Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-05-30
Conf s ca tion.


several months, but like the progress OF
the Union armies southwark, it " drags
lis slow length along" AS many as a
dozen different bills cOnfscating the pro-
perry of rebels have been introduced, re-
ferred, and reported back again. The
question is no nearer a solution than at
first, 1t is an important question and
one that rs exciting controversy over the
whole country. We confess that We can
not approach it with that even temper
which is our won't upon most important
matters. Ii is the great question of the
war and should be handled us becomes lis
rnagoiudr. Why government should
hesitate for on hour to condsCate the pro-
perry Of rebel- is what we cannot com
prehend We fear there is too much OF
false l.srty in the way Of our rulers to
conduct this war to speedy and success
full issue, Congressman are too tender
footed. Their conscienccs are easily
wounded-for wonder! The catechism
of their youth--neg elected through many
and long years Of sin--is before them,
and remembered too well. While ex-
pressing their deep horror at the crimes
Of treason and tue atrocities Of the reb-
els, they are yet too tender Of them, loo
humane, too conciIiatory to suit our no.
tions. Too many Of our leading men in
and ont Of congress are still haunted with
the idea that we SHALL drive the rebels to
desperation, or so exasperatc the border
states tlat in despair they would rush to
the piratical confederacy What chill
ing policy As if any act of ours, how
ever abject, cond deter them for mo-
ment in their wicked attempts to subvert
the government aud overthrow human
liberty
The constitution is in the way The
constitution, indeed While traitors are
burning the dwellings of peaceful Union
men, pillaging their property, numbering
and ravisbing detenceless women, and
even have vigilance committees appointed
to watch over, sit in judgment upon aud
hang Union men for their fealy to The
government they love, and taking all
their property to support the unholy re-
bellion, northern men, members Of con
gress, and men in various positions in our
government, are opposed to confiscalion
unless it can be done precisely iE the way
they shall indicate, because, torsooth--as |,
they say--it is not according to the ex-
act letter Of the constitution, an instru-
ment they have helped to violate an hun
dred times
We are in favor of strong measures,
whether they are constitutional measures
or not. If people expect that the war is
to be carried on according to the strict
Interpretation of the constitution, they
may likewise calculate that it is to be an
interminable war. Nothing should stand
in the way Of bringing it to a satisfactory
issue. If the constitution ia in the way
OF conf ,cation--as it certainly is not
kick il ASIDE, and let the sword and the
bayonet be our articles of confederation.
Why do our rulers tell US that the consti
tuition recognises slavery in the states as
a local evil, and that we must not NEEDLE
with it? We giant ii in advance Of all
discussion. That instrument also guar
antics to every man the liberty of speech,
the right of private Judgment, Of " life,
liberty. and the pursuit of happiness -
But this guaranty does not amount TO
much to those people in the south wh)
still adhere to the Union, who for months
have suffered all the horrors that could
be devised by their more tIan savage
foes. With the circumstances that now
surround Us, and in times like these, it is
suicidal to talk about the demonstrations
atty of this or that measure when it is
10 affect only the persons or property of
reb.Is. Might should be the rule now.
Let rt, 1t Vsurp its sway after the war is
over.
Sweeping o1u9scnion Is the surest and
speedest means 10 bring tie rebels to
their senses and make them beg for mer-
cy, with The big round !rops Of honest
repentance in their eyes. IKE all their
property. Free their slaves. Arm them
aud bid them strike for MeiT eoun.'ry ana
our country. Now that the rebellion HaS
assumed such tremendous proportions.
and has opened to our view such a;troci-
ties, we should not he over nice IN tho
means used TO suppress it. 1t is no ordi-
nary warfare, and we should not be sat.
islied with ordinary means. Shall we
stop and talk about the constitution in a
war when they respect no spiial-when
they decoy US with flags Of truce aud then
fire upon our men who go TO meet il?
Shall we waste our breath in talking