From The New-York Times January 14, 1861:
Disunion Leading the Way.
The following paragraph from the Charleston Mercury shows that the Disunionists in South Carolina neither halt nor hesitate in carrying their doctrines to their legitimate results:
ARREST FOR TREASON. — J.N. MERRIMAN, Collector of the port of Georgetown, S.C. was on Monday last arrested by the people of Georgetown on a charge of treason against the State. A letter was found written by him and addressed to Mr. BUCHANAN, stating that he (MERRIMAN) had just cleared vessels in the name of the United States, and that he would continue to do so. The letter calls upon the President to send a boat and men to collect the Federal revenue, and informs him of the progress made in the construction of the works near Georgetown, and promises to keep him posted from time to time in relation to the same. The letter is signed by his initials, J.N.M. When arrested, he acknowledged having written it. LOPSE, his deputy, was also arrested. He said he had been in the habit of writing out MERRIMAN’s letters, but had not done so in this case, as he considered it treason. Both have been committed for trial.
Officers of the Government of the United States have thus been arrested and committed to prison for obeying the laws of that Government. They are to be tried for treason against South Carolina. If convicted, they will either be executed or owe their lives to the clemency of the sham Government of that State.
It strikes us that the Administration at Washington cannot well avoid meeting the issue thus raised. No Government which has any self-respect, or any desire to preserve the respect of the world, can fail to protect its own officers in such a case.
I guess the treason depends on one’s view of the Constitution and the legitimacy of secession.
You can check out the Georgetown lighthouse and a paragraph of its Civil War history at Lighthouse Friends
