AID AND COMFORT. The constitution of the United States, art. 8, s. 3,
declares, that adhering to the enemies of the United States, giving them aid
and comfort, shall be treason. These words, as they are to be understood in
the constitution, have not received a full judicial construction. They
import, however, help, support, assistance, countenance, encouragement. The
word aid, which occurs in the Stat. West. 1, c. 14, is explained by Lord
Coke (2 just. 182) as comprehending all persons counselling, abetting,
plotting, assenting, consenting, and encouraging to do the act, (and he
adds, what is not applicable to the Crime to treason,) who are not present
when the act is done, See, also, 1 Burn's Justice, 5, 6; 4 Bl. Com. 37, 38.