Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-09-16
PAROLED SOLDIERS,
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passed the House aud is now before the
Senate, to "provide for the forfeiture of
property in this State belonging to the
enemies thereof" The bill proceeds to
recite that certain persons, assuming to act
in the name of the people of Virginia, have
attempted to repeal the ratification of the
Constitution of the United States, and to
deprive the people of West Virginia of the
protection to which we are entitled under
that instrument; and have endeavored by
force of arms, and by pretended ordinances
and acts of legislation threatening forfeit
ure and coniseation, imprisonment and
death, to subject us to the authority of
the so. called Confederate States of Amer
ca; and, whereas, because we have been
unwilling to aid them in their effort to
overturn the government under which we
have lived and prOspered, they have waged
war against US, have encouraged conspira-
cies and instructions in our midst, have
excited desperate and unpriucipled men
among us to acts of robbery and murder,
have declared us traitors aud aliea enc
mics, and so far as they had power, have
subjected to cen6scation all property with
in this State, belonging to all who support
the lawful government of the land.
Every person who shall aid or abet the
so-called Confederacy or the rebel State
Government at Richmond in any invasion
of this State or hostile action against the
same, or who shall accept or hold Office
under the rebel authority, shall be deemed
an alien enemy of the State, and all the es-
tate real and personal of such alien enemy
which may be found in this State shall be
forfeited to the use of the State, subject as
provided in the various sections of the act
In view of the fact that many persons
have deserted their homes since the 18th
day of April 1851, and have since been en-
gagged in the rebellion, (evideuce of whose
criminal acts cannot be produced in con-
sequence of the war, it is further provided
in the bill, that the Governor shall from
time to time issue his proclamation COM
manding persons named therein who he
may have good cause to believe have so
deserted their homes, to return to their
former places of abode, and take the oath
to support the Constitution of the United
States and of this State within sixty days
after the date of such proclamation, and
thereafter demean themselves as good citi-
zens of this State, under penalty of being
considered alien enemies-Which procla.
nation shall be published in some news
paper printed ut the seat of government,
and in such other newspapers as the Gov
eminent may direct. Aud after the expi-
ration of the said sixty days, the produce
ton of copy of such proclamation certi.
fed by the Secretary of the State, and affi-
davit of such proclamation having been
published as aforesaid in some newspaper
printed at the seat of government, shall be
Prima .facie evidence that the person or per-
sons thereby commanded to return to their
former places of abode, are alien enemies
within the meaning of this act; unless it
be shown that they have SO returned and
such persons may nevertheless be proved
to be enemies of the State within the mean
ing of this act by other competent evidence
if afterwards obtained.
The members of the Senate appear to be
in favor of some law which will take away
the property of traitors, but some are of
the opinion that the law under considera-
zion will come in conflict with the authori-
ty of the United States. The majority of
the Senators, however, are in favor of the
bill and think it will reach a large class of
traitors who would escape if their punish
ment was left to the general government.
The bill will pass. liz