Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-01-28
coNrIsoArIoE OF REBEL PROPERTY


insert below brief sketches Of several OF the
which have been delivered 10 the House Of Representa-
tves the bill proposing amendment Of the present
cjnscaton act To make absolute conscation Of
the property upon which il shall be brought to bear
Mr.. VOORHEES, said that there were several gentle.
his side tho House who desired 70 be heard and
that vote could be until they had had an op-
potuniy to express their views They however, had
disposition t. abuse the patience Of tho House, to ro
sort to any factous opposition to the measure.
Mr. SWEAT expressed his surprise that attempt had
been made to abrdge he discussion upon such i'm
Poranf subject as that OF confscation He denied the
charge of Mr. DAVIS of MARYLAND that the minority came
here to embarrass the Administration and that they
sent hther for that purpose by their constituents Was
this the spirit in which the gentleman extended the right
hand OF fellowship to them while they supporting tho
Administration in every act consistent with Christianity
and civil zaton IN putting down this rebeon7 He threw
back these charges into the teeth of the gentleman from
Maryland.
Mr.. WASHBURNE informed tho gentleman that Mr..
DAVIS Was not now 10 his seat.
Mr.. SWEAT said il was the duty of the gentleman to
DO here As to the charge that the minority of this House
attempt TO embarrass the Administration and sent
here for this purpose he (Mr SwEAT) would say before
God and the country that the purpose Of his heart and OF
his constituents not to embarrass the Administration
but to aid ia putting down the rebellion The minority
had shown such patriotic disposition this floor and
had made factious opposition They had voted to aid
the Government by furnishing aud money to unm
tied extent 10 end the IL would be remembered the
IN war was snod ID balumOro Wnll0 E0o
troops passing through TO defend the
President and the capital and to protect the laws and
serve the Constitution. The gentleman from Maryland
came from that latitude aud he (Mr SwEAT) understood
that if there had been fair and free vote in fourth
district OF Maryland other gentleman than Mr. DAVIS
would now be- in his seat Tbs attack of the gentleman
from Maryland wanton, unprovoked and excusable
The gentleman, therefore, the last entitled to
make that charge
Mr SWEAT proceeded TO say that the legislation now
proposed IN effect To repeal the decision of the Pres
QhalIu hau
lifetime of person convicted of treason He had ono
simple theory namely: prosecute the vigorously and
earnestly until the rebellion shall be snbdued. Repeal Ill
unconstitutional laws, and pass but what const
utiona and when armed rebellion put down let the
States come back 10 welcome and let all questions of dis
pute be settled by the proper judicial tribunals of the Ind
He did not believe in the power of the President or Con-
gress any other outside OF the Constitution to
blot out States and State lines advocated by certain
persons in the country.
Mr. MORRIS delivered speech in favor of the bill
He did not how the rebels could claim the protection
oil the Constitution and he should not hesitate c0ns-
cate their estates The andhoders of the South nauQu-
rated the rebellion and they responsible for the
suits
Mr.. ROGERS spoke at length in opposition to the bill.
He said when attempt made to subvert the great
principles which actuaed foreathers the formation
OF the Constitution by tho passage of the joint resolution
now peLdlng, and which direct conflict with the
organic law be would be derec his duty did he not
rise and soenny protest against the unconstitutional
legislation proposed He believed there was deliberate,
wu aud cherished design the part of those support
Ing the Administration to override the Constitution and
10 blot out the principles constitutional liberty vndi
and Jackson he argued that they could confs-
cate estates beyond life Of the traitor than they could
work sttainder Of blood which was prohibited by the
Constitution.