To intelligently discuss this issue it is first necessary to understand the definition of "Traitor".

trai·tor   

One who betrays one's country, a cause, or a trust, especially one who commits treason.

n 1: someone who betrays his country by committing treason [syn: treasonist] 2: a person who says one thing and does another [syn: double-crosser, double-dealer, two-timer, betrayer]

Miriam-Webster's online Dictionary defines Traitor as:

traitor

Main Entry: trai·tor
Pronunciation: 'trA-t&r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English traitre, from Old French, from Latin traditor, from tradere to hand over, deliver, betray, from trans-, tra- trans- + dare to give -- more at DATE
1 : one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty
2 : one who commits treason

Since Traitor seems to be closely tied to "Treason" let's look at that definition:

Main Entry: trea·son
Pronunciation: 'trE-z^&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English tresoun, from Old French traison, from Latin tradition-, traditio act of handing over, from tradere to hand over, betray -- more at TRAITOR
1 : the betrayal of a trust : TREACHERY
2 : 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 family

Wikipedia Online encyclopedia says:

Thus far, it seems that the main reason for calling Confederates "Traitors" would be their role in the so called "Civil War", though many level this charge simply because they left the Union.

If this is the case, then any revolutionaries would have to be considered Traitors, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and all the rest of our founding fathers.  All were born under the rule of the British empire and rebelled against it's authority yet they are considered "Heroes".  Apparently the charge of "Traitor" depends upon which side wins.

 Did the South truly engage in traitorous activities against their lawful government?

To answer this we must first look at the mind-set of these times.

Robert Edward Lee was a Colonel in the United States Army who was offered the position of Commander of the U.S. forces.  Lee refused this commission and offered his sword to the fledgling Confederate States of America, justifying his actions with the famous quote, "I love America but I love Virginia more".  Even though, at this time, Virginia had not seceded, Lee knew that the North could not put down this perceived rebellion without marching through Virginia and he knew Virginia would not allow this to occur unopposed.

From the creation of the United States, until the end of the War of Secession, it was widely accepted that each Colony and later each State was a sovereign entity, governed only by itself.  Therefore Lee's statement makes perfect sense.  His primary loyalty was to his home State and to act against his State would have been treason.  (See the Treaty of Paris - 1783)

Had the Southern States tried to forcibly take over the United States Government the charge of treason might have some basis in truth, but this did not occur.  The South voluntarily left the Union when they decided that the Union was not acting in their best interest.

To put this in a more modern context, many of us have made a vow, "Till death do us part", only to find that for one reason or another we could not live with our chosen partner.  The dissolution of the Union by the Confederate States is similar in many ways to a modern day divorce.  We made an agreement, in good faith, but found that the agreement was becoming very one-sided.  After several unsuccessful attempts to rectify this there were only two possible choices; Divorce (Secession) or oppression by the Federal Government.

The South chose secession having in mind an amicable separation, remaining on good terms with their former government.

Since the South voluntarily left the Union with no intention of war and with no intent to interfere with the Northern Government, the charge of Treason is completely unfounded.

 Fighting a war against the U.S. was a treasonous act.

Many claim that since the Confederate States fired the first shots against Fort Sumter, they instigated a war against their lawful government.  Again, this charge is completely unfounded.

For four months after the secession of the Southern States the Confederate Government tried to negotiate an amicable settlement with the United States, concerning Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina and Fort Pinkney in Pensacola, Florida.

The northern Government refused to meet with emissaries from these Southern States reasoning that by negotiating with representatives of the Confederate States of America they would be admitting that the CSA was a separate and lawful government.  Understanding this predicament the Confederate States government instructed their emissaries to request an audience as representatives of their individual States.  They were again rebuffed and Lincoln refused to meet with them.  The Confederate States wished to avoid armed conflict at almost any cost.

Being in the center of Charleston harbor, Fort Sumter was in a position to prevent trade in South Carolina's busiest port.  Fortunately, only a small force occupied the Fort and could only do minimal damage to shipping.

Knowing this, Lincoln bypassed Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, and mounted a naval force to reinforce Fort Sumter.  Besides being an unconstitutional usurpation of the powers by the President, it was an act of war against the State of South Carolina or the Confederate States government, depending on how you look at it.

Knowing that the reinforcement of Sumter would mean closing the Port of Charleston, the government of South Carolina and the Confederate States Government demanded the surrender of the small command occupying Fort Sumter.  Finally, as the reinforcement fleet drew near, the South had no choice and began the bombardment of Fort Sumter.

Unable to enter the harbor during the shelling, the Union fleet sat at anchor, outside that harbor, while Sumter fell.

From this, it should be obvious that;

• The South did not desire War.

• The South made every effort to negotiate an amicable agreement.

• The South did not fire upon Sumter until it was unavoidable.

• Despite several warnings against reinforcing Fort Sumter, the North chose to send troops, instigating an Act of War against South Carolina.

• South Carolina acted in self defense, preventing the closure of Charleston Harbor.

Despite the fall of Fort Sumter, the Confederate States made no move against the United States, proving once again there was no inclination to oppose the lawful government of the United States.  Full scale warfare did not begin until July of 1861 when Northern troops invaded Virginia.

In other words, the South only acted in self defense, both at Fort Sumter and at Manassas, Virginia (Bull Run, for the Yankee's reading this).  I can see no way that acting for the protection of self and community could ever be considered Treason and therefore the Southern States could not be branded as Traitors.

Proof there was no Treason

By the war's end, Confederate President, Jefferson Davis was captured and held prisoner in Fortress Monroe (22 May, 1865) for two years by the United States Government.  Though indicted on charges of Treason, no trial was ever held, though it was understood that he would be tried as a traitor and executed.

The only problem was that the attorneys recommended by the Government all agreed that the trial would be lost because there was no evidence of Treason.

Rather than admit that the charges of Treason were unfounded and thereby admitting that the U.S. was wrong in waging war against the South, Jefferson Davis was freed on May 13, 1867.  His release came after a finding by the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Salmon P. Chase, that there was nothing in the U.S. Constitution that prohibited the secession of states. If secession was not illegal, neither Davis nor any other Confederate leaders could be guilty of treason.

If Jefferson Davis, the Commander in Chief of the Confederate Forces and President of the Confederate States of America could not be tried for Treason due to lack of evidence, then why are charges that the Confederates were traitors to their country still being used today?  (For more information see James Ronald & Walter Donald Kennedy's book "Was Jefferson Davis Right" by Pelican Press)

Final Proof from Dwight David (Ike) Eisenhower and Congress