Arnold might be only one
of many. Washington said, indeed, that it was a wonder there were
not more. In a civil war every one of importance is likely to
have ties with both sides, regrets for the friends he has lost,
misgivings in respect to the course he has adopted. In April,
1779, Arnold had begun his treason by expressing discontent at
the alliance with France then working so disastrously. His future
lay before him; he was still under forty; he had just married
into a family of position; he expected that both he and his
descendants would spend their lives in America and he must have
known that contempt would follow them for the conduct which he
planned if it was regarded by public opinion as base. Voices in
Congress, too, had denounced the alliance with France as alliance
with tyranny, political and religious. Members praised the
liberties of England and had declared that the Declaration of
Independence must be revoked and that now it could be done with
honor since the Americans had proved their metal. There was room
for the fear that the morale of the Americans was giving way.
The defection of Arnold might also have military results. He had
bargained to be made a general in the British army and he had
intimate knowledge of the weak points in Washington's position.
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