Indictments For Treason

The New York Commercial Advertiser, without differing with us in regard to the wisdom of holding the Christiana Prisoners guilty of the crime of "Treason," thinks that we do not treat the matter with becoming gravity. This may be true. There is a spirit of subserviency among us, on this question, which should awaken indignation rather than contempt. The sentiment of Freemen, on the subject of Slavery, has found a very low standard. The Press, with but too rare exceptions, are pandering to that spirit.

The judicial proceeding against the Christiana negroes is in violation of that clause of the Constitution which defines the crime of Treason, thus:

"Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or adhering, to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court."

There is no warrant for that proceeding therefore, either in the Constitution or in any Law of Congress; nor is there any Judicial precedent for this strained construction. And yet the public sentiment is so overawed and the public Press so tamed that scarcely a voice of remonstrance or reproof is heard!

Look at the spectacle of a Colored Preacher who now stands indicted for TREASON because he "informed" that the Slave-catchers were on their way to Christiana after Fugitives!

That "Colored Preacher" obeyed an impulse for which he can and if needs be will, go to the Dungeon or the Gallows rejoicing. To withhold that information from these who were "flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone," would have been an offense against the laws of nature and humanity. There is no law upon any statute book, that, either in letter or spirit, makes the act with which that "Colored Preacher" is charged, a CRIME. But a high Judicial Tribunal has had him indicted for Treason! Before sentence can pass against him, there must be a Trial - a Trial, God be praised, by Jury.

Slavery, acting upon the hopes and the fears of men who are looking to the South for political or pecuniary advantages, is now exerting a powerful sway over the public mind. And this "peculiar Institution" is most exacting and arbitrary in its demands. It asks security, in a bond that henceforth the North shall not disturb, even in the way of amendment, any of the "Compromise Laws. And to this despotic demand there is, by politicians and merchants, a tame acquiescence.
The Fugitive Slave Law is one of the "Compromise Measures" which is to be regarded as perfect and obeyed as a commandment! That Law is obnoxious in some of its details and vindictive in its whole spirit. It was drawn up as much to insult Freemen as to reclaim Fugitives. It was passed, not that any one Representative from a Free State believed it just or wise, but because men were looking for Presidencies, Departments and Missions. It was designed to provoke excitement and create agitation, for by such consequences, dividing the North and uniting the South, cherished objects are promoted.

Slavery is entitled, under the Constitution, to the "service of labor" of its Fugitives. In view, however, of the difficulty which none can fail to see, of carrying out that provision of the Constitution, would it not have been far better to receive from the Treasury a just equivalent for all Fugitives that could be found and identified? Such a law could have been readily passed - as indeed could any Law that Slavery chose to demand from the last Congress - and executed without disturbing the peace of society or hazarding the lives of citizens. Nor would its execution have been as onerous as the present Law, for the expense of restoring a Fugitive now is double the intrinsic value of the Slave. - Eve. Journal.