Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-05-22
say Il again boldly-for my position never has
been misunderstood on this subject"


been misunderstood on this subject" /
The honorable Senator from Ohio Mr.. Sher.
man " on the same occasion said - rI II - |
1--WE ought now to abolish slavery In this
District, We have the right, and II is our duty
to do it-and ii we had wasted less time in do
ing it il would probably be just as well. We
ought, then, religiousy to adhere to the prom
ses We made to the people OF this country when
Mr., Lincoln was elected President. We ought
religiously to abstain from all interference with
the domestic institutions of the slave or the free
States, We ought to stand by the Constitution
as il is-by the Union as il is Whether rebels
are in arms or not, our duty is to stand by our
pledges-to stand by our manhood-and for
one will do itn .E Al in
II we make law intending it to be operative
by which We declare that the slaves OF all enga'
ged in this rebellion, or of all the officers and
classes mentioned in the amendment OF the SEN
ator from Ohio, are free, and all right over them
abolished-do you beheve--does any man of
common sense believe that you can make the
world understand that you have not interfered
with slavery in the States, and not to a very
limited extent either, but to about the whole
extent to which it exists All remarks how
ever Ingenious, and all sophstry however plau.
sible, which can make this look otherwise, Is
but a delusion-it cannot be seen in any other
| light, This is put on the ground that il is
military operaton-not on the ground OF pro-
ceedugs in rem--not that it deprives man of
his property and yet leaves him to be hung--not
upon any conviction-not upon any process OF
law whatever, except this law which we now
make. bsst 1ata lafE.HraJ
| 1t seems to me, oDtuse as l am, perhaps, in
my perceptions, that that is directly interfering
with this plighted falkland it seems to me
further, that il is in direct violation of the pro-
visions, prohibitions and securities which the
| Constitution enacts for one will not do it.
do not regard myself as needing any apology
for not doing it, l do not think my people wish
me to contribute to breaking any provision of
the Constitution, and they know would not do
it if they did wish it-nor do they need any
apologies from me for regarding the oath which
| have taken. aa 5a 80
But, sir, if we had this power, allow me to
make single remark as to the policy of it in
aiding to put down the rebellion. You propose
to say to the officers, your property is confsca
ted !" and to the soldiers, you may proceed
with impunity-if you do not succeed you shall
not be punished" Is it not saying, "now, you
officers, fight on to save yourselves--and sol
diers, you may follow your officers as far as
you can--for after all if you do not succeed you
are not going to lose anything" GAa
The same treatment is proposed in regard to
slaves. The slaves are now in the possession
and control of their masters, except SO far as
e our army goes. If they try to get away-espe.
callv if they are at any considerable distance
from our armies,-their masters will not allow
them to do It. No, their masters are not going
to allow them to get away, to join us to shoot
them-they will stop them-perhaps kill them
in the attempt. If we knew people were going
from us to join the enemy and fight, we should
not let them 60. Neither do they. Now, by
| -; III ell thay avay
to learn what we do at all-and if they do not,
it can have no effect-Hyou need not run any
risk about offending your master; perhaps your
: master will sacceed in the rebelon-and you
will suffer pretty hard if you attempt to run
away and he catches you-you may remain
quietly with your master. and not incur the
hazard of bis dispieasure or punishment-but i
after all your master does not succeed, you Will
be free, whether you help rs or not " Is that
good policy That is the bill. 1t does moi
seem to me TO be a very wise means to the end
. if such an end is had in view, as suppose.
will now call the attention of the Senate to
the bill which have submitted as an amend
: ment. " is printed, but have made some lit
tie alterations in the copy left on the table. Ii
the first place. in order to enable the Presideu
, to have in lis hands an opportunity to offe
some objects and advantages and purposes 4
! that people, have taken this course. In TIL
!, first section of my bill l provide that the pun
!, ishment for treason upon conviction may b
: death-or, in the discretion Of the court, it ma
=, be fine and imprisonment. That fine is imite
. to be not less than $4,000, and the imprison
ment to be not less than five years. The maxi
a mum have left to the discretion of the court
. I intended that the fine in the power of tn
: court to lay should be such as was adapted
sa the mans means. and would put the fine larg
| t~,v, an Svhn wa
: further provide that the effect of the convi
70 ton shal oe 1nA 40 shall be incapable of holt
n ing a.-..y office under the Government, and th
1t hls slaves shall be free, and that this fine sha
v, be levied and collected out of any property
u possessed at the time the act was committed
n am free to acknowledge one purpose had
.l;s rrox. ion. Much has been said about ii
. snh;aot of The ,s"iture of a mans estate
|" yonS his life, do no. choose to discuss tha
d / do not desire that we should be involved IN
q What is forfeiture 1t is taking some speclf
@ thing as all the visible property man now pc
It sesses-his farm, his horse, his ship. There
= visible, material identity that is forfeited
|, fine has no such quality. A fine is but T.
Q mulcting OF the respondent in sum of money
If he pays it, well-ii he does not pay it, lev
;. and collect it out of his property. | have cres
n ted no forfeiture by my bill. The act create
g none, but it enables the courts to levy and co
{ lect the fine out of the convicted traitors PROF
], erty. involve no question as to whether 20
O can create forfeiture of anything beyond h
Il life, or during his life 1t is no forfeiture wha
c ever. | avoid that question altogether.
1t It's next provided in my bill that in order I
Y meet this, the President shall nave power I
r take possession of the property of person thu
!. engaged, wherever situated 10 the United State
e real and personal, to sequester it to meet tn
3, fine, to be holden till the man is tried, soon
5. or later. @aag 415aaaTat ggyaas on
is Having done this, propose in the next Sc
.e ton that the President shall be authorized
issue his proclamation offering indemnity ar
it pardon to the people, with such exceptions an
/ upon such conditions, and at such times as
il. shall point out Suppose we take possession Of
', State, and the people remain-the President
% sues proclamation to the people, saying
them, Il have appointed otiicers-and now
or you will, within sixty days, all Of you, exec
jefferson Davis, Robert Toombs," or their &c