The national Republican., 1862-03-15
JUDGE TRUMBULL's CONFISCATION
8ILL.-BUGBEARs OF THE ALARM

hhHN5 Vt I" q" nhfA VIVA
isTs.
One would suppose from the clamors raised
in respect to the coniiscatiou bill, reported by
Judge TRuNBuiL from the Senate Judiciary
Committee, that 1t surpassed, in sweeping and
savage atrocity, any precedent in history Of
puuishments inflicted upon the defeated party
ia civil wars. II Is described as tearing up the
social system in all the Southern States, seizing
cverybody's property, leaving no vestige Of the
old order Of things, and as aiming to constructa a
new ed,Rce upon the total ruin Of everything
that now exists there. No such example Of
legislative ferociy, It is alleged is found in the
records Of the intestine struggles In Eugland in
periods comparatively barbarous and inhu-
man, and not even in France in the most
frigh.ful e1altaiion Of the revolutionary pas
sions.
The representations Of this sort are so in
IIamatory and so persistent, that Judge Trum-
bull is made to appear in character new to
those who know him, Of a parliamentary HydCr
Ali, seeking to realize at the South, Bu,ke'-
description Of that monsters devastations in
the Carnatic.
Now let US see how far this confscation bill
MS Judge Trumbull has actually drawn it. justi
lies these alarming views.
10 the first place the bill, in its provisions, /.
,attreiy prospective. Not single human being
= is affected by it for anything yet done, or fol
anything which shall be done before the bill
becomes a law. 1t is aimed only AT those who
shall persist in the specified acts OF rebellion
after the bill passes, aud after the notice which
the fact Of the passage Of the bill gives them.
II Is only upon the unrepenting, contumacious
and still defiant rebel, that the bill operates at
ALL
In the second place, the bill affects nobody
bW rebels
In the third place, it operates only upon
those ri.O cai,iot be reached By Judicial process.
Whoever can be a,hed by such process, is left
to be punished by the laws Furnishing treason
which now exist. Where the person can be
seized by the arm Of the law, the bill proposes
no new penalties in addition to the old one Of
hanging. But where judicial process is una
vailable, by reason of the non.existence Of
courts, or because the guilty have absconded
then this bill steps in with the new remedies
rendered necessary By an anomalous condition
OF things.
10 such States as Maryland, Kentucky, MI
souri,, and perhaps Tennessee, and in this Dis
,rict Of Columbia, the operation of the bill
would not be very extensive. But whether so
or otherwise, ii would apply 10 cases which
ought to be reached but which existing Law
does not reach. 1t will punish the abscondinl
traitor in the only way in which he can be pun
ished, his person being out Of our reach, tha
is to cay, by confscstipg bis property. Ough
such men to 50 scot-tree, If they persist, ar,e
the notice Of this bill, in rebellion which hs
engu'ted hundreds OF millions Of public an,
private property, and has entailed Europsu
taxation upon this new continent Tor ndeGnit
generations:
If Congress fail TO pass some efficient meas
ure Of coufiscation, II is not merely in the loya
states that the disappointment will be bite
and the popular indignation deep and lastiD,
The measure is even more urgently desired b
the loyal men in the rebsllious Ststes. Tho:
men know well, that If the persistent rebe
escape punishment and retain their propert
which gives them consideration and power, Il
restoration OF peace will only be restoration
The old tyranny which has existed 10 the Sout
ern States, made more insupportable by d
exasperations and anincsities of this war.