, 1861-12-09

The Presidents Message e.s Judge
Trumbu1l's Eont9Bcatton Act.


From Our oMn correspondent.1
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 1861.
The Presidents Message is variously conf
mentcd upon. AL agree that it is eminently
busineBB-like document. The observations |
concerning the Supreme Court, and the plans |
recommended for its reorganization, are very |
much liked. So also are the views presented |
concerning a revision Of the stututes, the es. |
tab]ishment Of Courts in the rebellious States
and Territories for the collection Of debts, and
the changes proposed for the Court Of Claims.
The condition Of the Treasury, so far as it is
treated by the President, is regarded In every
respect healthy md encouraging.
On tho other hand, there arc those who do
not see how the Government can receive the
ela1cs Of rebels from Maryland, or Kentucky,
or Missouri, "according to some mode Of va1-
"uation in lieu, pro tanto, of direct taxes" )"
nor do they understand how these slaves, after
being discharged from the only claim which
holds them, can be still retained by some other
power or claim, and used as tallies, or checks,
or s' chips" in settling cash account between
State and the General Government. Per-
haps the President merely intended, BY this
means, to encourage the Legislatures Of Mary
land, Kentucky and Missouri to adopt the
policy OF emancipatjng or conhscating the
slaTcs Of disloyal citizens. Indeed, this is tile
only intelligible explanation Of the scheme,
for it is absurd to suppose that, after person
has been discharged from The only service or
labor which he is supposed to owe, he still
| owes something to the State, or belongs In fee
| simple to the State, or can be lawfully used as
currency by the State.
| The reticencc Of the President on the sub
| ject Of slaves in their connection with the war
| a subject which Secretary Cameron deems
| the most important Of all-js much comment
cd upon.
| Senator Trumbull's bill to coniscate rebel
t property, ETC., engages much attention. It
has not get been printed, but am enabled to
furnish the readers Of the TRIBUSE with a
pretty full synopsis of 1t:
Section one provides that all property, real Or
personal, within the United States, belonging
TO any person, whether in or out Of the juris-
diction of the United States, who has taken up
arms against the Government, or has aided o.
abetted, or who shall aid or abet, the present
rebellion against the same, shall be conhsca.
ted and forfeited to the United States.
Section taeo provides that every person having
| claim to the service or labor OF any other per
son, in any State, under the laws thereof, who
|
arms against tho United States or in any man
| ner aid or abet Eaid rebellion, shall thereby
| forthwith forfeit all claim to such service orla
Dor, and the persons from whom it is claimed
| to be due, commonly called slaves, shall, ipst
.5deto, OIL the commission Of the act Of forfeit
ure, by the party having claim to the service
or labor aforesaid, be discharged thcrcfrou
| and become forever thereafter free persons
any person Of any State or Of the United
States to the contrary notwithstanding
dent of the United States to make pro
| vision for the transportation, colonization ant
settlement in some tropical country beyont
the limits Of the United Statcs Of such per
sons Of the African race made free By the pro
t visions Of this act, as may be willing to eul]
: Government of said country to their protec
: tion and settlement within the same, with 81
= | the rights and privileges Of frcemen.
Section Three provides for seizure and confis
c cation By military power when beyond th
c reach Of civil PROCESS
;. Section four provides that the fund arisin
: from such contiscation shall be applied, first
:, to the reimbursement Of such loyal persons
IS may have been despoiled Of their property b
O | the rebellion, and, second, to the payment {
= | the public debt incurred by tho United State
in the suppression Of said rebellion.
;. Stctio,a fife provides for the protection I
l. loyal citizens in the rebel States from the ol
!. erations Of the act.
Stctiou siI provides for Judicial proceeding
e in District Courts Of the United States, fo
j. the execution Of the provisions Of the act.
% Stct;os. seze.s provides for the forfeiture
the personal property Of persons duly tried ar
10 convicted of treason.
~ The difference between TIC first and seycn'
Il sections Of the Act is, tlat the former opcrat
u upon the property Of rebels whose persons
u moi within our jurisdiction, while the latt
confnrr,s IN f1t,t r1ansp Of thr Constitute
which contemplatcs the punishment Of tt
rs person Of the traitor by execution, and in vie
ar Of that punishment forbids the confiscation
# his real property beyond the period Of his OF
m | lifr