Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-11

speech of Hon. JoHN 5. PHELPS, of Missouri, in
the House of Representatives, May -, upon the
foregoing topics. to which direct the attention
of all thoughtful men. Mr. PHELPS is a Union
man and he has given evidence OF his devotion to
the Government by fighting in its behalf. Mr..
PnELPs iorcibly remarks:
One of the bills under consideration proposes
to coufiscate all the estates OF certain classes of
persons who may be guilty OF treason. The sec
ond proposes tie emancipation of their slaves
Both these bills are predcated upon the suppose
ton that they are sanctioned by the Constitution
and necessary for the suppression of the re-
belliOn.
| tell YOU, Representatives. that If YOU enact
these laws instead OF putting end to this
belon YOU but add fuel to the flames that ale
now fercey raging in the Southern portion of this
Union. assert these bills contain principles not
sanctioned by the Constitution. Treatment of
bellgerents Is proposed, not sanctioned by the
laws OF nations. Nor can these principles be Sus-
tanned by the best authorities on international
law This Government never asserted such mon
strous doctrines, either in the revolutionary war
or in the war OF 1912 with Great Britain. Nor
did we assert such was our right in the prosecu
ton ofthe war with Mexico. Three different wars
with foreign nations, and the statesmen of those
DAYS did not contend for such measures as the au-
thors Of these bills expect u to adopt. And will
we impose upon our own citizens, upon citizens of
this republic, though IN rebellion, terms more
Onerous and more Cumbersome with more OF the
rigors OF war; than we are willing 10 impose upon
citizens of foreign nations with which may be
engaged in war! | trust not Have we forgot
ten that our ancestors ACCOMPLISHED successful
revolution, and that Great Britain never adopted
such harsh and severe measures towards them
who rebelled against that Government.
| was surprised to hear the gentleman from
Massachusetts, Mr.. Eliot, when he opened this
debate, speak OF the expectation of deriving reve
hue from the sale of this property, in the event
that this bill should pass and become a law
Where Is the property TO be sOldZ Ii Is to be- sold
in the districts wherein il is condemned. Sold 10
whom and amongst whom? 1t will necessarily
be some time before YOU can get a decree of the
court against the property, and by the Time that
this Is done YOUR army will have passed beyond
the place where thes sale is TO be made. The prop
ertv is to be sold, and to whom? To those who
are the neighbors of the man whose properly has
been seized: and although they have feelings of
anmosity toward each other. growing out OF this
rebellion. though portion of them Union
men aud n portion traitors. nevertheless, every
man OF a Kind and benevolent heart feels, when
all a mans property il taken from him, is seiZel
and condemned to be sold, that there are still
some ties of neghbOrly friendship toward the
traitors wife and children, and will not take the
uroperty from them We will get no revenue
from this property: none whatever, not even
enough to cover the expenses of the cost of con
denuation 50 il viii be when authorize our
M4rShals to drive MP the horses, the mules. the
cattle and to seize the crops upon a mans farm,
not to feel our army. as | understand thing
which contend We nave the right TO debut Tor
Tia rurroSe of sale and emf Scatlop
We may say the same IN relation To the sale Of
real estate. Can derive revenue from thatg
Perhaps We NAV. Who is going to attend those
salesg Our proceedings are 20 be analogous To
Those in courts of admiralty. We are to sell up
notice; but those notices can hot be given,
Mr.. Speaker IN your State on mine. distant from
the place OF sale. and therefore YOU and and
constituents will hot attend those sales TO pur-
chase the plantations which the Marshal shall Of
ter tor sale. Competition will be among those
only who live in the vicinity. and therefore We
will derive no revenue theretrom-
ask, furthermore, whether this proposition
vii! and in snppreSslng the reoelicng This levy
inc of onerous contributions and Their exactiOn
in harsh anu cruel manner. as Vas done by the
French army in the Peninsular war. gave great
dissatisfaction 20 the inhabitants, ana aided ia the
expulsion of the French army
The Duke of " ellington said of that system OF
the French armies.
alt j. our best trend and will IN the end, bring
the contest 10 a conclusion
The rigorous exsctions of the French armies
drove many of the inhabitants into the ranks Of
the guerrilla parties. Nay not these eonhscation
bdis produce the same result in this country
Let u reflect and endeavOr 20 ascertain whether
the seizure and contiscaii0n of all mans estate
who is disoyal j. likely TO make him loyal
Some gentlemen believe, and have heard IL
asserted here. that slavery Is the foundation Of
this RET eion. | tel YOU il is not. tell YOU il
j the misguided ambition OF 4 few bad men, who
have been sowing the seeds OF disunion in this
country from 1890 20 The present time. IL Was a