Weekly Trinity journal., 1864-01-30
Our Sacramento Letter.

have reported back with numerous amendments
the resolutions which passed the Assembly con-
corning National affairs. The alterations are
| too numerous for me to notice in detail. One OF
them strikes out the pledge to sustain legal ten
der currency another expunges the instructions
! to our Senators and Representatives in Congress
to vote for the unconditional forfeiture ofrebel
property. Of this | have a few words to say.
THE coNFIscATIox ACT
| Which passed Congress originally intended
| to provide for the conveyance without limit of
| confscated property One of the curious crotchets
OF our honest President was here made manifest
in recommendation that Congress pass a sup
Elementary resolution declaring that the Act
should not be so construed rs to authorize the
forfeiture Of property beyond the life of the per-
son convicted of treason. This, to the surprise
of the country, done, and thereby was per-
petrated great blundcr a manifest absurdity.
| 1t made worse than useless any confscation of
rebel property whatever. 1t made the officers of
Government a Board of Trustees for the preser-
walton of rebel estates for the benefit of rebel
children. The heirs OF traitors are to be taken
their property interests guarded by Government |
Many people then believed that the true intent
of the trainers Of the Constitution was to limit
prosecutions for treason to the lifetime of the
traitor, so as not to allow property to be confs-
Gated and sold after it had passed to heirs or to
innocent urchasers, but that sales of confscated
property made during the lifetime Of the trail
ftorous owner to be absolute. This COM
mon sense view has recently been sustained by
Judge Underwood, who quotes from Blackstone
to show that the word g forfeiture u in law, is a
punishment whereby the owner loses all his in
terest in the property confscated " uhich goes to
the party injured as reconpense for the rrong sus-
tained" Judge Underwood says . forfeiture :"
is an absolute conveyance Of real estate, and
| that it is clear that this the sense in which
il was used in the constitutional provision. Sem
ator Sur ner has prepared Bill to make the
confs law H.. monize with this construc-
ton Of the Constitution. Life interests in rebel
property will not sell for enough to pay expenses
of sale-the Government gaining nothing by
such :: confiscaton " except revenge, and that
Of very questionable character. Now believe
the people of California desire to have their
Representative in Congress vote for a loan that
will be effective in its operations, beneficial to
the Government, and real punishment to rebels
! So hope to Mr.. Campbell's resolution on
this subject pass without dissenting vote from
Union man
APPoINTEEs OF GOVERNOR.
The Senate Bill to give to the Governor the
| IN ot r,Ia hos
been reported to the Senate favorably by a ma
jority of the Judiciary committee, but accom-
panied by such a well-wrtten protest from the
minority that in order to save it from defeat, it
was re-commtted to enable the majority to pre-
pare q written report in its favor There are
some reasons for such a law, but it is not every
California Governor that Sean be safely trusted
with the power it would confer upon him.
The Capital has been favored during the past
week with readings" by 81 Lisle Lester, +"
alias Mrs. Bloomer, and - inspirational" speak
ing by Miss Emma Hardinge. Your correspon-
dent paid his respects and half dollars to both
ladies' Miss Hardinge is an English women,
formerly London actress, now about forty years
of age, the trials of which have left but slight
traces on plain yet pleasing and intellectual
looking face. AS public speaker she is one of
the best ever listened to, somewhat given to
generalitcs but fluent forcible, fcrvid and evil
IDENTIFY sincere. Neither of her discourses had
anything to do with spiritsm. They were talks
on the times The sentiments she utters, though
not remarkable for originality, novelty, or pro-
| fundity are well worthy Of consideration for
| their humantarianism, and as lessons of justice
| temperance, charity and self-denial while they
are presented in manner SO easy and graceful
that no one can help being interested, no matter
what may be his judgment to the truth of her
| opinions. You perceive | speak if the senti-
mcnts she utters are hers. Well, have seen
nothing yet to lead me to think otherwise. Her
| I" inspiration " ] presume is nothing more than
exaltaton. She passes $50 think into alb
normal state, in which her mind, being wholly
free from influences apart from her subject, is
concentrated, clear and capable Of the intensest
action. Her memory is quickened, her judgment
strengthened, aud all her mental faculties en-
dowed with more than ordinary sharpness, while
her power Of expression, large by nature, is re-
| oouDied- one processes 10 DelleVe that All she
accomplshes beyond her ordinary powers is by
the aid of spirits in this believe she is sincere,
but her belief is no proof to my mind. am a
believer in clairvoyance, but not yet convert
| to spiritism.
Lisle Lester is very good writer, is fast win
ming fair reputation as editress of the Pacific
Monthly, and hope she will not injure her fame
| by attempts to accomplish what nature has not
fitted her for. As public reader she is not
worth listening to. Her voice is thin weak;
without volume, incapable of filling any ordi-
nary hall Her gestures stiff and painful 10
witness. Her enunciation is clear and at snort
distance, distinct, but her emphasis is often
family, and her style ge..erally mechanical. She
has not the soul to give full expression to pas
! sages of power and beauty. As public reader
/ she is decidedly out of her element FAUST.