Are these the traitors you're talking about?
Even if people couldn't dig up anything against the person, the monument could simply be linked to the "wrong part of our history" and be removed, like the Thomas Fallon's statue in San Jose [4]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bust_of_Ulysses_S._Grant_(San_...
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Francis_Scott_Key_(S...
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Junípero_Serra_(San_...
> On June 19, 2020, the monument was toppled by protestors and defaced with the words "Adios America" in red paint as a response to Grant's brief ownership of a slave.
> Francis Key
> The statue was toppled by vandals on June 19, 2020, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.
> Juniperro Serra
> Other statues of Junípero Serra were involved as the protests expanded to include monuments of individuals associated with the controversy over the genocide of indigenous peoples in the Americas.
> Thomas Fallon
> Fallon remains a controversial figure in San Jose's history, owing to his role in the American Conquest of California.
Besides Francis Key, which appears to have been vandalized rather than something that people specifically wanted removed, the rest of them do actually have reasons they were taken down? You can disagree with those but they do exist.
For the people I listed, I'd encourage you to read more about them and form your own opinion instead of just quoting back from the links I shared earlier.
There is very little reason to believe that Serra treated the indigenous people differently from the rest of his mission or that he didn't believe in what he was preaching. Similarly, almost nothing is known about why Grant had William Jones for a year, but Grant's character had been proven through years of real action - fighting the war and, later, fighting the KKK.
People just clung to some speculative theories, interpreted them in the least charitable way, and get offended by it. While everyone else sees that the topic was labeled as "racist" or "controversial" and tries to distance themselves from it.
They waged war against the United States, attacking the seams of this very country's unity, which by even the Constitution's purposely narrow definition, is treason.
They were pardoned for their treason because they were traitors.
These false narratives villifying and dividing the country long after the Civil War concluded are nonsense.
-President Gerald Ford
>Whereas the authority of the Federal Government having been reestablished in all the States and Territories within the jurisdiction of the United States, it is believed that such prudential reservations and exceptions as at the dates of said several proclamations were deemed necessary and proper may now be wisely and justly relinquished, and that an universal amnesty and pardon for participation in said rebellion extended to all who have borne any part therein will tend to secure permanent peace, order, and prosperity throughout the land, and to renew and fully restore confidence and fraternal feeling among the whole people, and their respect for and attachment to the National Government, designed by its patriotic founders for the general good:
-President Andrew Johnson
The Civil War is over, it ended over a century and a half ago. I again, sincerely, ask you to screw off with that false narrative which serves only to divide and weaken the unity and solidarity of the country.
Ex-Confederates were traitors, that much is true. Were they never pardoned or otherwise acquitted of treason in a court of law then that would still be true today. Of course, that is not what happened: President Andrew Johnson pardoned them all unconditionally, and in the case of General Robert E. Lee (whose pardon was not processed due to clerical errors) his pardon was made effective retroactive to the date of application by an act of Congress.
Ex-Confederates are all therefore excused of their crime of treason, and to still attack them further citing that crime is baseless and unwarranted. They are Americans, and the men who fought are all American heroes who ultimately wished for a united and healed nation.
Calling Civil War era Americans traitors today is ruthlessly divisive rhetoric that only serves to sow conflict in a time when the country really does not need that kind of incendiary bullshit. Everyone who spews this false narrative should be ashamed of themselves, they are throwing mud upon those who chose to pursue peace instead of generational animosity.
[1]: https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S2-C1-3...
otherwise we keep perpetuating the myth that the great/rich/powerful can do no wrong.