The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-05-07

right 70 punish Q crime 10 thing incapable OF
argument. 1t il - plain postsats - the right
Of tse government TO exist, and the Constitution
places 10 restriction upon The power At Congress
70 punish it, With the single exception tina,
where the owner has been formally indicted,
tried, and convicted in . court Of hv. his heir
shall not fail in bis right to inherit, after bis
death.
But the measure before 10 has nothing to do
With the person If the rebel, but solely With his
property lying within the United States and our
constitutional Jurisdiction. The fact that shat
jurisdiction may be suspended BY violence and
traitorous resistance in particular localities, does
not affect our power 70 pass the act nor alter IL
effect when that suspension shall cease; for, -
have already shown. the Supreme Court, in the
case Of Smith W. Maryland, hold that no actual
possession or seizure by the Government is re-
quisite, and that the title passes by the mere
operation of the Law. (6Cranch, SOC So that
whenever our law shall be in actual force there
by the destruction OF armed resistance, the for
fixture takes effect - frsm the tine Of the act
committed. 1t 10, indeed, like any other penal
statute; il is 70 be executed whenever the
object Of it is brought within il actual operation
No, sir, the friends OF this measure do NO,
disguise the fact that one of its objects 10 pun
ishment, punishment of the most wanton crime
ever committed since he Who took the thirty
pieces Of silver betrayed his Lord and Maste
Sir, We all love our country and revere the mem
DRY Of our ancestors. But by that love, by thai
memory, by the hitherto we'll grounded hops
that this uneceptered empire" shall be the
praise and glory of the nations, BY my love o
Justice and my hatred of crime, shudder at the
| thought of letting this great offense pass with
out punishment. Throughout the world thu
friends of liberty and ben6cent laws will no
thank Us for it. Our own countrynen will loud
ly accuse us of an omission which in itself, j
not criminal, is unnatural and dangerous to thei
future peace. Sir, pass this confscation, viii
proper Determinations. Let its bIghting breail
fall upon the ringleaders who have betrayed tn,
have frepzied their neighbois, and whose crue
arms have spread desolatiOn where peace Ant
friendship once reigued under the old Gag. Car
ry it into the border States, into Missouri, Ken
lucky, Tennessee and Virginia; carry it to th
halt burnt cabin where the Union father, tn
Union mother, and the Union daughters, strue
Cling amidst the ruins of once happy home sr
weeping over the fate of sons and brothers VII
have fallen in dreadful combat with maraudn
traitors read il to them while in their anguish
and you will change their tears of mourning int
tears Of joy. You will bring them an assuranc
that their Government is still mindful Of them
is still their protector and svenger; that it
mighty in its power and its justice, and tha
while it ever prefers To be hen<6cent rather tha
severe, il does not forget the necessity of
righteous retribution or that its eagles bear III
arrows of punishment as well a. the shield &
protection.