The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-05-27

selves against them; but their property must
not be touched to indemnify loyal men and
relieve them from taxationl
IL you defeat this bill, il you fail to take all
the property Of rebels who are seeking the
destruction of the Government, and confs.
cate it to relieve the burdens Of loyal men,
and to indemnify us for the just debts we
have incurred in defending ourselves against
these traitors, say to you, aud through you
to the people, for | want il to 90 TO them,
am not the man who has prevented it. go
for tie largest forfeiture. | am in favor Of
visiting just punishment on every man who
has raised his accursed hand to strike down
the institutions Of our fathers. will take
their property, and will relieve the loyal
North, and the loyal men Of the South, and
indemnify item with the confscated proper.
tv; yea, to the last dollar of these scoundrels.
lie who will not do il may meet me before
our MASTER the people, upon tEi'. subject. II
| am wrong, they VII undoubtedly remind
ire Of it. If it is right, il it is just, ii 1t Is
equitable, if it is demanded by tho high exl.
gencios of the times in which we live, trust
l shall stand justified Bu, sir, | wish to
state distinctly that | will 90 for the utmost
scope oc your bill. | would make it stronger
if could. When | have brought traitor
who is seeking my life and my property to
terms, and when become bankrupt in my
endeayors to put him down and defend my
self, havo no scruy les about the property of
bis that snail be taken to indemnify me.
do not ke the argument of some Of my
friends here who have risen and preiaced their
remarks by saying they did not expect to get
much to indemnify the losses by this var out
Of this couiiscaion. Sir, | do expect It. II
we are true to ourselves, If We 90 on with that
patriotism, that regard to the Constitution,
that hatred Of treason and all its consequences
that ough. TO govern us, we shall find prop
erty sufficient to indemnify loyal men for the
expenses of this unholy war. 1t will b" but
poor indemnity at last. Sir, what will ill.,
demnify US for the most precious blood of our
young men, who, by these scoundrels, have
been compelled to 60 forth on the fl Id of bat.
tie and hazard their lives in defence of our
liberty. They will lie in their graves, la
mented by all just men, deplored 10y al their
acquaintances, mourned By their country. If
we were to take all tie property OF the rebels,
it would never make satisfaction for the great
and most burdensome losses occa,ioned by
this accursed rebellion. So much for their
property.
| was very sorry to hear that my friend
from Wisconsin ha! become so exceedingly
tender about the forfeiture Of the slaves of
rebels. He thought this bill too sweepisg.-
Sir, am more amaz,d at this idol which is
set up in the form of slavery; it seems to do
prlve mon OF their reason. Some Of my
friends think, and believe that is the doc
trine Of my friend from Wisconsin, that we
might forfeit property IN some shape; but
when YOU come to slavery, ho seems to be
stuck with horror At the thought. Why, sir,
the South consider slaves just As other prop
erty. do not conccdc it; ! never did con.
cede it. Ali | conceded ever was, that IN
times of peace, when they lot our institutions
alone would let them alone in the States {;
that ! would not touch a hair Of their head
Abb rrent as slavery is to man and God |
ha agreed that in their States they might
have it, provided they would keep it there,
and let Us alone; but whCn they repudiatcd
the Constitution of the United States, when
they waged violent war against it, when they
made use Of those very slaves as tho fuIcrum
by which to overturH the Constitution of the
country, | lost all my veneration-uo, not
vencralion, for ! never had any veneation for
slavery; rerudatc the idea; BIT it absoly.
ed me from all my sense OF duty in that re.
gard and allowed me to give full scope to my
sense of Justice in dealing with -laves and their
masters. They have repudiated me; they
have rcpudiatel YOU; thov have used these
very slaves to murder your brethren aud mine,
and to rob Us of our property. Being now
withdrawn from all obligation in their behalf,
say to every traitor who holds a slave, $50
far rs my hand can reach that slave is free,
and much better man than YOU. Every
traitor ought to thank God if he escapes tho
csllows; his slave is RENTED to his rights"
| am little astonishcd at tho doctrines of
these BorierState gentlemen, notwiths,and-
ing know they have strong influences plead
ing in their behalf, just as we on this side
have pleading in our behalf They wero nur-
turcd in the institution. 1t bad been in their
States from time immemor J, at least to
them. All thair relations, aud all tho great
men thoy have hal among them, had prac-
iced this system Of slavery. o. course, they
do not view it as we do; and make all duo
allowances upon that subject. But sir, |
wonder that gentlemen, as sagacious as they
are, men of great capacity and Of generous
impulses, fail to see the ab.urdity Of attempt.
ing longer to maintain an institution Of that
lind. | admit that in the progress Of ma
tions from harharism to civilization, there is
and has been 4 time in every nation of which
know anything when slavery was not only
permitted, but formed an institution among
men. If you look back to the institutions ot
antiquity, you will find il there; i You look
at the middle ages, YOU find it there bat you
find it in times Of ignorance, when the arts
aud sciences had advanced hardly beyond bar.
barisn. Then, sir, your institution Of slave
ry WAS in harmony with tho other institutions;
but do you not see that in the progress Of n
nation from harbarous state to q high lie
gree of civilization you will reach n time when
slavery becomes utterly impos,blc'
Why, sir, do you not see that has emas.
cuated you that j, has laid YOU almost pros
trsle at the feet Of power scarcely greater
than your own! During one year of this ac
cursed war-and take some prile in saving
it--no hostile foot has vet invaded the terri.
tory Of free State. How is tha,9 II is not
be 'ause you southern men are not brave; it
IS not because you are not entcrprlsing; but
you bavo leaned upon this accursel institution