Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-21


been offered to the country. The question
submitted is, how can we best make the
traitors who have involved the country in
war, pay the expenses as far as their prop
erty will go? There is no difference of
opinion on the general proposition to make
them foot the bill as far as possible. The
question is, how to doit2 Various plans
are before Congress, the most prominent
of which is that of Senator Trumbull, of
Illinois, which he has defended in an able
speech. The moral appeal he makes is
very effective. lie says:
"Suppose ye, that l can go back to Illi-
uOis, among the relatives of those who
have been cruelty destroyed, and propose
10 levy taxes upon them in order to con-
ciliate and compensate the murderers-for
that is really what exempting rebel prop
erty from confiScAtiOn amounts TOT Sir,
know not il they would submit to such
injustice; and yet, there are those who not
only talk Of an amnesty TO the men who
have brought these troubles upon the
country, but oppose providing the mild
punishment of cOn6scatton of property
for those who shall continue hereafter 10
war upon the government, aud whose per-
sons are beyond our reach. am surpri-
sed that bill of this character should
meet with opposition from Senators of tue
border States whose loyal citizens the reb-
els, whenever they have had the power,
have robbed, plundered and driven from
their homes. DO gentlemen regard it as
conciliAtOry to Oblige us to lay taxes upon
those whose habitatiOus have been con-
sumed, to reward those who have burned
them? upon those whose whole property
has been stolen, to reward the thieves
upon those whose relatives have been
slain, to compensate the murderers? In
my judgment, justice, humanity, and mer-
CIV herself, all demand that we Il once pro-
vide that the supporters of this cruel and
wicked rebellion should henceforth be
made 10 feel lis burdens"
No loyal man can fail to heartily re-
spoud to this, and no traitor can complain
that it is in any degree unjust or unreason-
able. ConfscatiOn of property has al
ways been penalty for treason, and there
has been no case in history in which the
crime more fully deserved the most vigor-
Gus exaction of this penalty than tue pres
ent, when the loyal people OF the country
are called II pour out their blood aud trea-
sure without stint for the defence of the
UniSn. The government has the indispu-
table right to intliCt this penalty 1t Ouly
remains that Congress shall devise and Gu
act some measure which shall be practical
BILE in application, aud which shall accom-
plish the object without creating new and
more formidable obstacles than already
exist to the restoration of the Union. Just
here lies - great difficulty, aud the mem
bers of Congress feel it. The Constitu-
tiOnal difficulty is easily provided for, and
it may be that Air. TrHmbulrs bill will be
fouad unexceptionabIe on that score, as he
earnestly contends. Aut it is eviden that
wisu discrimination must be made
between the leaders of tho rebel
lion and those who have been mis-
led or forced into it. An attempt
to cOnfscate the property of all who have
actually been engaged in the rebellion
could not succeed. 1t would bring under
the hammer nearly all the property in elev-
en- states of the Union, which is not to be
thought OF. And what is still more to be
deprecated, it would inspire the entire
South with the energy of despair, and after
that the restoration of the Union by the act
of the southern people would be out of the
question, and we should have the formida-
Bile work before US of utterly subjugatiug
that whole sectiOn-perhaps of devastating
and re.peopling it. 1t is within the limits
of the possible that it may come to that as
things are, in the cotton and Gulf states, by
the obstinacy of their people. If so we
and do it as we best can, using whatever
instruments God and nature have placed in
our hands. But we must not by any in
temperate and indiscriminate legislation
create SO terrible necessity. Hence it
becomes the duty of Congress to consider
this whole subject dispassionately and
thoroughly before preceding to any act
which may involve such tremendous con-
sequences.
Mr.. TrumbuIl concluded his argument for
cOnfscation with this appeal:
"Having, rs think, shown that the right |
to confscate enemies property exists; that
for this purpose the rebels may properly be |
treated as enemies; that confscatiou can
be effected only by au act OF Congress;
that the bill under consideration is consti-
tutional. aud that it is both wise and expe.
dient to take from those who shall con-
tinue to fight against the government after
the passage of this act, and whose persons
are beyond the reach Of punishment, their
property and their slaves, so far as they are
within onr reach. 1 appeal to all those
who favor these views to stand together,
and let us pass this bill at as early day
MS possible, with such notifications and
amendments as may be thought advisable,
not losing sight Of the great object in u
,ieW. 1t is no time to talk of amnesties {
md Cancellation, when the habitations