The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-18
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.

other purposes, and the JOINT resolution explsna
tory OF said Act rs being su Substantially one hay
approved and signed both. Before | was iniormc,
OF the passage OF the resolution, had prepares
the draft OF message statIi,g objections to tn
bill becoming law, u copy Of which draft II
! herewith transmitted
(Sisnedl ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
July It'll, 1862
ftlOw C,nsens Of the House of Representatives.
herewith return to your hOnr.aae body IL
which II originated, the blll Tor an act entitled
" An act 10 suppress treason and rebellion, ana
contscate the property of rebels, and for other
purposes together with my objections to it,
becoming law.
There is much the bill to which perceive
no objection. 1t is wholly prospective, and 1t
touches neither the person or property of any
loya! citizen, ID which particular 1t is just and
proper.
The first and second sections provide Tor tho
conviction ami punishment Of persons who shall
be guilty OF treason, and the person who shall
inclte, set on loot, assist or engage in any re-
belllcn or resurrection against the authority of
the United STATES or the laws thereof, or shall
give aid or comlors to any such existing rebcll-
Ion or Instruction. BY fair construction the
lshed without regular trials in duly constitute ted
courts, under the forms and all the subordinate
provisions OF the law and OF the Constitution
applicable to their several cases. 10 this per
celve no objection, especially us such persons
would be within the general parioniDg power
and also within the special provisions tor pardon
and amnesty contained IN this act
1t also provides thai slaves OF persons CENTS
"a La bon L., I
sh re lie an unfortunate turn Of expression rath
than substantial objection in thus |: is start.
ling to say that Congress en- ttea slave within
State, and yet, were 1t said that the ownership
Of the slave had just been transferred To the IA
ton aud that Congress had then liberated HIM,
the difficulty would vanish. aud TINS is the Zeal
eaSe. The traitor against the general govern
men; toCteitS lis slave, 81 least as Justly IS be
does any other properly, anu lie !orieI;s uoyh
s. tie government against which he etfan8s Tue
government, SO lar Us there can be ownership,
owns the forfeited slaves. anu the QUESTION for
Congress ~ regard 70 them is Saal! thcy be
made tree or sold 70 new masters = see no
objection 10 Congress deciding 10 advance that
they shall b. free. 10 tie t4sh honor OF ke,-
tucSy, as am informed, sue mas bean the vwuer
OF some slaves Oy csche4t anu has sold none, BUT
liberated ali nope the sane is true / some
other States. Indeed, do nor believe 1t would
be PHYSICALLY possible Tor the general govern
meui 10 return persons So clrcUtnstancen 10 ac-
1usl slavery. believe their would I've PHYSICAL |
to it, which would never be turned .
ASIDE by argument nor driven away by force. Ia
this view OF 1t, have 20 obje. ton to this t4a I
ture OF the blll. Another matter contained IN
these two sections and rnnuing through other
parts Of the bill will be noticed hereafter
percelTon no objection to the third ana fourth
sections.
50 far as wish to notice the fifth snd sixth
sections, they may be considered together Tuat
the enforcement OF these sections would do no
injustice 10 The persons embraced within them Is
clear. That thus7 who make : cause!ess war
should be compelled 70 pay the cost OF it, IS too
OBVIOUSLY just to BE- ,aled III question. 10 give
government protection 10 tie property Of persons
VINO have abandoned j: and gone On crtsaao to i
overthrow the same soyernn mt, IS absurd III
IN the mere light OF justice The 81
'eresI justice may not always be the best policy.
lne pEinclpie oi selzing and appropriating the
property OF the persona embraced within these
sections Is certalnly not very Objectionable. bu:
justly discriminating application # il would
y wy dlfhcult and, 10 4 great extent imlosSi
Die. anu would 1t not be wise to place BOWER Of
'eln ssion somew here - that these persons NAV
know that they have something 70 save by de-
listing?
AN not sure whether such power of remis
hon Is or Is not wtnin section Thirteenth. D,
WOULD need special act ot Congress think
'ur military commauders when, IN military
9hrase' they are within the enemys cJnntry.
hoUll In an orderly manner seize anu ke.u (
Whatever Of FSaI or Personal property may be I
lec-s>sry or convenient Tor their commands and
i the same time preserve 10 some way the +yi-
ence OF wha: taey do.
W hat have SAIL in regard 20 saves vh,Ia
Qmmen'lng VI the 6rst aud Sscoud sections j.
pElcao.e 20 ne nIu,h, vita me difference INA,
10 provision Is ma ie in the WHOLE act for deter
MINING whether q particular individual sl.yc
oes or does nor TAI within the classes q fined :
n that section. He is - BE- fr4. upon rsr,.;n .
ondt;ionS, bar whether Iht,s coniitIors j., or
% not pertain to ham M mode ol as,-sriaininy
5 provided. This could re easy surrlisd
10 the tenth secuQH | maze no 1he,,ion '
ne oath therein required seems Il be pror-r [
nd me remainder Of the section issl bstaptIslIy
lentical with lsw s!reaiy existing.
lne eleventh section simply assumes TO cnn Y
'r discretionary powers upon the Executive 9
'l'nout the law. | nave no hesitation 70 % As '
ar IN the direction Indicated as nav At snr :
'me deem exped'ent, sni | am ready TO say
-" tn'nk 1t Is proper for our mill ary com
laoleFs 10 employ as aborers as many persons
A'r'eSa descent as can oe usei to advantage :,
ne twelfth and thirteenth section are some. +,
ains better. They are unobjectiouabls. and
ne iourteen'h Is entirely proper if all other L
arts o. the act shall staud n
mat 90 which and chiefly obec: pssy.ie. ;
i"' paris OF the act, Out more distinctly az :.
so IN soe lsi, 2nd, iEh, and Sth sections |,
me sum OF these provisions which results in y
Pc 1lves.ing OF une forever Tor The ...n., ~ L