Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-03-07
Make the Traitors Pay the Bills.

Make the Traitors Pay the Bills.
The traitors that have plunged the coun-
try into bloody and expensive war, should
be made 10 pay the expenses Of the same SO
far as il is possible to make them do So.
The question Of Confscation, says the N.
Y. World, "has been Confined altogether
100 much to its bearings upon slave pro-
perty. On the one side a radical class has
advocated general confscation because it
would practically amount to general aboli-
ton. On the other side, conservative
class, greatly concerned that slavery should
be damaged, has set itself against all con-
fiscation whatever. Thus, between the two,
the conGscation question has been fast be-
coming but another form Of the negro ques-
ton.
We apprehend that it involves other con-
siderations Of great moment---consi1eratio
with which the disposition made Of the
slaves, one way or the other. has nothing
whatever TO do. Wide confscdtion is nects-
sary in order to meet The tremendous expenses
ofhis war. Slave property is unavaila-
BILE for this purpose. The vast majority of
the North would never consent that slaves
should be confscated merely to be sold
again, or even to be hired out for federal
profit. They will not tolerate that their
government shall for day engage in either
the slave-selling or the slave-driving bust
ness. The most that they will premit is
that the government shall act as the guard
ian Of whatever slaves are confscated, and
appropriate only so much Of the proceeds
Of their labor as may be required to pre-
pare them for self-support. They must be
no burden upon the treasury, but on the
other hand can do nothing towards its re-
lief.
But the treasury will require relief. 1t
is fast accommodating an indebtedness which
it will be almost impossible to meet. Ii
has been officially announced that the pub
lie debt Of the United States will be seren
hundred and fifty millions on the -30th Of
June next, little over foar months hence
The interest on this will, at the lowest fig.
ure, be s$45,000,000. The ordinary ex.
,penses Of the government, even with the
.iosrst cnononny, must continue 10 be u
least 100000 The extraordinary ex
'penses incident upon maintaining largely
increased army and navy for many year;
following the rebellion an army a
least four times and navy at least twicl
as.large as our former peace establishment
must amount 10 at least S40,000,O0o
Here is an annual charge of not less thar
one hundred and fifty millions to be raised
even on the most favorable supposition tina
the rebellion is-oampetely crushed befor
July, and oursvalnrfteer force disbanded.
is far more likely ahatitbe entire debt be
queathed US by this rebellion will be owe
q thousand millions. But taking the lowe,
figures, and assuming an early and favors
BILE closing up Of the war, we shall yet hav
considering the relative population an
wealth of New ork--some twenty-five (
thirty millions to be annually raised frol
the people Of this state by direct and il
direct taxation, simply TO meet the currer
liabilities of the federal government, will
out The appropriation of one dollar towal
a sinking fund. "A burden like this upo
the Empire State would be terrible, b,
having the developed strength with whie
TO multiply our wealth We might endure
But how can the new states of the Yves
with undeveloped resources and feeble cap
ral, bear their proportion? 1t would kee
them fiat TO their mother earth forever
Necessity then requires a plan EFF col
fscation that shallin some material p,easul
reduce the liabilities deyoIved upon Il
Union by this war. The northern Peep
never should, and never will submit TO
ground down to the dust by taxation, th
TRAITORS may escape the just penalties
their crimes. Toward the masses wi
were beguiled by misrepresentation OF i
Inundated by violence into submission
the usurped rule Of the rebel leaders, tn
may well exercise generous fornearanc
but to the leaders themselves, whether {
recing legislation or leading armies, tn
owe no such charity. Natoral justice a
the universal usage of civilized nations
like authorize the confscation of all I
property of these men; and it will not
an them to complain of il, for no Cover
ment, either real or pretended, ever und,
took such wholesale confiscaiion as is e
braced in the eonfscation bill passed by {
Confederate States. 1t was their matur
plan to defray the confederate expense
the war largely from the appropriated pr
perry of loyal men without distinction a
ii should be oay settled plan TO defray
federal expenses Ct the war TO some m
erial extent from the appropriated prope
of at least the direc: promoters of the C.
federa,e movement. Aecerdiog to the c
sus Of 1850, the taxable lGo. erty of
eleven Confederate States asnonbsei