The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-02-12


mont. TO tho former owner"
81 Exile and confscdtions.
"Aftor promising that these arc lawful
acts of war, I have shown that tho fifth
article was rtcomeaddtory only, its siipula.
lions being, not TO restore tho confscations
and oxilos, but TO recommend to tho State .
Legislature to restore them;
That this word, having but one meaning. |
establishes tho intent of tho parties and,
moreover, that it was particularly explained
by tho American negotiators, that tho Leg |
islatutes would be free to comply with the
recommendation ornot, and probably would |
not comply:
'That tho British negotiators so under.
stood it,;
And tho members of Both Houses of
Parliament as we'll those who approved as
who disapprovod tho article.
IL have shown that Congress did RECON-
mend earnestly and bona .Jiie;
That tho States refused or complied 10
greater or less degree. according to cir
cnmstances, but moro Of them in a greater
degree than was expected -JeBrrson's
FORKS, vol. 3. ....
And Jefferson concludes tho passage by
saying that the right TO confscate is un.
doubted MS war right. He moreover goes
on TO say tho British Government knew
thoy had no right to demand that we should
restore contiscatod property. Tho men,
bers Of Parliament admitted in their speech.
es that tho treaty was based upon the
knowledge that they had no right to do.
mand tho restitution of confscatod estates.
Tho Tories that flod to Epgland called
upon tho Grown to support them. A com.
mission was appointed 20 examine their
claims and provide tor ,hoir wants. I say
it is significant fact of tho vast number OF
Tories, perhaps not tboucaGd remained in
this country after tho war. Tho people
would not endure their presence. They
were driven out. and look refuge in all
quarters of tho globe. They oolonzcd New
Brunswick, Noyia Scotia, and wero scat
tered along tho borders of Canada. The
States would not tolerate tho presence OF
The fow who came back under the provisions
OF tho treaty, refused them the right of vo-
| ting, or of holding Office or property. 1t
| was wei! known that there could be 10 peace
between our loyal people and thcm. Their
history is sad record of infamy, obscurity
and misery. Some exhibited their yepae
ful hate long after tho war was over. Girty
and his associates who murdered Crawford
in tho Indian wars of 1901 woro Tories OF
tho Revolution, Bowles and Panton, lead
crs among tho Creek Indians. and who
started the Florida troubles, which resulted
in T. long and bloody conflict in the swamps
of that State. woro Tories. AS class, they
won't out with the brand of Cain upon them
and were not permitted to rc,orn.
| Ono State alono relented. South Carroll
ma passed an act of oblivion, restored 9
largo part of tho confisca,od estates, snt
permitted the Tories to voto and hold office
Her policy has borne It's bitter fruit. IIel
government has hardly been entitled to be
called republican. The spirit Of monarchy
has ruled her councils, and at last plungcd
our Republic into tho most gigantic anC
bloody of revolutions.
! Let us take counsel from the wisdom o
our fathers. Is it probable that those met
who coniiscatod all tho property of armet
Tories would, few years later, establish i
as fundamental doctrine of tho Constitu
ton that no contiscation can bo made bo
yond the lifetime of the individual attaint
ed ? 1t s not probable that mon who hat
just done wha. they stubbornly held to bt
right should enact as II part of the supreme
law of tho land that ii should never bo dont
again.
como now to tho question moro direct
ly before us. This question, of land, Mr
Speaker, is insepaTabIy connected with th
peculiar institution OF the South. 1t is wei
J known that the power of slavery rests i
large plantations that the planters capita
drives tho poor whites TO tho mountains
whore liberty always loves to dwell, and Il
tho swamps and by.placos of the South
but tho bulk Of all the laudod estates is j
tho hands of tho slave owners who hav
=. Int. .nI Ia \ -
you an instance of this, one of y thousan
that might be given. In the town of Mur
froesboro, Rutherford county, Tennessee.
place mado sacred and glorious forever b
tho ya'or of our Army, thero arc fourtee
, thousand four hundred and ninoty-tbro
J acres of land owned by sixteen persons, an
} three OF tho sixteen mon own moro than te
, thousand of tho acres. One Of tho thre
| owns nero than half of tho whole townshi
}, of Murfracsboro.' And that is only a spec
r ren of what these mon of tho South arc t
(. the lands Of tho South. Only n few bul
, dred mon own the bulk of tho land, in an
n Southern State, and these men hold Il
lands and own tho slaves. These mon plo
!. tod the rebellion and thrust it upon u.s.
r They have had tho political power in the
>, hands, and ii you permit them to go baC
v 10 their lands they will bavo it again. tt
h laws OF nature, the laws of society, cann
q be overcome by the resolutions Of Congress
d Grant general amnesty, lot these men {
If back to their lands, and the land owno
J. will again control the South. They have
@ long beloved themselves born to rule, tn
j. they will rule tho poor man as With rod
h iron. The landless mal of the South b
,s learned the lesson of submission so WI
% that when he is confronted by landed pr
L. prietor he begins to bo painfully deferonlii
}. no is facie aud dependent, and less mi
ID than il he stood on Gods acre covered by l
r. own title deed.
Is Gentlemen, if wo want o lasting peace,
We want to put down this rebellion SO tn
Q, it shall stay forever put down, we must p
G down its guilty cause; VIC must put doV
" slavery wo must take away tho platfor
ID on which slavery siands-tho great land
ID estates of tho armed robels of tho South
it Strike that platform beneath their feet. tnl
that land away, and divide it into homes
10 the men who havo saved our country.
to put that to this House as necessity viii
h. stares us in the face. What. lot me a
in you, will you do with the battle'felds OF I
IN South? Who owns them Who owns
id rod field of Stone River +? Two or thr
r. mon own it all And who are these two
III three men Rebels every one-one
of them a man who once sat in this Chamb'
III but who is now a leader in the ranks OF
M rebel army. vii! you let him come ba
liz Ia will ynn ask