Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-30
ooNrIscAr1oN OF PROPERTY.
SPEECH OF HON. CHAS. SUMNER.
DeHeersd in tSe q. $ Senate May 10, 1862.

Defirered in he Z. $. Senate, May 10, 1862
A few weeks since an esteemed friend and
subscriber--" o. S."-desircd us to publish
the speech Of Hon. Chas Sumner, delivered,
we think, in February. We promised to do
So but the pressure Of other matters has
prevented our fulfilling that promise We
now give, in place Of it, the principal points
Of Mr. Summers speech on the confscauon
bills, in which he arrives at substantially the
same conclusions as in his former speech, to
wit; that it is the duty Of the government at
once to declare freedom to the slaves. The
speech is an able ono, but there are fallacics
in it which it would not be safe for the gov
ernment to adopt as sound logic, and which
we see but little likelihood of being received
as such The result which Mr.. Sumner would
reach will, we believe, be reached in the end
without even the appearance OF stretch Of
power which he advises. We note single
point. Mr.. Sumner, in order to accomplish
his purpose to reach the system Of Slavery,
would regard the rebels as both enemies and
criminals, and the government can proceed
against them in either character, or in both,
as shall best subserve its policy. Here Mr..
Sumner presents a case in two phases, either
Of which will thwart his iavorite scheme; for
if we treat them as criminals, we must still
consider them as citizens, and therefore enti-
telod to the limits and restraints Of the con
stituiion. But il we regard them as alien en-
emes, we recognize the validity of secession,
which the administration has not yet done.
II Mr.. Summers friends can extract any con-
ISOLATION from his reasoning on this point, they
are at perfect liberty to doso. To US it seems
only fallacous Some portions Of the speech
are too good to be founded on such bad logic.
MR SUMNER CRcp) of Mass, said-If can simplify
this discussion shan feel have done something tow
ards establishing the truth. And now, IL you will kind
ly give your attention shall try to open the qucs-
ton in such way to exhibit clearly all me points in
issue There is saying, often repeated ny sitr"meu
and often recorded by pu9csts which emh0les the di
rect object of the war which we are now unhapp} com
PEELED 20 wage an ouJect sometimes AoWta IA Europe
wers, and more than once lde watrh"ord 10 our
country" Indemnity for the past and security for
the future" such should be our com prehensive aim
nor more. less. without indemnity fpr the past,
this will have been wAged AZ our cost Without se-
curity I've the future this will have been waged In
VAN Treasure aud blood will have been ia,ished in
vain But iudcnriy AVID security both means 70
end and That end is the national unity and the constta
tiln of the United States. 1t is enough II pre-
hc constitution at the expense of the national uni-
ty Nor IL enough il enforce the national unity at
the expense Of the constitution. Both must be main
tained Bplh will be maintained II we do not ii 10 take
counsel % that prudent courage which Is never much
needed as at moment like the present Two thing we
seek means to an endindemnity for the past Fad Sc
cury for hc future. Two thin Is seek the end it,
self-natioual unity under the constitution NJ The United
States Surely ia these objects all must concur But
hall . hrNh ha nnzf
and International law each involved IN this discussion
Even the question itself minute, t would be im
potant from such relations Bot 1t concerns yas' mass
es Of property IL concerns the liberty of men while 1t
opens for decision the TO be employed ia bringing
this great close In every aspect the question
Is iransctndent nor Is 1t easy 20 press upon II without
considering il in the various lights of luti-prudelce, Of
history and Of policy. 1t is sometimes said that It is
custVey con ,ututiona question lhH Is mistake.
