Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-06-15
From the New York World.

49, -
From the New York World.
CoyYIscATIoS.-Before touching on tho
proper disposition to be made of the cotton
found in Savannah, and taken possession Of
by the government, it may not be out of
place to cast brief glance upon the wider
question in which this is included. The
success of our arms renders the confscstion
ofthe great mass of Southern property phys
ically possible; and the uncertainty rs to
the action Of the government is q serious
obstacle to the resumption Of productive in
dustry in the Southern States. 1t is Of great
importance that the government should de-
clare its policy; but Of CRATER Importance
that this policy, when declared, shall be con-
sistent with justice and the general advan-
tage Of the whole country.
Against the punishment Of treason in its
more conspicuous examples, we make no re.
nonstrance. Wicked men, gifted with
capacity for leadership, should not be en-
couraged by mistaken lenity or spurious
magnanimity, to think that the only per-
sonal risk they incur by setting on foot q
rebellion is the mere failure of their under
taking; penalty which is incurred by every
man Of business who miscalculates the sue
cess of his enterprise. If man commits
one homicide we do not deem it magnanim-
ity but weakness if the ministers of the law
scruple to punish him. Where homicides
have been perpetrated by wholesale; where
the whole land has been drcnchcd in blood,
we are entirely of President Johnson's opin-
ion that the authors fall this carnage, mis-
cry and ruin, should not go unwhipt of JUS
tice But we are equally clear that severity
should be limited to those conspicuous trail
tor1 TNo vere the prime movers in the re-
belior, .iuap and confscatson for them
-'e5lencv. pardon and conciliation for their
arr.- This is the policy which can recon
.| linity which justice, and the
......r rasperity of the country with its
...r.n .,ut'y-
.hls ga'lcy s adopted, the aggregate
..a-.a o' conGscaiioo csnBot be large.
".r l.a.ug Is not subject that 9uEh. -
as ..r. i-,al in connection with Che rCyeU-
ues of .ne government, except IN that lNc-
ger view which sees the true source Of pub
lie wealth in tie vide diffusion of private
prosperity. A statesman who looks TO pub
lie revenue does not aim 70 scoop up the
rain water in standing pools, hat 10 olenr
all over the land, evel-runnjng fountains
of perennial wealth. If the South il to be
a community Of Taxpayers, it must first he
come n community of producers. But how
shall men produce without capital to begin
with? Why should they plant crops if We
do not allow them to reap the harvest? No
cure for sedition is so speedy and certain
as private prosperity; but if n great people,
,, who are already impoverished by the sacri-
fees and forced contributions they have
made tothe rebellion, are stripped of the
little that remains by the misdrectod sever
ity Of their conquerors, those who expect
tranquility will find only turbulence.
The general Subject of cOnfscating south
ern property has been recently under the
consideration Of our Chamber Of Commerce;
and committee of that body in q lucid and
able report, find, among many powerful
general considerations, strong local rea-
son, affecting our own interests, against n
sweeping confscation. At the outbrake Of
the war, tho Indebtedness Of the South to
the merchants of New York city amounted
to one hundred and fifty millions of dollars.
These claims ought, in equity, to be regard
ed as lien upon the property Of the debt
ors. But if the government steps in be-
tween these creditors and the South, and
confscstes the cotton and other property,
which are the only means of payment ii pun
ishes loyal men for crimes in which they
had no participation. The property held
by these debtors does not belong to them,
but to their Northean creditors, to whom
the law would give it, if left to take its
course. Considering that the property in
slaves is annihilated, the value of lands
deteriorated, that fences, Implements, build
ings, have fallen into general dilapidation,
there is little left in the South to satisfy the
claims Of creditors beyond the cotton and
tobacco which have been kept in by the
blockade. To confscate this property to
the government, in contempt Of the prisr
claims of creditors, would be plain viola
tion of justice.
It would be well, We believe, if the Cover
nor would for the time being assume the con-