New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-11
THE REBEL CONFIscATHoN ACT

That eminent cOnfscatOr Of other peoples
goods, Mr. Judah z. Benjamin, has issued n
Circular of Instructions to the Receivers under
the ConfscatOn Act Of the Rebel Congress.
This circular is dated Department Of Jus.
L" tice," as if in mockery of that hoodwinked
and blindfolded divinity. From il we learn
that the act for stealing private property is
much more broadly interpreted than we had
suspected. The Rebels say it was passed in
retaliation for the Confscation Act OF the late
Congress; it, however, not Only retaliates but
outdoes. to an immeasurable extent, even the
widest latitude Of Gen. Frcmonts prcclama-
ton. Mr.. Benjamin tells his agents that the
law applies to oil citizens Of tho United
States except Delaware, Maryland. Ken.
lucky, Missouri, District Of Columbia, New
Mexico, Arizona, and the Indian Territory, and
to all citizens in these States and Territories
who may commit bostilites sgainst the Con.
federate States, or aid and abet the United
States in the war II also applies to all per-
sons who live in the United States, whether
citizens thereof or nOt-that is TO say if O
British or French house in New-York have a
million invested in land or any other property
in the South, such property is to be forthwith
seized for cOnfscatiOn; if an Irish widow owns
a house in New-Orleans, she residing in the
North, though she may be Secessonist in
sentiment, away goes her house TO JcT, Da.
vis's war fund. Every person, native or for
eign, citizen or alien, who lives within The
boundaries OF Ine loyal states, is declared to
be an enemy, and all h b; 81 81 aer prop51.,
within the Confederacy, aud as much more as
they have the power to steal, is corfiscated.
The law has the merit Of simplicity, at least
The Receivers are directed to seize at once
all such property in their respective districts
there are no exceptions; the words nre all
I" the property, Of every nature and kind
" whatsoever, belonging to alien enemies" No
tenderness here to the peculiar institution;
niger property is no more sacred than whisky
and tobaccO-eIcept in the North. In order
to get at this property, the entire population
within their reach are 10 submit TO a
searching examination. The Receivers are TO
examine, frat, attorneys and councillors, presi.
dents and cashiers of banks, and tho principal
administrative officers Of railroad and all other
oil agents Of foreign corporations,
insurance agents, commission merchants en-
gsged in foreign trade, agents Of foreign mer-
camille houses, dealers in bills Of exchange,
executors and administrators OF estates (if d
- Haa Iaft b Il 4
IN tho North, jeff Davis will rob the orphan),
,ssignees of insolyent estates, trustees and,
eat this enumeration should not cover every
hing Benjamin adds that they are to examine
Ill persons who do business as agents for
others.
The questions which those persons are OK.
,ected to answer are: Have you or have you
lad, since May q, 1861, ia your possession or
nder your control, any land or lands, tene-
nent or tenements, chattel or chattels (black,
nulatto, quadroon, OctoroOn, or white, with
lair crisp, kiDky or straght), any right credit
" credits owned by an alien enemy, or in which
my alien enemy has any right, title. Or interest
lirectly or indirectly If this be answered af.
irmatively, tho property must be minutey de-
crbed and It's value and income made known.
The third question requires information to DO
ven of all debts due 10 alien enemies or
Northern men, with all particulars Of places,
lines and persons Having thus answered ~
ar as he is himself concerned, the Receiver
uestiOns Che victim as 10 Others, and no is
ound 10 tell everything that he knows
r suspects about bis neighbours business
in fact the question makes every man
common informor against every other man,
nd covers the entire country with system Of
spionage And as if this were not enough, the
nal question requires that each person shall
state oil else that you know which may aid