In every government, bound by written constitution
thing can be done which is not in couformi with the
constitutions But the present occasion there need be
dii-ultos doubts under the constitution It's pro-
visions plain aud explicit that they need only to
be- recited The Senator from PENNSYLVANIA (Mr Cowau)
and the Senator from Vermont Mr C0amcrl have stat
ed them strongly but complain less of this statement
than Of its application OF COURSE proposition real
Is inconsistent with these provisions must be abandoned
but H. on the other hand, 1t be consistent there is the
way open 70 It's consideration in the Light Of history and
Of policy. II there be any difficulty now it is not from
the question. but SIMPLY from the tcs as oten iu Judi
ca proceeding IL Is less embarrassing determine the
law than the facts II things are seen as they real
y are and not as Senators fancy or desre-f the facts
admitted ia their natural Characterization must
the oonstu onal power Of the government be admitted
also for this power into being on 'he occurrence
~ certain facts. 1t is only by denying the facts that the
power Itself can be drawn m question but not even the
Senator from Pcunsy lvauia the Senator from Yer
mont will deny The faets The facts are simple AID OBJ
vous They are all expressed or emb ded in the double
idea Of rebellion and of war. Both Of these facts
hcts patent to common observation aud common sense
II would be an insult to the understanding 10 say Tat at
the present there is rebellion that there is
[ Whatever may be the doubts Ot Senators
their hnespuu constitutional theories, nobody ques
] luf w "a q "A "a
in the midst Of de fact0 We in the midst Of
each and both 1t is not enough TO say that there Is
rebellion is it enough to say that there is war.
The whole truth ia not told in either alternative. Our
is double, and you may call 1t rebellion
you please or you may call It both II sreoehon swoli'
10 all the proportions Of war, and it sw deriving its
life from rebellion. II is not less rebellion because Of
its full blown grandeur: nor is it less because Of
the traorous where it draws its life The rebel
lion is maniestis it tnotf An extensive territory
occupied by governments rejoicing in allie glance TO the
Union, and sharing largely IN its oounsels has under
taken overthrow the constitution OF the United States
within It's borders It's Senators and Representatives
have Withdrawn from Congress- Ths old state govern
mens, soeuuly bound by the oahs Of their functiuna
Ties to support the national consuut1n have ceased to
exist and ia their place have appeared pretended gov
ernments, which, adopting the further pretensions Of
corfcderacy have proceeded issue letters Of marque
and to levy against the United States. So far has
his displacement Of the national government prey allied
that at this moment throughout this whole territory.
4 there are no fuuctonares ac'ing under the United
States but all pretending TO act under the newly
abshed usrpaton. Instead Of the oath TO support the
by the constitution another oath has been substituted to
support the constitution cf the c1niederacy aud thus
the rebellion has assumed completeness OF organiza-
on under the most solemn sanctions In point Of fact
throughout this territory the national government has
been ousted while the old state governments have
ed 10 exist f less from rebel hands. Call il sui
eide II you will, suspended animation, abey ance,
they have none the less ceased 20 exist. Such Is the
plain aud palpible fact. II all this be rebellion,
complete in triumphant treason, then Is rebellion moth
ing bat n name. But the war is not less manifest As
sumug all functions Of independent government,
the coufedegacy has uudrrtakcn to declare against
the United States Ia support Of this declaration has
raised armies organized navy, issued letters Of mar
que borrowed money imposed taxes and otherwise done
all that it could in wAgng lts armies are among
The largest marshled by single people and, at
different places throughout wide spread territory, they
have encountered the armies Of the United States Bat
ties have been fought with the varying Wcssitudes Of
war seges have taken pace forresses and cities have
been captured. On the sea- ships bearing the commits
sions OF the conederacy, sometimes pngateefs aud
sometimes ships OF the may, have seized, sunk burnt
vessels Of the United States and only lately
iron-cad steamer with the dag Of the couiederacy has
destroyed ifigates Of the United Uates, On each
side prisoners have been made who have been treated
prisoners Of and such exchanged Flags Of truce
have passed from camp 10 camp, aud almost daily during
this winter this white flag has afforded its belgerent
protection TO communications between Norfolk and For
tress Monroe while the whole rebel has. By pro-
camauon Of the President, been declared ia state OF
blockade. and ships Of foreign countries, well Of
own, have been condemned by courts in Wesh-
ingon, Philadelphia, New York and Boston as prizes
OF Thus do all things attest 10 the Existence OF
war, which manifested in the blockade upheld by