Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-05-09
From the Ksanet<e Journal.
Law and History Well stated.


Senator Howard. Of Michigan. who has
been . number Of the United Stases senate
bu, few moo,hs. lea lawyer Of high emf
nencs and large experiences. and has ben
Justly regarded - quite conservative IN h'
political views. lie recently made very
able speech In ,hs, body on thu bill To con
h.ca,e the property and Tree the slaves OF
ths rebels. Ito said the bill Was one Of great
povelty-ons that had no. been neccssitated
during the Las, eight ysas. But We must
remember that we are living In novel 'imes.
that the country was engaged In struggle
un-aualled In history, and we ~srs bound
by the Laws oi man 10 do our whole duty.
The idea Of con6.cation was ~ ancient NJ
property ii.elI. Eosland. N all her history,
had set the precedent Of eon6.cation. and
she ought to be the last to complain OF 10.
lie quoted IRON rnier's llis'or, of,he French
Revolution. showing the general seizure OF
property q, tina, time, and ct that time Vas
not altogether unlike that Of the rebels In
the South. lie proceeded 10 show that dur
ing the Revolution the several States had
eon6.ca'cd oil the property OF ihoss who
had levied war against them. IL wa' In.
stanced IN tho cass Of Georgia. which had
cou6.ea,ed tho property OF over hundred
s,,iren. Of savannah. who were d'.loyai.
The repor, Of the proceedings OF ihe-c con.
6.cation. will he found in wIbarys Digest
Of the Law. Of Georges. The Soprrme Court
had recognized the validity Of these conh'-
cation. OF that State. and they were likewise
ackno~ ledscd m the 9Th article OF The
treaty Of peace with Grcsi Britain. South
Carolina had outlswed three hundred Per.
con. and forfeited their property. In 1852,
Tor giving cid to the King. North Carolina
In i,79. passed . conf.caton acs against
di.loy.l per-on'. and against those who
were wen ab-~n, from tho STATE. showing
that d, regarded IL as wrong on the part Of
II. citizen. not 10 be at home TO defend tbs
State vncini,. Maryland, Ne. York,
Massachusetts,. New Hampshire. and New
Jer-.y. had all passed laws forfs',Ing 'hs
property OF rebels. AMI the special acts and
their result. were alluded TO nj length. iIs
had no doubt Of the constitutional RICH, TO
pass the c1n6.caiion bill. and maintained
that It vas principle OF ell delenc'. and
he held that foreign enemy vas entitled
TO greater leni,y than rebel because the
former ha. violated no sacred obligations OF
allegiance due to b.. country. lie assumed
that an a,iairder hal nothing more to Do
with the conf.csiion oi property than 10 Las
with morig.s. or sheriff. execution. lie
reviewed. at some length. the causes which
LED to the var. and argued tba, by this 70.
billion the State. had severed every l'ea'
ment Of State and constitutional rights which
bound them 20 hi. Government. They had
abiic.ted those relations. lie would favor
q discrimination IN the act u conh.ca'ion,
and not le, the innocent suner with the
guilty; hut only let the blish'ing breath OF
Chi. bill fall upon the leader. OF tie rebel
lion. The people TIE country Demanded
tina, those Who lei and aidsi REBELLION
should tc made To sustain q part OF the i'm
Inen,e burdens placed on the country by the
war. lie concluded BY urging the imme'
date passage OF the bill which would b
hailed with joy ,hroushoa, the land.