The Semi-weekly Shreveport news. [volume] (Shreveport [La.]) 1862-1864, 1862-06-06

invite Ile vi y SS' W
are willing to have peace, but wei
must first strip you before You come
back of all YOU have; we must take
from you your bread and the bread
of vour women and children;" and
we take away at one time, at one
moment, and by one decree, all the
the means of subsistence, and all the
property, of five millions Of people,
male, female, children. adults and all.
Such is the bill. To inquire wleth-
or such a measure is against the
Constitution of the United States
would seem to be mockery. Such
measure is against the very instincts
of mankind; against the lessons OF
human policy: against all lessons OF
Christianity and humanity. Why
! inquire whether it is against the
Constitution Of the | nited States
God and man so far as can read
them in history, have forbidden 1t;
and l think that, as have read It,
the Constitution. Of the United States
has also forbidden it. The Constitu-
ton of the United States has divided
this Government into three depart
,ncrts-thc Legislative, (Which We
are. J the judicial, and theeNecutivc-
and neither Of these are 10 execute
III. powers distributed to either OF
the others,
Now, sir, does no, this great prin-
ciple strike your minds when prop
osition Of this sor: is made! You
NAV reject the idea OF property IN
man: YOU may reject slavery in all
its aspects and in all its interpreta-
tons; let it be so. 1t 1t Were an
original question proposed, You would
. have few opponents: bat 1t is here 50
blended with our institutions, s.
: blended with the property OF III,
+ country, SO blended "i,!i the %.
2 mestic relations, and wiki AL tn,
5 social relations Of life where It
/ exists, that YOU not only talk, iron
S a man his property by this proposed
0 law, but you tear to pieces the socla
8 system which has been built up VIII
it, Of which it forms 81 part, and ;
Y very material and characteristic part
: i do not wish TO p~olong these IL
; marks. what l have said, ha''
l. said in no spirit ot controversy, hr
=. With a deep and solemn conviction
l. that the country demands that ever,
:. man should give the best council n
II can. aud that all our counsels to@ei h
= or are not more than sufficient +
II meet the exigeucics Of the time il
n which we live. We want peac
J. then. Peace is cheap at any prize
IS we can pay for 1t. We want peac
/. and unity. Our armies are victor.
|e rous; we have the prospect Of
:. speedy termination OF actual hostlI.
Is ties, and our task begins. What
a that? Not to tear open old wound:
Of not to max. new wounds; not to MAX
Id Il whole people by millions drsperat
e. and paupers. That is not our bus
Of ness. No, sir. If we fulfill tn
a Glory of our Constitution. and me,
m the great responsibility which is VI
Sc on us, our duty will be to heal up III
i'll wounds of this sad war. and TO !,
m store the Union and the laws.
h Public justice may demand a sal
to ritics of /, few Of the leaders vii
We have instigated this rebellion; hl
m as to the punishment OF the mass I
"a the people, let Us leave that 70 He
n ven alone. WE cannot do il.
e. we We're to take their lives. the
Sc blood would stain every acre OF lar
es from massachusetts, to Texas. "
cannot do it. 10 take their prope
as " would only be inferior III point
IN severity to taking their lives,
e, Shakespeare is right III saying,
nd who takes from NE that whercon
as live, takes from me my life. /
m; taking from them their property al
ll1 their bread, you condemn them