Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1861-12-19

I
rebels would be equally clear
with that to coniiscate their prop
erty generally, for is as prop
erty that they profess to hold
them; but as one OF the most ef-
ficient means for attaining the
end for which the armies of the
Union have been called forth.
the right to restore to them the
God given liberty of which they
have been unustly deprived is
doubly clear. 1t only remains to
inquire whether, in making use
OF lawful means to crush this re-
belion it is policy to confiscate
the property OF rebels and take
from them the support of unre-
Quilted labor. Can there be a
question on this point? Who does
not know that treason has not
gained strength by the leniency
with which it has been treated :?
We have dal!ied with it quite
too long already. Instead of be-
ing looked upon as the worst OF
crimes, as it really is, it has come
to be regarded as trivial oflense,
to be attoned TOR by a promise
to co so no more. The despoiIers
of loyal citizens, the conspirators
against the peace of nation, the
plunderers OF the public property,
the assasins of liberty, when they
have fallen into our hands, have
been suffered to escape on taking
an oath of allegience, which
many have not scrupled to violate
the first opportunity. Thousands
of industrious and enterprising
men have been ruined by this re-
bellion.
More than twenty million OF
men, now contributing of their
means and their blood to its sup
preston; more than a million Of
men-as noble spirits as ever trod
he earth in martial array-now
encamped in tents, and under
going all the hardships Of winter
campaign; thousands of others
now confined in prisons, and
some in dungeons by lhe rebels;
the blood Of the disinterested, the
noble hearted, the dauntless and
heroic Lyon; Of the gifted, the
eloquent, the brave and patriotic
Baker; and OF the hundreds of
other loyal citizens and true men,
shed by rebel hands, still upliited
for the slaughter OF thousands
more, and the destruction of free
government; these, and a thousand
other considerations, all demand
that the authors OF these calami-
ties, and others yet to follow, If
they have the power to inffict
them, should be made to suffer,
both in their persons ard their
property, for the enormous crimes
they have been and are commit
ting against private rights and
public liberty.
Besides, sir, not to confscate
the property OF rebels is to offer
premium to disloyalty, so long
as they, wherever in power, con
liscate the property OF loyal citi-
zens. Under such policy the
rebels property is safe, let who
will triumph, while the man true
to his aliesience, his country and
his flag, is, if within their power,
despoiIed Of all he possesses
Under such policy, the path OF
safety for property IS to place it
Oh the road to treason. i it any
wonder that under such policy,
treason, which at first had bat a
partial l'oothold IN such States as
Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee,
North Carolina and Virginia, has
spread till In some OF them il now
has complete possession? The
loyal citizens in all States where
the rebels have sway, knows that
the penalty for an avowal oil his
allegiance to his country is the
forfeiture Of all b9 has, while, If
he foreswears his allegiance, nis
property is alike projected BY
friend or foe.
live would bring this war to a
successfu. issu-, t IS h ga time
II was made As terrible 10 the
enemies as 10 the friends OF the
republic. Mercy and security to
conspirators and rebels in arms
against the Government. are cru
city and peril to loyal citizens
struggling Tor the preservation of
the Union and maintainance o.
constitutional liberty. They
who deny their allegiance to the
Government have no right to