive slaves of the deceased Mr. Gorsuch, and to have given the names and a description of the persons of the officers, was arrested in Philadelphia on Monday evening on the charge of treason. His examination has been postponed in consequence of the illness of U.S. Commissioner Ingraham.

Is there not some danger that the high and dignified Crime of Treason will lose caste? TREASON has heretofore been regarded as aiming at the liberties and welfare of Governments. Few but those of noble rank or high distinction have attained this eminence in crime. Princes, Nobles, and "high reaching" Military Chieftains who have committed "Treason," occupy a large space in the histories of the Old World. AARON BURR was tried for some offense akin to "Treason." The Pennsylvania "Whiskey Insurrection" and "Shay's Rebellion" were offenses against the Government, but neither of them are regarded as having come quite up to the point of "Treason."
But a real, perfect, full-grown case of "Treason" has at length occurred. Some common, vulgar minds were at first inclined to doubt whether it was a case which involved the safety or integrity of the Government, but there is no longer reason to doubt, nor have we any right to doubt, for the Government has decided that it is a decided case of "Treason;" and it is being treated as such.

The Fugitives at Christiana who resisted the execution of the Law made expressly to meet their case, committed "Treason." - Those who assisted them, and those who did not assist the Officers, are parties to the same crime. All this has been settled by Judge KANE, who has shown himself a very Daniel of a Judge.

We venture to suggest, however, though with humble deference, that in the case of "Samuel Williams, the colored man" who "is said" to have informed his brethren that the Slave-hunters were after them, the learned Judge may be running the crime of Treason into the ground! The "colored man" certainly could not have supposed that in giving information to his friends that "the Philistines" were coming, he was committing the high crime of Treason. He did not dream that he was either "plotting" or "hatching" Treason. He obeyed an instinct of his nature, and was as unconscious and as innocent of any design to overthrow this Government as any poor Negro could possibly have been. We shall know all about the matter when Commissioner INGRAHAM gets well enough to hear the Case.

In the meantime the friends of the "Compromise Measures" in Grayson Co. Virginia, are taking care of the Union in this wise:

"The Vigilance Committee of Grayson Co., Virginia, on the 31st inst., arrested John Cornutt, a friend of Bacon's, the Ohio Abolitionist. They at first requested him to renounce his abolition sentiments, which he refused to do; they then stripped him tied him, to a tree, and, after receiving a dozen lashes, he agreed to renounce abolitionism, sell his land and negroes, and leave the State. Great excitement prevailed, and the committee were in pursuit of others." - N.Y. Com. Adv.