Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-03-14
SPEECH OF
Hon. JOSEPH K. EDGERTON,
OF INDIANA,
DeiiUered in the House Of Representatives, Jan
uary %, 1864.


In the House of Representatives. Mr.. Wilson,
from the Judiciary Committee. on leave, intro
duced the following joint resolution:
Joint resolution to amend joint resolution ex-
planatOry of Gan act 10 suppress insurrection.
to punish treason and rebellion. to seize and
con6scate the property of rebels, and for other
purposes" approved July IL, 1862: a
Resolved by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled That the last clause Of a
"ioint resolution explanatory of 'An act to sup
press insurrectiOn, to punish treason and rebel
lion, to seize and c0n6scate the property OF reb-
els, and for other purposes" approved July II,
1862, be- and the same hereby is amended as
to read: "nor shall any punishment or proceed
ing under said act be SO construed as to work a
forfeiture of the estate of the offender except du
ring his life" This amendment being intended
to limit the operation and effect of the said reso
luton and act, and the same are hereby limited
only so far as to make them conformabe 10 sec
ton three Of article three of the Constitution of
the United States: Provided that no other pub
lie warning or proclamation under the act of
July II, 1862. chapter nnety-ive, section six, is
or shall be- required than the proclamation Of the
President made and published by him on the
25th day of July. 1862, which proclamation so
made shall be received and held sufficient in all
cases now pending or which may hereafter arise
under said act -l-i
Mr.. Stevens gave notice that at the proper
time he would submit the following as an amend
ment: rHfT T4z
Resolved by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentative of the United States of America
in Congress assembled, That the resolution
passed on July H. 1862. entitled joint resolu-
ton explanatory OF an act TO suppress insurrec
tion. ct eetera. 1862 be, and the same is hereby
repealed.
January %. ls64-The above joint resolution
being under considerations
Mr. Edgerton said:
Mr. Speaker, the speech of the gentleman
from Pennsylvania, Mr.. Stevensl advocating
his proposed amendment 70 the joint resolution
now before the House, removes from my mind
all doubt, If any existed before, to the charac
ter and objects of the act Of Congress, of July IL
1852 entitled "An act TO suppress insurrection,
to punish treason and rebellion, to seize and con
hscate the property of rebels. and for other pur
poses"
listened to aud have read the gentleman's
speech with deep, aud may say painful, interest.
With the hand of master. he has drawn in clear
and bold outline i sketch of the character and
objects of the war as now waged by the Federal
Executive. His propositions substantially
these.
/. That the existing war between the United
States and the Confederate States is civil war.
carrying with it tse character Of public war. in
which the United States on the one hand and the
Confederate States on the other are beligerent
parties, and as TO each other independent and
foreign nations. and the character Of alien enc
mics attaches 70 all, including women aud child
ren. who in fact, or by dcmicile, adhere to the
Confederate States.
?. That the war has abrogated the treaty or
compact called "a constitution heretofore ex-
isting between the United States and the Con-
federate States, or their people. and neither can
claim as against the other the aid of the consti-
tuition OF Of the laws passed under it.
3. That the territory of the Confederate
States covered by the Confederate flag, is a for
eign country whereof the lands are to be confs
Gated and sold, and the slaves of the people
made free, and the States and their laws reorgan-
lied n '' "'
A. That he who now wishes to re-establish
"tbe Union as il was,'' and to restore "the Con-
sritution as il is," cannot escape the guilt Of at
tempting to enslave his fellow men "Tbe
Union as il and the Constitution as IL Is" is
an atrocious idea; il is man stealing. That all
the inhabitants Of the Confederate States have
forfeited all rights under the constitution which
they have renouDced, and that they are forever
estopped from claiming ''the Union as il was"
Sir. it is question Of grave sigui6cance to the
people of tbe United States, and to the army OF
the United States. as part OF the people, whether
or not the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr.
Stevensl spesxs by authority
On this point be uses this language:
ITO gentlemen who were members OF the las
Congress this is a repetition. At the extra ses
sion Of 1861 advanced the same suggestions
and have repeated them on all occasions that
deemed proper since. They we're not then quit
acceptable TO either side Of the House But
am glad to End that the President. after careful
examination, has come TO The same conclusion
In details We may not quite agree; bat his pla'
of reconstruction assumes the same genera
grounds. IL proposes 70 treat the rebel territor,
as eonqaeror alone would treat is. His plan !
wholly outside of and unknvwn to the Constitu
ton. But itis within the legitimate province Q
the laws Of war His legal mind has carefully
studied the law Of nations aid reached just con
do not nov alluee TO the speech Of the gen
teman from Pennsylsania with view TO max
il the chief theme Of my remarks at this time, o
TO attempt an answer 70 il no for even III I fell
myself able 70 enter the field Of argument With
gentleman Of his eminent ability and great pa Ria
mentary experience, i should deem L due 70 M
cause and 70 myself 70 devote 70 the speech NOR
offime for investigation and thought than hav
vet been able a give 70 L. - 3 le -
Ths sp<ssh . one that should be read an