, 1862-07-21
THE coMFlscATfoN BILL.
THE CLOSING DEBATE I'M THE
SENATE.
MR.. CLARK'S INTERPRETATIONS
OF IT'S ADOPTION.

MR.. CLARK's NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OF IT'S ADOPTION.
WASHINGTON, July1 1861
Nj: CLARK called up the resolution from
the House, explanatory Of the conHscation !
act. He offered as an amendment, that no
punishment under the bin shall work the for
feitnre Of real estate beyond the natural life Of
the person aecused-
Mr. TRuNBg1L opposed the amendment, as
life forfeiture Of real estate in the West,
amounts to nothing.
Nj. sHEn4AN Of Ohio Rep) sata that II the
Senator (Qla1k) COULD say that it Bas likely /.
amendment was adopted, he (sheri1au) was
to vote for It, but he wanted tie president to
take the responsibility Of it. i
NJ. CLARE. think I may say that am
authorized to state thst this amendment will
10 the bill. One OF the objections Of this
amendment was an inducements to obtain the |
presidents signature. He shou1d also offer
another amendment, a that the words ii grant !
authorize the president to restore any
property under the bill If he thinks it neces-
sary.
was not wiling to 1egislate 1uder any dnress.
He would never surrender the independence |
OF the Senate to the dsction OF any president,
however much we might trust him; Let the
president. il be does not like the bill. send it
back here with his veto, and then he disney
WAS willing to make the issue between conas-
/ cation and no condscation. He Iane) was
| not willing to have the hands Of the Senate
| tied by the executive or any other po Ter this
! eide Of heayen-
Mr.. CLARK thought they might as well
look to the question practically, and no stop
at little points Of etiquette. # there weEe
| honest objections We might as well try and
harmonic them.
LII: KING Of New York, {Rep.,) thought
tion.. Il the president has objections to the
bill, it Is his business to send the bill back
| with his objections. It is time that we met
the enemies ct this country fairly, and not
with tin1id policy. We must defend the
country, from It enemies, and from any tiu1id-
ity On The part Of those whose duty It Is to
take care Of the country. We must meet tho
question boldly, and not By this baek-door
legislation. he Thought 1t a monstrous prec-
edent to establish.
Mr. HARRIS Of New York, Rep.) thought
there Was nothing SO monstrous ia this pro-
pos sition. II the president had constitutional
seruples, We ought to have proper respect for
them. If we can pass this resolution and
avoid veto, be (Harris) thought it YVES best
hr. WADE Of Ohio, Rep.) thought that
this was entirely novel question. This way
Of coming in here Nlegltiuaate'y-in war m
known to the constitution--he did not like.
He {Wade) did not know who was authorized
to speak ior the president or promulgate his
views. II this Is the way We are to lagis1ate,
we ought to have committee to wait on the
president. WHEN We pass bill, and ask what
his royal wish is and how much We shall
alter bnl to escape his veto? This is dis
graceful. It is total surrender of the rights
Of this body. The only constitutional way
for the president is, If he has objections to
the bill, to state them in his veto. There is
] $fa1n1 FSU1 -.
to surrender al our constitutional rights and
,, | all the dignity Of the Senate. This way OF
I coming in here with hack-aoor yetoes caunot
/ be tolerated. 1t seems that some gentlemen
j have been to see the rresident-to learn his
J opinions. These gentlemen are very fortu.
: nate. Most gentlemen, when they 90 to see
!; the president, arc debarred from his presence
i ard those only ara admitted who arc charged
, with his constitutional conscience. He
(Wade) would be very sorry if tie president
should veto this important measure Il
t would be the saddest news tnat ever went oul
/ Of this capital IF such, however, Is to bt
3 The case, lie wanted the president to take al
+ the responsibility Of his OWL actions. HI
(Wade) wanted no back-kitehen way Of doing
e 11r. WILSON OF Massachusetts, Rep.) sait
4 that he hld been engaged here for months try
r ing to pass cont1s cation bill Of some sort
g | ant one finally was passed, to which thera wer
5 strong objections BY some Senators. He{Wl
L
e consequence, and If its passage would in an
il way satisfy anyhody's constitutional scruplee
II he (Wllson) was perfectly willing to vote fo
d it. He admitted this mode Of legislatio
.s great measure was far above all little irreg1
r. 1arities. II he could secure the passage {
ir this bill, he would co so.
