The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-16

alaashrille 2Aniuu.
WIN. CAMERON & CO.. Publishers.
sATrPD1y sEpTF,IBER ls, 1865.
Thad. Stevens on RecOBstruetl0nIIho
Rebel STAIRS and the National DeDt.

The Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, member 0
Congress from Pennsylvania, delivered
speech in Lancaster, Pa, September o, OF
the policy Demonstration. He said (;
We especially insist that the property
| Of the chief rebels should be seized ana aP,
| propriated to the payment of the national
! debt. caused by the unjust and wicked wal
which they instigated.
What right has any one to direct a con
vention to be held in a sovereign State o.
| this Union to amend its Constitution aud
prescribe the qualifications Of vOtersy The
sovereign power Of the nation IS lodged m
Congress. Yet where is the warrant IN the
Constitution for such sovereign power, niue h
less the Executive, 10 inteimeddie with the
domestic Institutions of State, mould us
laws, and regulate its elective franchise lt
would be rank, dangerous and deplortDle
usurpation. In reconstruction, TIN reiore, 0
reform can be effected in the Southern
States If they have never lefs the Union.
But reformation must be effected the ioun o
datiou Of their institutions, both political,
municipal and social, must be broken up
and relaid, or all cur blood and treasure
have been spent in VAIN This can only
be done by treating and holding them IS q
conquered people. Then all things which
we can desire TO do, follow with logical ana
legitimate authority.
They would be- held in q tsrrtorial con-
dition until they are fit 10 form STATE Cen
situations, republicans in fact, not in form
only, and ask admission into the Union as
new States. If Congress approve OF their
Constitutions and think they have done
works meet for repentance, they would be
admitted as new States. If their COnstitu-
tons are not approved Of, they would be
sent back until they have become wise
enough TO 50 purge their Old laws as to Grad
icate every despotic and revolutionarylpr in-
ciple-until they shall have learned 10 YEN
crate the Declaration of Independence. I
do not touch on the question Of negro suf-
frage. IL in the Union, the States have
long ago regulated that, and for the Central
Governments to interfere with it would be
mischieyous impertinence.
There are about 6,000,000 of ffeemen in
the South. The number Of acres Of land is
465 ,0OO, 900. Of this those who own above
200 acres each, number about 10000 per
sons, holding in the aggregate together
with the States) about 1874 ,000,0 GOO acres,
leaving for all the others below 200 each,
about n ,000, 600 of acres. By thus forfeit
ing the estates of the leading rebels. the
Government would have 1874 000, 0000 Of
acres, besides their town property and yet
nine-tenths Of the people would remain un
touched. Divide this land into convenient
farms. Give, if you pease. 40 acres to each
adult male freedman. Suppose there are
1 200 900 of them. That would requi 40.
900 600 Of acres, which deducted from 1874,
900, 600, leaves 354, OO0,6so of acres for sale
D vide It inio-suitable farms and sell tito the
highest bidders. | think ityincluding town
property, would average at least SO per
acre. That would produce S., $40, goo 600.
Let that be applied as follows, t0-wit;
l. Invest $500 goo ,0OO in six per cent Gov |
eminent bonds, and add the interest semi
snuually to the pensions OF those who have
become entitled by this villainOus war.
2. Appropriate S200 ,000,O 900 to pay the |
damage dore toloyal men, North and South, |
by the rebellion.
g. Pay the residue, being 5000 900 200, |
toward the payment of the national debt.
Our war debt is estimated at from three TO 1
four billions of dollars. In my judgment, /
when all is funded and the pensions eapital-
lied, it will reach more than four billions. |
The interest at per cent only
mot much more S240, 900 900
The ordinary expenses of our
Government are....,.... ........... l2a,0Ou. 900
For some years the extraOrdina
expenses Of our army and ma
Wy will ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. llO0eO,uO0