Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-08-24
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Z From. the charlesto,n Courier
THE coNrISCATIoN ACTS.


.Fhsrs IS no snb;ect in rsfarence to which
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S.sr;.S sa.rass - sba;r ;s.bts and nosoess;,ns
snJ sbs means ~ wb;oS IF forfe;ted these
4,,s nosg be reta;ned and nreservea. = :.
s'S The Legislation Of Compress has. for the
,no.t ,,a-s been sealed book to the en- neonle
.of this Commonwealth. The condition Of
war prevented communication. 1t deprived
Them of auy access to its pages, or of any
authentic knowledge of its contents. They
Z were debarrea Of any opportunity of ascer.
taining how far they were touched thereby
either in person or in interest. We will
,isndeavor to answer this want and indicate.
the judgment at which we have arrived.
Many of, the slayeholding States had,
through Conventions of the people, passed
Ordinances of Secession from the Federal
Union. These were not recognizeda as valid
instruments by the Government. 1t denied
the right md authority of such enactments
and declared all who held them to be of
binding efficacy, or who should act in &C.
co,rdance Herewith, to be in state of re.
bellion and insurrrection against its allie.
ss glance and rule. On this issue was Joined,
and war ensued. The effort was on the
part Of the one to maintain a united terri:
torry tr and Of the other to establish a separate
and independent Government.
sTbe United States Congress on the 31st
day Of July, 1861, passed its first Act Gre
ating penalties 10 reference to this state of
things. By the terms of that decree any
two OF more persons, within any State or
Territory of the United States, who should
copspire together for any of the following
objects were adjudged to be guilty of high
crime and punishable by fine and imprison.
mens which might be with or without hard
labor. The purposes which subjected to
these. pains we're !; First, By force, to over
throw, put down or destroy the Government
of the United States. Second, To levy
war against it. Third. To oppose its au-
-thority Fourth, 20 prevent, hinder or
delay the execution Of aDyo its laws
Fifth, to seize, take or possess any of its
property against its will and sanction
Sixth, By intimidation or threat to prevent
any person from accepting. or holding any
office, or trust, or place of confidence un.
der its authority. Of course it was re-
euired that these measures should be ac.
companied by degree of force.
zph;. ,.ra,o.e ,re3ncad 70 ;ts s;mnle e,e.
,,nennts, sambraces within its scone all who
sbonlS .ttamnt N cast aside The svav of the
TTn;tsd ststes and 10 create = mower EXEMPT
fromn lin s;rsct;os and control This with
.ba, LAW If treason the biebest punishment
- mh;ob 10 as.tb oera the Mains and men.
o]t;es wbicb the limited States Government
aa.i.,aa .,.ina, ,ta no,oons of those who
s;,bsr ~ home or abroad in the field. or by
sIa.;,,n.;,,, = aha,,,d as,abl;sb nnbnld or
maintain the late Confederate Government.
Tb;s was soon followed bv an Act assert.
ma, The Soons;sca,ion of nronertv in certain
.c,sss .On1the 18th of Auonst 1861. the
sensts and House sof Representatives in
Conarsss assembled announced as the law
of tie land. that practically all estate,
whether in lands, goods or money, which
should be purchased, acquired, sold or given
with the intent either of using the same, or
of suffering it to be employed, in abetting
or promoting the then or any future insur-
reetion against IT'S Government, or in lesls-
tance to its laws, Or in aiding any person
or persons engaged therein, should be seiz-
ed and condemned. 1t explicitly proclaim
ed ali such property, wherever found, the
subject Of lawful prize and capture. BY
its provisions all property which was applied
as an instrument, for what it regarded as
z.insurreetionary purposes, became thereby
forfeited and confscated. Property nots
used, thus far, remained unaffected by its
terms. --.