The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-12
SPEECH OF THADDEus STEVENS.


: SPEECH OF ThADDEUS STEVENS.
Dcbt-Thc South q Conquered Territo-
ry-The Crime Of Treason-s'Restora-
Thaddeus Stevens, member of Congress from Pennsyl
vana delivered aspeech in Lancaster, Pa, September
the policy of reconstruction from which we make
the following extracts:-
THE SOUTH THREW OFF IT'S ALLEGIANcE
Four years Of bloody and expensive war; waged
against the United States by eleven States under gov
eminent called the Confederate States of America to
which they acknowledged allegiance, have Overthrown
all governments within those States which could be ac
tho Confederate States having been and sub
dued and their territory possessed by the United States
becomes 10 rna nd
form smore perfect union with the parent govern
mont 1t is desirable that such course should pc pur-
sued to exclude from those governments every YES
tg, Of human bondage, and render the same forever
impossible in this nation and 10 take care that no prn
cpes OF self destruction shall be incorporated therein
In efccng thsi it be hoped that provision OF
the constitution will be infringed, and no principle Of
the law of nations disrcgarded Especially must We
take that rebukng this unjust and reasonable
the authorities of the Union shall indulge in no acts
of usurpaton which may tend to impair the stability
and pernanency Of the nation Within these limitations
hold it to be the duty Of the government to inlet
weaken their hands that they again endanger
the UniOn and reform their municipal institutions as
to make them republican in spirit as well as In name.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE SOUTH.
We especially insist that the property of the chief
rebels should be seized and appropriated to the payment
Of the national debt caused by the unjust and wicked
be inflicted and such forfeures produced without doing
violence to established principes' Two positions have
Frs%To treat those States as never having been out
of the Union because the constitution forbds secession,
and therefore forbidden by law could not exist
Second-To accept the position in which thcy placed
themselves severed from the Unionan independent
government de acto and alien enemy to be dealt With
IN IN fha aus al WA
THE CRIME OF TREASON.
The crime OF be committed only where the
person actually potentially present Jefferson Davis
sitting Richmond counselling, advising, com
mandng inroad into Pennsylvania, has committed no
overt in this State and be tried II anywhere
onyin the Richmond district The doctrine Of construc
tive presence and constructive treason will never hope
polute our statutes or judicial DECISIONS seIee' an I'M
ton could be had Possibly jury might be packed
TO convict but that would not be an impartial jury
II would be judicial murder, and would rank in inamy
with the trial of Lord RUSSELL except only that the one
the murder Of innocent the other Of traitor
The same difficulties would exist in attempting forfeit
ures, which only follow conviction In States pro-
tected by the constitution and then is said only for
the life Of the maeiactor Congress can pass no dill Of
HOW TO BEGIN RECONSTRUCTION.
What right has any one to direct convention to be
constitution and prescribe the qualifications OF voters?
The sovereign power Of the nation is lodged in Con-
gress Yet where Is the warrant in the constitution
intormcddle with the domestic institutions Of state,
It would be rank dangerous and deporabc usurpaton
In reconstruction therefore, reform can be effected
hut reformation must be effected; the foundation
Of thor institutions, political, municipal and social
must be broken up and relad or all our blood and
by treating and holding them as conquered people
Then all things which desire to do follow with
logical and legitimate authority As conquered territory
Congress would have full power to legslae FOR hem for
the Territories not under the constitution except SO
far the express power to govern them Is given TO Con-
gross They would be held in territorial condition
Gil they NJ to form State constitutions republican In
fact form only and ask admission into the Union
tons and think hcy have done works meet for repen
lance they would be admitted as new States their
back, until they have become wise enough to purge
thor old laws to eradicate every despotc and revou
veneratc the Declaration Of Independence. I do moi
touch the question Of negro suffrage. the Union
trial government TO Interfere with IL would be mis-
chevous impertinence II they TO be admitted al
no enabling act could dictate its termA Congress could
pres rbc tho qualifications OF voters while Territory OF
when ocsedrs 70 cal cUnvsn'0a 20 form q sa
gress the elective franchise, whether In territorial
or State condition The President has not even this Of
sdyics 10 Congress they ON Territories Congress:
20 be sure, has sort u compulsory power BY
fusng the States admission until they shall have com
Piled with its wishes upon this subject Whether those
who have fought our battles should oil be allowed
in thS future when Congress can take legitimate coz
nizance OF There about 900 900 Of freedmen II
the South. The number OF land II 465 600 900
or this those who above acres each number about
10000 persons holding In the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS with
the Staesabout 9o4 600 900 acres leaving for all tn,
others below zoo each about II 100000 acres BY thu
FORGETTING the estates Of the leading rebels the govern
men would have 30 900 600 Of acres beside their towr
property, and yet nine cnths Of the people would 70
ma n untouched Divide this land into convenient
farms Give. II you please, forty acres TO each adul
male freedman. Suppose therc are 10000 600 OF them
from 3e4 900 000 leaves S64 Of acres for sac
Divide into suitable FARMS and sell II to the hqhes
bidders. think II, including town property woult
average at least $40 per acre. That would produce
$3.50 900 900 Let that DO applied follows wit
l. Invest $500, 000, 900 In six per cent government
bonds and add the Interest scmannually 70 the pen
sions Of those who have become entitled BY this villain
Gus
Appropriate 5000 900 900 TO pay the damage done !,
a goya men, North and South, by the rebellion.
g. Pay the residue, being So GAO 900 000 toward the
payment Of the national debt
THE NATIONAL DEBT.
Our debt Is estimated at from three TO four billion
OF dollars In my judgment, when all IL funded ant
the pensions capitalized II will reach more than fou
billions
The interest ct six per cent only tnow much
mOreD $14O, VVW
.r.... 49, 10000 oo
For years the extraordinary expenses
of our army and navy viii be. ........ 10000 oot
Total. s47o 900, oO
Four hundred and seventy millions to be raised b.
taxatonl Our present heavy taxes will In ordinar
.r.xl.. y..s tlssl 49, -aE.