Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-11-10
REVIEW OF MR.. BoYoEs LETTER

"
From tho Charleston Mercury Of October Is.
When the war commenced there were reconstruction
lists in the Government Of the Confederate Statesthors
were rseonstrueOnsts in the Convention which framed
the Constitution of the Confederate States No less than
three clauses in their Constitution look to this policy
The fury of the war and the detesabe dis
played by Yankee foes in the progress Of the have
kept down. heretofore, the developments Of this policy
Our late military disasters have encouraged 1t to raise its
head The two most striking demonstrations has given
are Vice President Stephens Letter and Mr. Boycs
address to the President Of the Confederate States We
have lately opposed this policy advocated by the
Vice President Of the Confederate States that consd.
ering Mr. B0yce address will only advert TO positions
no has taken peculiar to himself
Mr. Boyce's main positions these: We Of tho Con-
ederate States have military despotsm US now
and we must have ono forever unless we make peace
with the Yankees which will be satisfactory to them As
he aud every body else knows that the Yankees will
be satisfied with any peace which does not give Thorn
reunion with u.s. the conclusion ia irresistible that Mr..
Boyce 10 favor OF reconstruction OF the Union with
them.
Let us briefly examine the grounds for Mr. Boyce's
policy of reconstruction He that we have now
despotism Admit that this is true ID ques-
ton very pertinent to it's contnuance-whO put this dos
potism us2 That President Davis sought all the
powers which Mr. Boyce alleges makes him despot is
undoubtedly true But who gave them to him. and when
he assumed them who cOuntenanced and tolerated them
having the full constitutional power to suppress them
Indsputabe facts answer-Congress MIR. Boyce him.
self. Congress has passed the laws which have estab
shed despOtism and now we are told that, to
get rid of it, must fall into the arms OF our cruel and
remorseless foe.
But let us take up separately the powers in the Ex
ecuve which constitute the despOtsm Mr.
Boyce says Have you not carried CONSUMPTION to its
last limits Is not every man 10 the country between
seventeen and fifty subject to military authority None
exempt upon any considerations of the public inter
ess The Constitution gives to Congress- the power to
raise and support armies" The power is general The
calling of all citizens between seventeen and fifty to
defa fha cats ia he
duty of all citizens of all ages, to defend their country
against nvasonmore especially the citizens OF free
c0nnty because they have more to fight for. The des
poc and unconstitutional feature in the CONSUMPTION law
Mr. Boyce does not advert to- is the power it Claims
by exempng the officers of the State Governments, to
abolish them Whom the Government may exempt from
conscrption it may conscribe. But this assertion of
power, not exercised is no practical despotism
Have we not been compelled to lay direct taxes in
the very teeth of the theory OF the Constitution ~ Yes
certainly But who compelled Congress and Mr. Boycs
to violate the Constitution and lay direct taxes They
compelled" themselves They failed to lay any taxes
coectabe for two years. relying the issue of Treasury
notes to carry the Of this issue became
enormous; and then, to recy this issue, they violated
the Constitution and laid direct taxes If the object was
policy admirable As it is the people Of the Confed
crate States will pay the tax voluntary contribution
to support the Government and to carry the In
doing they not bowling down to despotism They
making offering of patriotism
j. "Have we not issued such vast amount Of paper
money to unsettle all values2 Have we compelled
third ~ All true Butdoes this establish despotism2 Have
not free governments, well despotsms, repudiated
their debts partially entirely 1t is not good faith
we admit; but here again. who did it? Who made the
depreciation Of paper money by failing to lay taxes and
then put upon the shame of reputation The Govern
ment ought to have had financial policy which would
saved from such dlshonorabe expedients but it
Congress and Mr. Boyce which passed the laws esab
lshing 1t.
A. "Have we not seized all railroads. Have we nor
destroyed railroads and built others As to the seizure
AMI destruction of arosds in carrying military opera
tons, this is neither wrong unconstitutional The Con.
sution expressly declares that private property may
be taken for pubic use, just compensation Nor If
railroads have been built by the military, is there any
objection it, An army may make any kind of road to
carry on it, operations But Congress assumed the
to build railroads by appropriations from the Confederate
treasury. This was unconstitutional but it hardly
be said to have established despotsm in the Confeds
racy.
s. "Havs we not established universal system Of i'm
pressment of property at prices in our own
money!" Not definitely. There can be appeal to an
other tribunal if the party whose property 10 impressed
dissatisfied with the prices offered by the Government
The act justified by the clause in the Constitution above
alluded to- by which the Government is authorized to take
private property for public with compensation 1t il
the fruit of inflated currency and this of
delinquency in not laying taxes in proper time.
g. Have we not established Government monopoly
of the expectation of the great supplies of the country
Yes And the Confederate Government in our opinion
ought to have enforced this policy at the opening of the
war BY prohibiting the expectation Of all cotton &C.
excepting by the Government and for Government pur
poses BY such policy might have shown that cotton
was king and have set up financial policy which would
have carried with untarnhed faith through the war;
and made 1t repete with energy. Mr.. Boyce will not
question the constitutional power of Congress ia time
of war to prohibit expectations.
Have not suspended the writ OF habeas corpusi"
Congress- at the instance of the President did suspend
this guarantee for personal liberty but the last Congress
refused to continue the suspension The habeas corpus
act is now in full operation We free of the des
pctism it did establish
Have not introduced the passport system which
we used to think belonged exclusively the iron despot
isms of Europe7' II we mistake not, committee of
Congress reported to that body that there law
whatever authorizing this system Why, then, has not
Congress passed laws prohibiting it, and Furnishing those
who set tnp and enforce it in the Confederacyf 1t put
10 force understand to detect deserers and sragges
from the army 1t is expedent of war only In
Europe it policy of peace. This makes great diff
ference.
The brief review of Mr. Boyces positions have above
laid before readers think establishes that we do
not labor under extensive and settled desposm AZ TO
render expedent that should seek refuge the arms
of our Yankee enemies to from its evils and that
Congress- as well as the President responsible for their
existence