, 1862-06-07

SATURDAY, JUNE Z, 1862.


SATURDAY, JUNE Z, 1862.
'TREAs0N VS.. CONFIsCATION.
During the past eyentful year treason
has assumed 90 many forms, that in some
Of them it has passed for loyalty. But un-
der every disguise, it exhibited evidences
of its true character. It was always de-
x;sinr excuses for the brutality Of the reb-
ria, or invcuting lies about their chiyalrous
masnauirnit5 nit5-always placing obstructions
in the way Of vigorous war measures-al-
ways encouraging partizan hostility to the
Viewed by the Light Of
this past experience, the zeal OF those who
led of in opposition to the condscatlon set,
siuks into an intrigue to reinstatc the
southern traitors in their forfeited places
Rebellion has become a losing game. The
people Of the rebel states possess far less
stamina than the world had been led to ex-
spect: the people Of the free States possess
far more. The ruling spirits OF the COL
spiracy have evidently been as much dis
appointed in their own followers as in the !
men of the North. Where they expected
en1y courage and fortitude, they find q !
plentiful lack Of both. Where they expect
ed speedy bankruptcy and decentralization,
they find resources which seem exhaust
less, and constancy mistaken by revecses.
And they stand appalled, before the future.
But their faithful Northern allies are not
yet discouraged. They still hope 80 to
enlbar1ass the Government as to bring
about dishonorable peace, which shall
leave the traitors predominant in the Sc
ceded States, and more powerful than at
auy period before the rebellion They
confidently expect that the proposed Fed
eral taxation will be very unpopular; and
so they oppose every measure calculated
to reduce the burden. Generalship which
mulipies the cost Of the war, without &C
conaplishing decisive results, they heartily
applaud. A dilatory policy, by which vast
sums Of money are expended, q complies
ton Of our relations with Europe, a weak-
ening of the public confidence in the Ad-
ministration, an exaggerated opinion OF the
obstinacy and resources Of the rebels
these form the basis Of their hopes, and
animate them to renewed exerdons in be
half Of cause On the success Of which
they have stalsed everything. But thei1
main reliance is on the unpopularity O.
taxation. Hence their fierce, hostility II
the confscation bill; for if the provision
Of that bill be faithfully carried out, tn
load Will be materially reduced
It would, in truth, be hazardous to cal
upon loyal men for compulsory cont1ibu
tons, and at the same time reject til
means which the usagcs Of war justly.
would be hazardous to tax patriotism fo
the benefit Of treason to hold loyalty r<
sponEible for rebellion to remove the COZ
sequences Of war as far as possible frol
those who caused it; to hedge the propert
Of rebels round about with the sanctity
a constitution which they are struggling
overthrow. 1fthe Government should o.
pose confEcation, and throw the bnrde
wholly On the States which have rematne
steadfast to the Union, doubt might ari
as to the object Of the war-whether it IT
waged to put down rebellion OF loyalty.
Ali Northern traitors clearly undeFsta1
this matter. Every day wastedis . millit
dollars nccdlessly added to the nation
debt. Every dollar added to the nation
debt they consider as so much partiz;
capital. Thus aided by the unpopular
Oft debt which they have themselves do
their utmost to Increase, and backed up
the pro-siaycry men Of the Border Stat
they hope to control the next House
Representatives, and humble the l
1ninistration before the rebel jun
How well they have succeed
in polluting the army with pro-slavt
commanders, and how careful these CO
manders are Of the persons Of rc5els,
country has had sad experience. That
confiecation bill should not pass alm
without opposition, would, viewed f.
one standpoint, seem incomprehensib
Tiewcd in connection with the w
laid plot to defeat it, the o
wonder is, that it passed at all. 2
friends Of the measure, acting in good f;
themselves, suspected no treachery- T.
deliberately walked into ambushes- II
ftragg1ers were picked off. They II
stabbed in the houses Of their frien
And they were several times on the "
of defeat We are, therefore, disposed
consider the passage Of the bill as 8 8
moral triumph. Its provisions must
faithfully carried out; for the cstablishn
Of the principle that rebels shall pay
cost Of putting down rebellion is abso]
ly indispensable to the permanent pcac
this uation.
TUEY NEED NOT WONDER