Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-07-18
WARRINGTON, July II.

FellOo Citizens of The House Of Representatioes;
i herewith return to your honorable body, in
which 1t originated, the bill for an act entitled
"an act TO suppress treason and rebellion, 30
seize and confscate the property of rebels, and
for other purposes" together with my objections
to its becoming O law There is much in the
bill to which | perceive no objection II Is
wholly prospective, and it touches neither the
person or property Of any loyal citizen, In which
particular it is just and proper The frpt and
second section provides for conviction and pun
ishment of persons who shall be guilty Of trea.
son, and the persons who shall inclte, get on
foot, assist or engage In any rebellion or insur-
rection against the authority of the United
States, or the laws thereof, or shall give aid or
comfort to any such existing rebellion or in
surrecti0n.
By fair construction, the persons within this
section are not to be punished without regular
trial In duly constituted courts, under the forms
and ell the substantial provisions of the law
and Of the constitution applicable to their sew
eral cases. To this perceive no objection, es.
pecialy as such persons would be within the
general pardoning power, and also within the
| special provision for pardon and amnesty con-
tanned in this act.
1t also provides that the slaves of persons
coDfscated under these sections shall be free
think there is an unfortunate form Of express
sion rather than o substantial objection to
this. 1t is startling to say that Congress
can free slave within State; and yet
were it said that the ownership OF the slave
had first been transferred to the State, and
that Congress had then liberated him, the
difficulty would vanish; and this iB the real
case. The traitor against the General Govern.
ment forfelts his slaves, at least as justly as he
does any other property, and he forfets both to
the Government against which he offsnds. The
Government, so far as there can be ownership,
owns the forfeited elaves, and the question for
Congress In regard to this is, shall they be made
/ free or sold to new masters | see no objection
to Congress deciding 10 advance, that they shall
be free To the high honor Of Kentucky, as /
am informed, she has been the owner OF some
slaves by escheat, and has sold none, but lbsr-
ated all. hope the same ia true Of some 9TH
er States. Indeed do not believe 1t would be
ply sically possible for the General Government
30 return persons so citcumstanced to actual
slavery, lbelieve there would be physical re.
sistsnce to it, which would never be moved
aside by argument or driven away By force. IL
this view OF IL have no objection to this fea'
ture OF the bill.
Another matter in these two sections, and
running through other parts of the act, will b.
|
Iperceive no objection to the third and fourtl
sections,
u So far as wish TO notice the fith and sixth
sections they may be considered together.
That the enforcement of these sections woult
dodno injustice to the persons embraced within
them Is clear. That those who make cause
lssS war should be compelled to pay the cost o
it, s too obviously just TO be called in question
To give government protection 10 the propert,
of persons who have abandoned 1t and gone OF
! crusade TO overthrow that same government
ID absutd, if considered in the mere light 0
D justice.
l The severest justce may not Alwsys hs tn
best policy. The principle of seixng and appro
, priating the property of the persons embraces
within these sections ls certainly not very oh
jectionable, but a justly discriminating applics
tion Of IL would be very difficult, and 10 greA
extent impossible Would it not be wise {
: place power OF remission somewhere, 90 tbs
4 EiheVe .persOus may know they have somethjn
Q 70 save BY deaisti1s4, Lam, NOT sure wheshs
}. such power Of renitaioni ID Or 10 not within &c,