New-York daily tribune., 1863-07-31
The Confscation Law 10 be Amended
Why it il Wrong-Conhsention Ae-
cording 10 English statItes-The Public
n&ht-HoxS IN he Puid.

Debi-How TO be Paid.
y WA.misGroS Jaly %. 1861
One Of the first acts Of next Congress, 1t IL
thought. will be the amending Of the present con-
fseation law, 30 as 10 deprive armed Rebels
of their property perpetuslly. The present
law only confscstes property during the hie
of the disloyal person, sitter which the pro-
p.rty goes again to bis or her heirs. The wording
cf the Constitution. on which tue ConhseH'ioh ACT
Of Congress was based, reads thus:
,h. have power declare the punishnsnt Of
treason but Atsnder o. treason ths woi corruption o.
blood forfeiture except duns tie lifetime OF the person
sstsinssd"
The meaning Of this clause Of the Constitutor, in
Tie concurrent opinion OF many eminent Jurlss mas
been usconstrusd by Congress and the Preslden'
There is generally thorough agreement now that
the words "but sttander OF treason stall work
corruption OF blood or forfeiture except during the
lie OF the person sttainted refers not 70 the length
of time for which such forfeiture shall be made, Dat
70 the time when such forfeiture shall be made
That the words mean thst after the gunty party "a
dead there shall be procedure agsinrt hin or hs
property but that while still living his property
may be oonscated by the State for all time 70 come
OLD ENGLISH CONFIsCATIoN LAWS.
The laws of England, al tie time OF the adoption
of tho Federal Constitution provided that the prop
s-y of traitor couid be eonhscsted ereR otter his
d,aih and bis blood corrupted III and II w. Ill,
81 Apue but II is believed that the trainers OF the
Coustitution meant to modify the laws Of England
and guarantee that 10 procedure should be msde
again,t a man, and no forfeiture OF his property
sSoud be made or corruption OF blood wrought after
tie death of the guilty party. BY the statutes 81 OF
George Ill, psssed some twebty-yesfs alter the
sdopi;on OF the Federal Constitution the spirit oi
the English law 10 much modified, but even now q
procedure can be commenced after the death OF the
party.
TIE PROPERTY OF ARMED REBELS.
The actual value Of property ID the hebei states
IL g. 703, $50 2l5-exclusve OF slaves about three
and one-l alf billions-not including Delaware, Ma
rylsnd. Kentucky, Tennessee or Missouri, thoogn
there IL enough property in these States owned by
Rebels actually engaged III against US 10 ofse
De property owned by Unonists in original seeded
states IL this property, such OF it as belongs "a
lsa1ug Rebeb can be conhscsted forever 10 ths
United States, and sold to pay the Of the war
II will 70 great way toward liquida,ng the public
debt. hut il il cannot be conlbcated for Il longe
tims than the lives Of the present owners but hull
esn be realized from it, and the enormous debt viii
Tall heav,fy on the peGth and industry ot the ioyd
psople He who says, "Spare the property OF
frsitor" alec says but 10 place o II the prop
erty 81 NV Union neighbour" just 40 he who says
"De no, arm the freedman" bands out at the sam
breath the beloved child OF his bosom TO night IN d
place.
This question Of amerdiAent will be discussed
Che carly part Of the session Of next Congress- sn
Il 10 not doubted that the result will be change
The Coufscatiou law. NJ. d. L.