Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-05-30
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BELLOWS FALLS, MAY 80, 1862
Mr. Sumner OH Confiscation and
Emancipation.

1
on Monday, in favor Of confscaing the pro.
perry ard freeing the slaves of rebels. and
especially in support of his own bill for the
purpose. He argued that it is both re-
bellion and a war with which we have to
deal, and that the authors ot il are both en-
enies and criminals, and hence the govern
meut may proceed against them in either
character, or in both, according to control
ling considerations of policy. II we treat
them as rebels we must act under the re-
straints of the constitution but if we treat
them as enemies there are no limitations in
our way except the recognized ules OF war
This statement Mr. Sumner states in vari.
GUS forms, and makes this general summing
up the basis of his whole argument s--
We have seen first, that in DC int of fact
we are in the midst of rebellion and il, the
midst of war; and secondly, thar in point Of
law we are at liberty to act Under the pow.
ers incident to either or to both of these con-
ditions; and that We may treat the people
engaged against us as criminals or enemies.
or, if we please, as both, Therefore, sir. in
determining our coarse we may Danish all
questions OF power. The power is ample
and indubitables being regulated in the one
case by the constitution, and ia the other
case by the rights of war. five treat them
! nc Absai- tpn nd 4:
oil the constitution If we treat them as
enemies then we have all the latitude sane
toned by the rights of war If we treat
them as both then we combine our penalties
from the double sources. What is done
against them as criminals will naturally be
in conformity with the constitution, but
what is done against them AS enemies will
have no limitation except the rights Of war.
The difference between these two system
of conduct, represented by the two opposite
propositions now pending, may also be seen
in the motive which is the starting point of
each. In treating those arrayed in arms
against us as criminals, we assume no sover.
ignty and seek TO punish for violation Of
existing law. In treating them as enemies
we assume no sovereignty but simply en-
ploy the means known to war in overcom
ing an enemy, and in obtaining security
against him. In one case our course is
founded in municipal law under the con-
stitution, and in the other case in the rights
of war under international law. In one
case our object is simply punishment, in
the other case 1t is assured victory"
The reply which will Of course be made
to this argument Of Mr.. Sumner is that il
IS impossible TO ignore the citizenship Of the
rebels; that while we treat them as enemies
in the field--just as we treat mob for the
time being-wfen it comes to legislation
and civil process, they are still citizens, and
the constitution comes in to limit our action.
If we take the other view, and treat the re-
bels as =" alien enemies" and not citizens,
we substantially recognize the validity Of
secession. And this is the round which
this style Of logic goes, coming back to the
same point, and recognizing secession as an
accomplished fact, instead of an experiment
10 be defeated. To the concluding and prac-
tical parts of Mr.. Summers speech there
will be fewer objections than to his ingenu-
tiles of logic He says;---
" But The tallest poppies must drop For
the conspirators who organized this grea,
crime, and let slip the dogs Of war, there
can be no penalty too great They should
be not only punished to the extent of our
power, bu they should be stripped Of all
means OF influence, so that, should their lives
be spared, they may be doomed to wear
them out in poverty, if not in exile. To
this end their property must be taken. But
their poor deluded followers may he safely
| pardoaed. Iseft to all the privileges OF
citizenship in a regeneraled land, they will
unite in judgment Of those leaders who have
been TO them such cruel task masters. But
the property of leaders consists largely of
land, owned in extensive plantations. II is
just that these should be broken up, so that
they can never again be the nurseries of
conspiracy or disaffecion. Partitioned into
small estates, they i'll afford homes TO many
no are now homeless, while their peculiar
and overbeafng social influence will be
destroyed. Poor neighbors, who have beer
so long dupes aad victims may become In
dependent pcssessors Of the sell. Brave
soldiers who have left their northern skies
to fight the battles of their country, resting
at last from their victories, and changing
their swords into plowshares, may fill the
land with northern industry and northern
principles. | say litile Of personal property
because. although 1t may be justly liable TO
coHfscaton, yet it is easy to see thar il is OF
much less importance than the land, except
so far as slaves may be falsely classed un-
der this head.
"Va,tel says that in our day soldier
would not dare to boast Of having killed the
enemy's king, aud there seems to be Ia sim