Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-08
CoIiamcr and Confiscatiou.

The coniiscation question is still agitating Con
gress. 1t seems that gentlemen cannot abandon
the idea OF making this war crusade against the
institution of slavery. They take counsel OF
their preludiees, we may say of their vindictive
feelings. and obey them The Anti slavery So
ciery OF London visits our Minister, and lays an
addi eSs before him, expressing the hope that this
will only end with the destruction OF its
cause They take fire and kindle their ardor
anew from this suggestion. and prosecute their
purpose with unwonted zeal.
The better men in Congress oppose this cOntis-
cation enterprise Harris, Of Albany. one OF the
first men in talent and character in the hepubli.
can rank. opposes it, with Corwin of Pa, Doc
little OF Wis, and others Collamer. OF Yer
mont. another standing among the best men of
that party opposes il, or would so modify il rs to
take from IL its tooth of venom. His late speech
upon the subject a sound constitutional argu
ment, and noble vndication OF the policy of
granting political amnesty to this people and
Irticiing punishment upon the leaders. We give
his lead ng IDEAS
In his opinion. all nations were looking upon
US, and asking themselves this question-"can
they sustain the integrity of the Government"
They see that the principles OF self government
Is on trial, that constitutional liberty Is on trial,
and they believe We may fail lt Is for Us TO
show them that shall not fail, that have
the steidiness OF an absOlutism within these we'll
ordered elements OF democracy. We are in du.
~ bound to observe the Constitution. and that
closely and. in times like these, We should bind
ourselves with great str ctness To its provisions.
These schemes are unconstitutional. as they pro-
pose the conhScaton of all the property. real and
personal, OF al the people of the South, or of
classes of them. This can not be defended. be
cause a minority, one third, has kept two thrds
under sutiection, after precipitating them into
this war Here Mr. Collamcr drew "a good hint
from English history. In the time of Henry VII
a law WIS made in England that no man should
Ice punished for treason who obedent To
reigning sovereign, and that law Is now on the
statute books OF the empire. This minority in
the South has been the regnlng sovereign aud
We should sink below the level OF English politi-
cal morality it we should punish tbs people tor
obeying them. Instead OF punishment. in his
opinion. IL should be legislation 10 relieve the
people from their oppTeSSOrs, aud restore them
neiriy possible 90 their normll condition IN
the republic. He and Harris of New Y ork
agree on tins. with many other Republicans
namely: pui down the rebellion first, then legis-
late tor the relief of Tue people; eSislaie %
attach them To. not ALLEVIATE them from, the
Union.
He placed the legal bubbles and subterfuges
of those members OF m> party who are in favor
ot these anuIhIlatng schemes IN :ber make lie
iormity. They had made a new discovery: a
Processing "a ItWs liNNtthii- lNf ItNtll- ana
coufscatng the property. before taking and at
tauting the rebel THIS Is worse than anv aspect
OF English law IL J. Just the thing that the Con
stitution guards against Alter proceeding IN
rem and the enirauch>ement OF the slave then
i; tie rebel could he secured. they would proceed
in persoHdm and hang the rebel This l. the
beauty of radical law, radical philosophy. radical
consistency Charles sumner came in for his
full share of condemnation, and it was pro-
nounced poor business Tor gentlemen to adv0-
cite the IDEA that Secession had any legal effect
whatever: that il WAS anything more than the
idle whistle of the Wind. IA constitutional point
of view lie pronounced IL utterly idle tor Con
rreSs 10 assume the authority OF directing the
Executive or the General in the field to take the
rght OF eontiscatiOn into their oSu hands, and
carry IL out 40 the head OF the army Ii would
i,e an assumption Of power the part OF Con
eress: il would be the most iInpolitic of courses
t. pursue Once in English history Jefries tray
eled on his Northern campaign" to punish rebels
en- rnaSse il was too much for English IsStice
in SIX months the Judge in the tower, and
the Sovereign was skulking out of London to
seek protection In Paris. Our road 10 peace does
not lie in this direction.
Such are the sentiments of a Republican. IL
j. grief that the mass of the party cannot see
their wisdom. and accept them. Unless they are
accepted the hands OF he executioner may be
stsid in another REBELLION rebellion which
shall embrace the Border States. and If this Is
done. nothing can prevent dissolution Boston
Post.