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

SPEECH OF THADDEUS STEVENS. =
-~~~~~~~~~~-~~~>~-~~~~~~ ~
Southern Lands to Pay the National
Debt-Thc south q Conquered Terrific
ton" the Seed Of Rebellion.
Thaddcus Stevens member Of Congress from Pennsyl.
vania, delivered speech in Lancaster Pa septembere
the policy of reconstruction from which we make
the following extracts
THE SOUTH THREW OFF ITS ALLEGIANCE.
-Four years 81 bloody IA and WAR "agea
eminent called the Confederate States of America to
which they Acknowledged allegiance have oyerthrown
all governments within those States which could be
knowledgcd IS legitimate by the Union The armies of
the Confederate States having been conquered and sub
ued and their territory possessed by the United States
it becomes necessary TO establish governments therein
which shall be republican in form and principles, and
form ssmore perfect union with the parent govern
ment II is desirable that such should be pur
sued to exclude from those governments every
zig, Of human bondage and render the same forever
impossible in this nation; and take that prin
cpes Of self destruction shall be Incorporated therein
In eccting thisi be hoped that provision Of
the constitution will be infringed and principle of
the law OF nations disrcgarded Especially must we
war authorities Of the Union shall indulge acts
of usurpation which may tend to impair the stability
we hoId to BE- the duty Of the government to inSic
,ondign punishment the rebel belligerents, and
weaken their hands that they can never again ondanger
the Union and reform their municipal institutions as
to make them republican in spirit as we'll 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
war which they instigatcd How can such punshments
be inflicted and such orfeures produced without doing
violence to established princpess Two positions have
been scggcsted:-
the Union because the constitution forbids secession
and therefore fact forbidden by law could not exist
Second-To accept the position in which thcy placed
themselves severed from the Union-an independent
de cto and an alien enemy to be dealt With
according to the laws OF war
The crime Of treason can be committed only where the
person actually or potentially present Jefferson Davis
manding an inroad into Pennsylvania has committed no
ovort act in this State and can be tried If anywhere,
tive presence and constructive will never hope,
poutc our statutes judicial decisions. Select I'm.
partial Jury from Virginia. and Is obvious convic
ton could be had Possibly jury might be packed
70 convict; but that would not be an impartial jury.
II would be judicial murder, and would rank In niany
with the trial Of Lord RUSSELL except only that the
the murder Of innocent man. the other Of traitor
ures. which can only follow conviction in states pro
tected by the constitution and then II Is said only for
the life Of the maefactor Congress can pass no bi Of
HOW TO BEGIN RECONSTRUCTION.
What right has any one to direct a convention TO be
held In sovereign State OF this Union, 10 amend its.
constitution and prescribe the qualifications Of voters'
Tho sovereign power Of the nation is lodged in Con-
gress Yet where is the warrant in the constitution
For such sovereign power much less the Executive to
intormeddle with the domestic institutions OF state,
mould its laws and regulate the elective franchiseS
II would rank dangerous and deporablc usurpation
In reconstruction therefore, no reform can be effected
in the Southern States II they have left the Union
But reformation must be effected; the foundation
of their institutions, political, municipal and social,
must be broken up and relad, or all our blood and
been spent In vain. This only be done
by treating and holding them as conquered people.
Then all things which we desire to do follow with
logical and legitimate authority As conquered territory
Congress would have full power to egsate for them for
the Territories not under the constitution except so
sgrcss They would be held in a territorial condition
I'll they ut to form State constitutions republican in
as new states If Congress approve Of their consttu
tons and think hoy have done works meet for repen
Constitutions are not approved Of they would be sent
back, until they have become wise enough TO purge
hS old a%s to nna
voneratc the Declaration Of Independence. do not
touch the question of negro suffrage II nthe Union
trail government to Interfere with il would be mis-
chevous impertinence II they to be admitted as
States they must form their constitution, and
enabling act could dictate its erms Congress could
pres bc tho qualifications Of voters while aTcrrory
government That is the cxtent of the power Of Goa.
Gress the elective franchise whether In territorial
any other power to NEEDLE in the subject except by
advice TO Congress-and they ON Territories Congress,
Ss has some sort Of BY
Piled with its wishes upon this subject Whether those
who have fought our battles should all be allowed 70
nzsnce Of There are about 900 900 Of freedmen IN
OF this those whe above 200 acres each number about
10000 persons holding in the aggreaatetogether with
che Statesabout 204 900 acres leaving for all the
Others below 200 each about II 600 acres BY thus
foreitng the estates Of the leading rebels the govern.
men would have 304 900 Of acres beside their town
property and yet nine tonhs OF the people would re
ma n untouched. Divide this land into convenient
farms. Give. " you please, forty to each adult
male freedman. Suppose thorc are 1000 600 OF them
That would require 40 600 OF acres which deducted
from 3o4 O00 600 leaves 364 Of acres for sac
Divide into suitable FARMS and sell TO the hirbest
bidders. think II, including town property, would
average at least $40 per acre That would produce
$3.50 600 O0O Let that DO applied follows 10 WITT:
l. Invest $500, 900 In six per cent government
bonds aud add the interest scmiannuay TO the pen.
sons Of those who have become entitled by this villain
Appropriate $780, 900 TO pay the damage done to
4 loyal men, North and South, by the rebellion.
g. Pay the residue being O4o 900. toward the
payment OF the national debt.
THE NATIONAL DEBT.
Our debt is estimated at from three TO four billions
of dollars. In my Judgment when all s funded and
the pensions capitalized, II will reach more than four
billions.
The interest OF six per cent, only (now much
more. Sz4OUUOOOO
The ordinary expenses Of our government
For some years the extraordinary expenses
of our army and navy will be.......... 5000 900
Totai.....................".. .s47o 600 900
-Four hundred and seventy millions 10 be raised by
taxationl Our present heavy taxes will In ordinary
Tcars pEQluce bpt llQ mora fhHn hnIf that snu.