Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-05-15

him out Of the power and control ofhis master.
His authority as military commander goes not
beyond bis lines He hes no power whatever
of confscation. He may take such military
stores, forage, and provisions as are necessary
for the support Of his Army, and this be may
do alike from friends or foe.
The supreme power Of this Governments.
under and within the limits Of this CoDstita-
tion, is la Congress. In the case before cited
of Brown Is The United States. while il was
determined that We might con6scate enemies
property found on the land it was also de.
cided--and the case turned on this point
that the power of confscatiDg enemiea' proper
ty is in Congress. After citing tha acts Of
Congress declaring war against GEeag Britain,
the court says:
There being other act Q. Congress which bears up
on the subject II is cOnSdG red proved that tbs Leg
slature has not conascated enemy property which
within United States at the declaration of war sud
this sentsnce OF condemnation cannot be sustained
Again:
at sppesrs 10 the court tha, the power Of confsca
Ing enemy property in thr LegiAlaure and that the
Legislature has not get declared its viii TO conascats
property which within territory at the deelArA
ton Of war"
This dispc ses efectually OF the extraordna
~ pretentions set up for the President, as
ground of opposition to this bill. Those who
really fayor tie cOufscation OF rebel property.
will go for some legislation TO affectuate that
end The President has no more power OF
condscation than any Senator on this floor.
Mr.. President, the passage OF tbs bill is de-
mauded by the strongest considerations of
justice and policy 1t is very much question,
whether the property OF loyal men of the North
shall be cOhfscated by taxation, or the vast
property Of the leading rebels be taken to de-
fray in part the expenses of the war? Between
independent Powers, it IS not unusual in trea-
ties Of peace to introduce stipulations proyid
ing for the payment in part by one party to the
other Of the expenses attending the war In.
deed, it is most common in modern times. II
nations thus claim and receive indemnity for
the expenses into which unjust war has pluCg-
ed them, may We not, with u ch justice and
propriety indemnify ourselves in part for the
enormous cost Of this most causeless aud IN.
provoked war? All loyal men agree that the
rebellion must be crushed out. This can only
lie done by driving the leaders from the coun-
try aud eoIfscating their estates. They must
be reduced 10 poverty before their power in
the South can be broken Our interests and
our safety denaua the speedy passage OF this
bill Leuiency emboldens the traitors. They
feel secure in their property, come what may
Those suspected Of loyalty Only suffer Re-
fuse to pass this bll, aud you ofer a premium
to disloyaIty and treason. The safety of
mans property in the South will impei him to
side with our enemies. The rebels seize and
appropriate the property Of logalists We Sc
cure and protect the property Of rebels The
passage OF this measure is demanded as q just
measure of retaliation. Hundreds of millions
Of property 10 the Soatb. belonging to northern
men. has been coufscated or destroyed. Other
hundreds OF millions of debts due our merchants
and manufacturers, and of investments 10 rail-
road stocks and other southern securities. has
been forfeited to the rebel government. Othe:
uilous, the property Of loyal southern men,
have been piIlaged and destroyed " A State"
says Waffle, taking up arms in Just cause
has double right against its enemy. A right
of putting itself in possession OF what belongs
to it, aud which the enemy withholds (; and TO
this must be added the expenses iucurred to
this end the charges OF the war, and the re-
paration of damage" We mast not give license
to rebellion by the forbearance with which we
treat the rebels. We must protect the inter-
ests Of loyal citizens by charging the property
Of traitors with the expenses of the var.