Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-10-01

samer's wing. In obedience to this high
or law of unreasoning passion, they under
took, many years ago, to annul one dis
tasteful but minor provision of the Con-
stitution; now they give loose reins TO
their f;naticism, and drive with a coach
and six through the very body of the in
StrIment.
''The ConSt tuition confers on the fede-
raj government no power TO change the
domestic institutions of the States this
policy makes changes of the most violent
and sweeping character, changes which
even the Republican party in its national
conventions disclaimed any intention of
making, and admitted TO be unconstitu-
tional. The Constitution protects the
property of all citizens from forfeiture by
civil penalty without trial and conviction
this policy imtlicts heavy penalties without
even the pretcnce of a trial, inflicts them
on all the citizens of whole States without
even the prctence of any discrimination
between the innocent and the guilty, blen-
ding them all into one indistin@uishable
mass without any regard to whether they
had borne arms against the government or
were. non-combatantS, or whether they
had gone into the rebellion voluntarily or
had been cocrced into the terrorism which
has prevailed mt the South.
The Constitution describes the crime
of lcvying war against the United States
I as treason, and makes certain broad regu-
lations respecting its punishment :; but the
policy in question assumes TO punish levy
in@ war in Il different way from what the
| Constitution allows it TO b. punished, by
! furnishing it under some other name. \
! man cannot be constitutiOnally punished
! as Il traitor till hc has been first tried, but
! this policy attempts TO CIrcumvcnt the
/ Constitution by inficting the punishment
under some other form than as penalty
/ of treason y universal coniiscation of
the private property of non-combatants,
/ throughout whole States. without trial.
! without any attempt TO distinguish be-
/ tween innocent and guilty, or between the
property of full-grown male citizens, and
! that OF minors and orphans. held by guar
lians OF trustees, is alike contrary to the
/ Constitution and to the laws of civilized
war, which respect the private property of
! non-combatuntS.
| '.If we descend from the Constitution
to the coniScation act. we shall find this
extraordinary proclamation indcfcnsible
. even on the principles of that act. That
law does not act on the gross population
! of areas OF country, but or Individual per
| sons The forfciturrs it denounces are
confined TO persons in rebellion against the
government. What can be more prcpos-
ferrous, or Il more Inonstrous pervcrsiOn of
justice, than to make the guilt or inno-
ccncc of an individual depend on whether
the state i'll which hc happened TO he born
shall have representatives III Congress on
the first day of january? 1t would be
sufficiently monStrouS TO make mans
right to his property drprnd on his own
exercise of the elective franchise Never
was there - degrading satire on rcpub-
lican institutions as the compulsory voting
required by President Lincoln
. But when Il mans property is made
to depend not on whether he chooses TO
vote himself, but on whether his fellow
citizens choose TO vote. and whether the
number voting under tliis executive COM
pulSion happens TO BE- majority, we are
lost in aStonishmcnt that a chief magis-
trIte of Il free country should undertake TO
make citizens perform what ought TO lie
their frecst act, under coercion. and 10
convert the ballot box into criminal tri-
bunal. What has the number of votes
east IN a particular election TO do with
the question whether Il particular citizen
Is guilty of treason! Why should women
minors and orphans be deprived of their
property in consequence of the neglect of
citizens to vote !
This extraordinary proclamation will
bring no advantages 10 the negro race at
ali proportionatc TO the distractions ii
throws iii the way of reunion. Ii IS Ger
f tain that the Union will never be restored
till this ill-advised action of the govern
, ment l. reversed 1t converts every in
habii;:nt of the South into zcalot whose
all is embarked in the success of the re-
belliOn. The idea that they will succumb
10 threats, that they will vote on compul-
sion, that they will feel terror. or mis-
givings, or anything but increased indig-
, nation. at such a proclamation, shows
small knowledge either of human nature
or the temper of the Southern mind
such a proclamation cannot possibly
be enforced, and its only effect will be to
strengthen the determination of the rebels
TO fight to the very last. They are shut
: up in a lane which has no turning. When
the military power of the rebels is broken.
we have laid before ourselves a still har-
der task TO perform. At the very crisis
: OF the contest of arms, the President has
reinforced them as effectually as if he had
doubled their squadrons in the field. We
may learn from our enemies. They will
rejoice. Their leaders will make of this