Wilmington Journal

From the Washington Union.
ANTIDOTE FOR MORAL TREASON."

Those traitorous acts which may be performed, and those treasonable sentiments which may be promulgated, without an infringement of the criminal laws of the country, but are yet calculated and intended to give aid and comfort to the enemy, have been well treated as constituting "moral treason." There is no statute law in the United States for the punishment of "moral treason." Traitors may stalk abroad at mid-day, promulgating their treacherous sentiments with impunity, so long as they are guilty of no overt act. They may encourage the enemy through the press they may denounce their own government as meriting the curse of God, and proclaim the hostile country to be deserving of the prayers and sympathies of the world; and yet this is not legal treason. They may advise and cheer the foe, at a distance; they may join the adversary in head and heart. but, nevertheless, they are amenable to no statute law so long as they keep their carcases within the American lines. We now find thousands taking advantage of the leniency of our criminal code ; and it is not improbable that Santa Anna's army would be some thousands stronger than at present, did not an act of Congress affix the punishment of hanging by the neck until dead to the offence of joining the enemy in person. As the laws annex no penalty to the commission of moral treason, measures should be taken to draw upon the heads of all traitors at heart the scathing frowns of an outraged & indignant people. In regard to the readiest means of effecting this object, some apt suggestions come to us in a paper from the enthusiastic west. The Ohio Patriot, of the 18th instant, throws out the following hints, which, if generally adopted, cannot fail to exercise a wholesome influence upon the future, if not upon the present. We bespeak for the proposition of the Ohio editor, the consideration of our friends generally. The patriotic portion of the opposition will probably favor the project, as they may thereby escape odium, which, in the absence of evidence, may hereafter unjustly attach to their characters from the fact of being members of the federal party.

"A War Register-Timely Proposition-It has been suggested that the cause of the country may be promoted by the opening of a war register in every city, town, and village. for the purpose of preserving an authentic record of the toryism which may be displayed by individuals during the continuance of the present war. In this register it is proposed to record the names of such personages as make themselves zealous in pleading the cause of the enemy, and oppose the war into which the people and the government of the United States have been forced by Mexican aggression, insult, and robbery. Besides the names of the individuals who pronounce against the justness of our cause, such sentiments as are particularly odious should be placed on the register. Where an individual expresses sympathy for the enemy, wishes the death of the President, or the downfall of the national administration, as a punishment for having engaged in the war, the sentiment of the tory should be registered in his own language as near as possible. All statements intended for entry on the record should be verified by the name of the witness or contributor.

"The above is a general outline of the plan Such a record as it proposes will save much doubt and prevarication in after years. Had such a register been kept in 1812, the denials of those who opposed the war of that era would now avail them nothing. We hope that our friends everywhere in Ohio will move in this matter without delay."