Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-02
April "a, 1862
CONFISCATION.

The Senate having adopted the con6scation
bill Of Mr.. Sherman of Ohio, by vote Of 81
to IL, it is probable that no more extreme
measure will be passed by the present Con-
gross. 1t confscates the property of all hold
ing military or civil Office under the rebel
government, after the date Of its passage, and
emancpates the slaves Of all such. A brief
abstract is as follows:
Section authorizes the president 10 take possession
Of all property and persons, follows J. or persons
hereafter acting as officers in the army aud navy Of the
rebels g. or persons hereafter acting president vice
president and members Of congress Of the so-caed con
cdcrae states g. or the governors Of the states mem
bers u the legislatures and judges Of the states in rebel
lion who hereafter take the oath to support the rebel
constitution 4. or persons holding Offices Of honor in
the United States, who hereafter may hold Offices Of hon
in said confederate states and B. or persons owning
property ia the loyal states who may hereafter assist or
give aid to the rebellion.
Section provides that to recover possession OF such
property In The loya states proceedings be instituted In
the Of the United States in the district where the
property found, and n the property is sold the pro-
eeed 10 be- deposited in the trea sury Of the u States
Section provides that property seized where Judicial
proceedings obsructed shall be held till judicial pro-
cecdngs restored, when suit shall be instituted
Articles Of perhabe nature 70 be sold or used as
the service requires and person described in the hfst
section Of the dill shall hold any person 10 service or Ia
Dor after the passage of this act who was held by him
before
Section gives the district power to issue all
processes 20 cary out this act.
Section authorizes the president by proclamation of
amnesty release either Of the Eve classes Of persons
described ia the FIRST section from the operation OF this
act
Senator Collamer Of Vermont has offered
another bill, which may possibly be substitu-
ted for the above It provides that on con-
victon OF treason the punishment shall be
death, or Inc Of not less than $40, 900, and
the slaves of such convicts TO be free. 1t
gives the President the power of granting
amnesty, and in certain cases where persons
refuse to submit, the President may make
proclamation that unless after certain day
they submit, their slaves shall be free and
their property confscated. Mr.. Walton Of
fered Senator Collamer's bill as a substitute
for the one pending in the House, but it was
rejected by vote Of 80 against 62.
On Thursday Mr.. Collamer spoke at length
on his bill, and gave his views on the general
question Of confscation and emancipation
He takes a conservative and constitutional
view Of the questions and we presume will
be advised by such radical extremists as our
neighbor Of the Freeman to come down from
his constitutional siits," fling the consttu
ton to the winds. and pitch in" bindfolded.
IT, however, the Union is ever to be preserv-
ed, and republican institutions perpetua,ed in
this country, it must be done 10 accordance
with the strict letter and spirit of the consti-
tuition, and not in qualification Of extreme
and radical men on either side. The speech
is given in full in another place.