Cumberland County NJ Archives News.....The Crime of Treason Relative to South Carolina January 19, 1861
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Donald Buncie http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008389 May 5, 2024, 2:44 am

West-Jersey Pioneer. (Bridgeton, N. J.) 1851-1884: January 19, 1861 January 19, 1861
The Crime of Treason.
Judge Smalley, of the U. S. Circuit Court in New York, yesterday, delivered a charge
in reference to the crime of treason, as connected with present event. He instructed
the Grand Jury that the seizure of United States property and firing on the United
States flag by persons owing allegiance to the United States, constituted high
treason by levying war; that no State could absolve citizens from their allegiance
to the General Government; and that neither South Carolina nor any other State could
legally protect citizens of other States in waging war against their Government;
that not only those who, acting under authority of different States, have seized the
forts, arsenals and other Federal property, are guilty of high treason, but also
those who may have lent them assistance by the sale to them of arms and munitions of
war, or vessels, knowing that the same were to be used in resistance to the
authority of the United States Government. He instructed the Grand Jury to inquire
into and to indict and present for trial all persons who had in any way assisted the
South Carolinians, by supplying them with arms, ammunition or other material of war,
or by otherwise giving them aid and comfort in their armed resistance to the
Government of the United States.The Judge went even farther than this, and directed
the Grand Jury to present for trial all persons who had been aware of the giving of
any treasonable assistance, and had neglected to inform the proper authorities
thereof.

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