2 MR. FEssESDES, of Maine, Rep.) said tha
le he could see no impropriety ia any Senate
D. asking the President about his views upo
| 5n hill ETrh ?mTrnnr1pfV If ElArn
7e could not be charged strongly against hin
ID Fessenden,) for he had done it now for II
Ia first time in his life. He had been solicited
4 many gentlemen to inquire Of the president:
il be very unfortunate that there should be ar
re- difference Of opinion between the Presidel
I'd and Congress on SO important q measure
be this. 1t must be remembered that the pres
d. dent is an important branch Of this COVER
let ment, and without his signature no bill G
y, become law, without two thirds vote. II
ali | people are very much interested in this mea
re ure, and he Fessenden) felt deep interest
IN if, and voted for it, though with some hesit
en- ! 1ion as to Its constitutional bearings. He
or 1leved that whatever op Mon the preside
be expressed, he expressed honestly. What pz
IRE / OF common sense is it when lie can retAin
Ye the essential features Of the bill, to refuse
gh have anything to do With it at all? Is it \
az best to do the best He can under the clrcu
ps- ;: stancese Is there any loss Of dignity Or ch
m actr In passing such resolution as this. OF
IN it better that no bill should be passed?
\" FtseendeD) was willing to take all the
sponEibility Of going to the president, fifth
m was any responsibility about 1t at ~.
,9t Mr.. POWELL, of Kentucky, (Opp.,) Offer
ag- an amendment to the amendment offered
ere hr. CLARK, to strike out the word Hrea1, !"
ec- as to have the limitation to life forfeiture
nv. ply properly.
he bsv iii. Doo11TTLa, ,of " isconsin, (Rep., hoI
aHr the amendment would not be adopted.
,ne should eaT nothing, aa his views had beel Il
[ast represented By the press. He had been cha
hen ed with trying to protect the real estate Of
to wanted TO get lid Of al constitutional OBJ
tons. He wanted to take all the real est
aud Of the rebels, and repeople those States v
fere new and loyal people.
Mr. LANE, Of Kansas, (Rep.,) was willing
70 ,, stand By the president. He would not ask
t1hiis to violate his constance on account Of
Senator from New Hampshire (C1ark) bel
for the people of Kansas, IS they would
hold OF the rebel property much cheaper t
Otherwise, and he was perfectly willing to tt
future.
Mr. TRuMBUlL Of Illinois, (Rep.,) did
c,1 wish to make The president Violate his 6
science in any way but is the president c
aing bis veto? The Senate did not wish to ct
low in conflict with the executive In any wJy,
the president in an unconstitutional wa
bringing on conflict between himself aud
OIL Senate in O very dangerous way as he Er
our bu1D thought. He l1rumhulD did not do
,els, ut all that the Senator from Milne (Fessen6
ille- understood the views Of the president
lem rect1y, but on some other bill and come o'
They OCCASION, some Senators who are not SO 81
oau, 1ate might undertake to state the views of
we're president and make q mistake, and the Sci
ant, might vote On entirely erroneous views,
no q resolution proposes an entirely new preced
ser Such thing has never been done before.
amendment proposed BY the senator f
nnea New Hampshire (C1ark) was euggested sin
5Mle and solely for the purpose Of Overcoming
d OF objections which he {Trumb1lD underst
roke were made by the president This seems
OVER an attempt on the part Of the presiden
'ods, coefce Congress. It the president has OF
ring tions to the resolution, let him use his CO..
one tatlonal prerogatfve, and veto the bill,
then it vii not follow, as has been sugges
n6er that ne have no bill, for the veto mes
rules can be taken up andacted on, and il necest
our the bill can be passed by two-thlrd5 :
1ger. He (Trumbull} had FELT great dee
re- interest in the passage Of conbscat1on
, 70 ana he believed that II one had been pass1
vail the commencement Of the session, the r
cer- lion By this time would have been snppErt
'und- TIE passage Of such bill would have het
'1nd. more value to US than the taking Of the !
yil!e, t capital. It Was just a difference between
i've ing to the slaves Of the rebels, escape
out it | your masters and come within our ltnes
been your shacs1es shall fall forever, and sayir
ound Them, II you come within our lines
just shall be driven back. The rebels had Ct
and Gated all the property Of Union men
= T. 1sx.k ~