Posted on 10/06/2001 2:16:16 PM PDT by WIMom
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Article III. Section. 3.
Treason1 against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in 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.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder2 of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood3, or Forfeiture4 except during the Life of the Person attainted.
1. Treason
A. the betrayal of a trust2. Attainder -- extinction of the civil rights and capacities of a person upon sentence of death or outlawry usually after a conviction of treason
B. the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign's familytrai·tor
a. one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty
b. one who commits treason
treach·ery
a. violation of allegiance or of faith and confidence
b. an act of perfidy or treason
Treason in U.S. History, source (long load)
In the early days of the American colonies the codes defining treason used such terms as desertion, mutiny, sedition, attempts to subvert or alter government, and "public rebellion." Toward the end of the 17th century colonial law followed more closely the English law of treason. During the French and Indian War some colonies considered trading with the enemy treasonous. Massachusetts in 1706 declared "correspondence" with the enemy to be treason. During the 1680s, Virginia attempted to punish the destruction of young tobacco plants, in order to control prices, as treason. In colonial days the penalty for conviction of treason followed the English law, providing for attainder, forfeiture, or loss of property, and the loss of all rights of inheritance. The sentence included the practice of hanging and quartering. Often, however, the colonial governor received a reversal of the judgment from the Crown.
Just before the American Revolution, efforts were made to prosecute certain leaders for treason. Those who participated in the Boston Tea Party and in burning the ship Gaspée in Rhode Island were suspect. Convictions could not be obtained in the colonies, because juries would not convict and witnesses could not be found even after offers were made to give cash rewards and full pardons to informers against those who burned the Gaspée.
During the American Revolution, charges of treason were brought against American supporters of the British government. Congress authorized the death penalty for American soldiers who supported King George III. Several men were hanged for enlisting soldiers in the king's army and for various other violations, such as furnishing supplies to the British. Many convicted traitors were pardoned.
The most famous treasonous activity of the Revolution was the planned surrender to the British of the fort at West Point, New York, by the American general Benedict Arnold. His plan was discovered in 1780 when the British soldier John André was captured with documents detailing the surrender.
In 1790, Congress fixed the penalty for treason as death by hanging. The accused was to enjoy certain procedural rights: a copy of the indictment; a list of jurors and witnesses at least three days before trial; representation by counsel; compulsory process for witnesses on behalf of the accused; and preemptory challenge of 35 members of the jury panel.
Perhaps the most celebrated American trial for treason in the 19th century was that of the statesman Aaron Burr, who completed his term as vice president in March 1805. He was unpopular with many persons because he had killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. In conspiracy with others, Burr proposed a grandiose scheme for establishing a kingdom west of the Appalachians, raiding Spanish lands, and settling the lands in the Washita Valley. Burr was tried for treason but was acquitted after a long trial. The case turned partly on the point that Burr was not present when the one overt act that was charged took place.
Few cases of treason occurred in U.S. courts for more than a century after Burr's trial. During the American Civil War, no judicial determination was made as to whether or not leaders and supporters of the Confederacy were guilty of treason against the U.S. Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, was indicted, but he never came to trial.
In the 20th century, several Americans were accused of treasonous acts during World War II. Iva Ikuko Toguri D'Aquino, a Japanese American born in Los Angeles and known as Tokyo Rose, conducted broadcasts in English to American servicemen in the Pacific area. She was convicted of treason and served a long prison term. Mildred Elizabeth Gillars of Portland, Maine, known as Axis Sally, served a sentence for broadcasting for the Germans.
Amendment I to the Constitution
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Yes, but the Tokyo Rose and Axis Sally precedents are highly significant. Here we have a case of American citizens who were not saboteurs, who did not actually engage in armed conflict against the US or its military forces, and who did not engage in espionage. All they did was talk and express their opinions in the media -- just like the seditious leftists are doing.
The leftist domestic enemies of this country are steeped through and through with sedition. As this posting indicates, sedition is a sub-set of treason. The First Amendment does not establish an absolute right of sedition, and the legal precedents mentioned above do establish that sedition is a criminal act punishable by law.
It is time that we start calling things by their proper name, and maybe start prosecuting criminals who commit crimes.
Ain't that the truth!
Good point---look how Congress has diluted "interstate commerce."
For all those that hate the United States and are citizens, where is your alliegance and to name one, JUST ONE, better country in the world.
The politician in order that they may eat, drink, copulate and snore-at our expense-have led us into this mess. Politicians have loaded our country with Third World types, who hate and despise us. The Third World types have now bitten and the political B*stards say "Toleration". They say with the left hand we will bomb and with the right hand drop food-AT THE SAME TIME!
Don't want to change the subject so let's not go there. If you believe there are interpretations of the US Constitution and that Congress has duties how is it possible for them to dilute the IC Clause? If they can hang someone for treason, they should be able to charge for the use of highways, biways, seaways and flyways
I put this information together to hopefully let others know what treason is. Because you and I may differ on opinions does not mean one or the other is a traitor. A traitor is one who commits treason, and treason is the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance.
Look at the number of laws, directives and grants since 1960 that are in direct opposition to federalism. This is nothing more than fraud, abuse of power and corruption and it exists in BOTH parties today more than ever.
I am a loyal republican, but I am not blind and I'm not stupid. It's true that the republicans have done more since Nixon to roll back many of the abuses to federalism, while the dims have done nothing.
But, the pubbies turn their heads time after time including most of Slick Willie's little schemes. And, when they don't turn their heads, they're gutless to do anything about it.
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