Few things amuse me more than to hear advocates for the North declare the Confederacy a “foreign government,” and its followers traitors.
Few things are more home-grown than was the Confederacy.
If the Rebels were traitors, then more than one Union General should have been tried for treason for carrying on their friendships with former school- and unit-mates on the other side during the war.
Kinda reminds me of today's North Eastern Republicans and Democrats getting along so well.
The Confederacy was never called a "foreign government", since it's legitimacy was never recognized by Unionists -- it was no "government" -- and the word "foreign" doesn't apply.
"Traitors" is a different question, since the US Constitution defines "treason" as:
"The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason..."
Yes, after the war, all was eventually forgiven, and nobody was tried as traitors.
But tell us, FRiend, which part of the word "treason" do you not understand?
If your definition of Treason is making war against the government of the United States, I would say, yes, there were quite a lot of people in the southern government who committed treason.
General Grant gave the contents of his wallet to Simon Bolivar Buckner as the latter was on his way to a prisoner of war camp. I don’t think I would count that as giving aid and comfort to the enemy, considering that SBB had surrendered.
Your mileage may differ.