The national Republican., 1862-04-07
COMPLICATION.

Judge TRUMBrIL gave notice In the Senate
oo Friday, that he should to-day call up the
Coofiscation bill reported by him from tho
Committee on the Judiciary, and that he
should press It's consideration from day 10 day,
until II is disposed Of.
The bill referred to has been very carefully
mstured by committee, not unircquently
charged with being excessively conservative In
its composition, and comes therefore before the
country with the benefit Of the presumption
that there is nothing rash or violent in its pro
visions.
II applies only to rebels, and i. wholly pros
pective. II Furnishes nobody for acts commit
ted before its passage, and reaches only those
who shall persist In treason after notice Of the
consequences. Furthermore, it applies to no
body who Ia personally within the reach Of ju
dcial process. But where -ebellon ia per
sisted in after the passage ol this bill, aud
where the guilty party cannot be PERSONALLY
arrested 90 as TO be held TO answer for hi
crime, this measure reported by Judge Trum
bull arms the Government with the power Il
indict the only punishment which is possible
viz the cenfiscation Of properly. We canuo
but believe that discussion will bring abeu
such q unanimity in favor OF a measure a
least as strong as this, as will reduce the oppo
sition to it to the limits Of those who sccrctl
sympsthize with the rebellion.
The measure is expedent as one OF punish
iahment, upon the same principle which just
fes all the sanctions Of penal codes, the pre-
vention Of similar offences BY others, by an CT
ample Of the penalty which attends them o
II is expedient also, a. measure Of relief !
the loyal, by throwing the burdensome q,
penses Of this civil war, as far as possible, upo
the estates Of those who have wantonly kiudle
It.
II Is expedient also, as tending to restore IN
seeded region to sound political condition
by dspriving all hardened and continuation,
rebels Of the influence and confederation whic
accompany the possession Of property,
II conforms to the practice Of civilized gov
ernments in all ages in like cases, and ma
therefore be said 20 be an expression of lh
general judgment Of mankind, az respects bot
ie justice and policy.
1t falls very far short in severity, Of th
measure Of confscation enacted by the Confed
crate Congress, and now being remorselessl
enforced, which reaches not merely everybod
within the seeded region who does not sup
port the rebellion, but all property within th
seeded region belonging 10 citizens OF the loys
Statee.
As matters now stand, II is the interest
everybody at the South, who has property, i
far as the safety Of that property is concerned
to take sides against the Government oil Ii
Union. He forfein nothing by doing 80, wbi
on the other hand, be Ia punished by contsc
tion II he fails to support the rule Of the rebel
This bill Of Judge Trumbull will restore, n
equality, but something like equality, in Il
balance Of motives, so far az property IL co
cerned, operating upon the choice OF the i
hsbitants Of the seeded region between the tv
political courses which are presented to them
This is not party measure, but a patriot
measure. The loyal men Of the country ever
where, South as we'll as North, demand IL, ar
the politician who opposes it, ties a millstor
about his neck which will sink him beycnd Il
reach of any sounding line.