The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-07-25
A Question Answered.

"A 6ueSu0U Answered..
We have been asked what our opin
ion is in reference to the property of
persons suspected Of entertaining sym
pathy for the rebels-wbether We wo'd
favor its being taken from them by un-
authorized persons or not.
This is fair question and we answer
it unhesitatingly. We do not favor the
taking of property under any circum-
stances by unauthorized and irresponsi-
BILE parties.
If man is rebel at heart, and the
fact can be ascertained, let him be sent
down South and his property con6scat-
ed to the government. We will go as
far as any one to aid the government in
this kind OF work. A man who wishes
TO destroy or see destroyed the benef-
cent government of the fathers. under
which We have become great, prosper
ous and happy, has no jus, right to
claim the protection of that government
he desires should be destroyed.
By his act of treason be cuts himself
off from any just claim TO the shielding
arm of the government. He deserves
banishment and the confiscation Of his
goods.
But his sin gives us or our neighbor
no right to his property. We have
done nothing TO give us any legal, or
Just claim TO it. Hence we have no
more right to take his property than
some other man has to take ours.
This much on the naked question
But there is another feature Of the sub
ject which is worthy Of the candid at
tention Of every man, aside from the
abstract question of right. 1t is this
A man owns farm; he has it under
cultivation; is improving it. stocking it,
&c. He is suspected Of being traitor
by another man who has nothing and
does nothing honest for a liring; but who
claims to be loyal, and on that claim
predicates right to the others prop
erty. Which Of these two shall have
the property in question? We unhes-
itatingly answer. the oacner. Not only
is it right, but it is erpediem for him TO
hold the property until it can be legally
seiEed by the government. And why?
He is developing the country and
adding to its wealth and prosperity. He
is thus indirectly { almost directly } ben
eft.ing every other man who lives in
the same community. He is aiding to
bring out the resources of the county
or State, and in as far as he does this
is a benefactor to the public at large.
But let the other take his property
his stock, and he is deprived Of III.
means Of aiding to enrich the land and
render it more valuable. Here is !
plain. uDmistakabIe evss which wrong,
everybody.
But. more than this, the property
when in the possession of the owner, i,
taza1e. but when run of by the thief
it is gane. Hence, the man who takes
and runs off q horse from Jefferson
county-or any other property, takes
from the wealth Of the county ,snd from
the pockets of the tax payers, who have
to pay an additional amount into the
treasury corresponding with the amount
which would have been collected on the
property run of.
Is il not clear as the sun at noon-day,
then, that the man who steals horse
or other property, and runs ii OF from
this county, is an enemy to every hon.
est taxpayer and property holder in
the boundaries Of the same ? 1t GER
tsinly is. He not only retards the de-
velopment of The country, but lie takes
money out of the pockets Of the citizens.
And the same is true of every other
county in the State where such unlaw-
full acts are perpe'rated.
If these views are not sound; If there
is not justice. right. good policy and
sound sense in them. we know not what
these things De.
~Mayor Anthony has written
letter to Gen. Ewing requesting him TO
revoke his order declaring Lsayenworth
county under martial law. We trn.t
the General will do no such thing until