The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-02-25
Hon. j. r. Wilson ON Con fisca.
z3a ton. dl5i adt g1ol

z8H tIou. 1901 adi J1ot
g We should be pleased to furnish our rea-
ders the speech of Hon. j. r. Wilson,
on the Confscation bill in full, but our crow.
ded columns forbid, and they must be con-
tent with the following concluding portion
of his speech: y. sAs0 lev l1Rug
Mr.. SrEAKER-My mind has never enter
tanned doubt Of the power of Congress to
provide for the forfeiture, absolutely and for
ever, of the interest rebel may have in
property of every kind. character, and de-
scription; real, personal and mixed quad
ruped and bped. All may be reached, and
it is mere question of policy for Congress
to determine how far the power shall be ex-
ercised. He who raises his traitorous hand
to destroy the Constitution and Govern
ment is entitled to little protection from Ell
ther. Both were made for the protection of
the loyal, but neither was created to shield
men who turn from loyalty to treason, from
being peaceful citizens to bloody handed re-
bells. Such rights as the laws of war accord
to public enemy, an active belligerent, are
those which the rebels of this country can
claim, and none other The constitutional
guarantees concerning life, liberty, and pro.
perty, are the just and rightful possessions
of the loyal people but the traitor who
would destroy all has no right to set up
these great securities to save himself from
the rightful infections which an outraged
and imperiled Government may see proper
to impose upon him. The Constitution was
established to organize, protect, and perpet-
uate the Republic, not to strengthen the
hands of those who would destroy it. Trai-
tors have invoked the laws Of war, and to
them must they look for their rights and pro-
lection. They understand this as we'll as
we ought to. The rebels do not claim the
protection of the Constitution. They boldly,
resolutely, and defiantly spurn the Consti
tuition, and reject the theories which are ad.
vanced in this House in their behalf. They
fully comprehend their position as beliger-
ents. tits their own creation, and they are
content with il. Twill not enter upon an
an argument to sustain these views. for, as
I have heretofore remarked they have no.
thing to do with the subject before u.s., Con-
gress has salready expressed its opinion upon
these questions BY the passage of the con-
fscatlon act, so called, of 1862, which is now
the law Of the, land, its policy approved by
the people, and it's c,nstitutionality sustain.
ed by the courts.
1t has been said that it was inexpedient
to pass this joint resolution; that we should
not do anything which would tend to the
enlargement Of the forfeiture now provided
by law; that we must conciliate, not punish,
traitors that kindness should be our wea.
pom instead Of the stern powers which the
Constitution has provided for the punish.
ment and subiugation Of rebels; that we
must win back our "erring brethern'' by
manifestations Of forgiveness, charity and
love. Sir, what kind Of advice is this, in
view Of the fact that we are now engaged in
the organization Of new army of five humid
red thousand men to complete the overthrow
Of the military power Of the rebellion, The
recruiting officers are in every county Of the
loyal States. and the nation is resorting tc
every means it can command in preparing
for the grand campaign Of the coming spring
Treason is forcing into its army every mar
and boy between fifteen and sixty years o.
age. The war cloud settles densely. upon
the nation, The heavy tread Of armies is
heard in every part Of the land Is this the
time for gentlemen in the Congress Of the
United States to talk Of forgiveness, charity
love, peace? Our "erring brethern' are in
arms, and not on their knees asking for mer
cy. They intend to fight US. Their rebel
lion Is great military fact which mast be
crushed out by the exercise Of power, and
cannot be subdued by an exhibition Of olive
branches, or soothed by honeyed words,
even though they drop FROM the lips of the
American Congress.
While gentlemen in this body have been
taking about Cancellation" charity
"love," SOLVE Branches" "peacs," and q
thousand other il-timed subjects for the
benefit Of our "erring brethern," and "way-
ward sisters" those interesting relatives
have been employing their time very differ.
emily as regards their present and future &C.
ton toward US. On the 23d day Of las,
month the rebel Senate, as il responding to
the "peacc and conciliation" utterances 0,