The Portland daily press., 1865-10-06

r ID
So SECURITY FOR THE FUTURE.
The Indianapolis Gazette has an excellent
article on "CoARscation, mot excellent SO
: much for what it says upon this particular
topic as for its treatment of kindred SUBJECTS
= The Gazette very justly remarks that 1t is not
idemnity for the past which the natlonal gov
eminent Should seek in its treatment OF the
/. late rebel states, not punishment as such, but
security for the future.
,Idemnity lis 9impracticable- impossible
No amount or degree of visitation upon the
rebels can atone for the evils they have caused |:
no idemnity can be made for the precious
blood that has been shed for the defence of
the ark Of our political covenant. The scars
created by war cannot be obliterated by con-
fiscation OF severity Of punishment. The dead
cannot be called back to life; Andersonville
cannot be Invested of its honors; the rebel
barbarities upon the deGenceless soldier cannot
be undcne; the deseereton of the Union SOL
dier's grave and the sacriligous conversion of
his bones into toys and playthings can never
be sottened down by exactions upon the au-
: thors of such barbarisms. g3Au.
For such reasons the Gazette would be will
ing to see Congress give up all idea of confisca-
ting rebel property. We quote paragraph:
@Had afew-a' dozen or two, or even hum
dred persons, efigaged in rebellion or guilty
oftreason, it might have been well, as it would
certainly have been legal and proper, to have
confscated their estates, to the use and bene-
fit Of the Government. But to talk of confis-
eating the property of the rebels of the South
OF aeyenpall that have not been pardoned, is
simply TO talk of an utter impossibilitY as
well as OF a most ruinous and impulitic meas
urs. But whether right or possible or polite.
we are opposed to anything like general con-
fiscation, such as is advocated by the Hon.
Thadeus Stevens, IN his late speech at Lancas-
ter, Pa. With the main portions of Mr.. Stew
ems speech, in regard to the rebel states and
the proper way to deal with them, we agree
most heartily and cordially this mat
ter of confscation. And in this we differ, sim
ply because the thing il impolitic and impossi-
be- seJ s'5ss S'S1 Irhss 'ggII
The Gagjte goes a step too far,we think, when
it suggests that even JEFF. Davis may be
let of without punishment, although we con-
fess it looks amazingly as though he is in no
imminent danger, and that some morning the
telegraph may astonish the nation by announc-
ing his pardon--pardon before conviction. So
strongly do the indications point in this direc-
ton that very few men who rejoiced in his
capture, and considered the offer of reward for
his apprehension wise, who do not regard it as
misfortune that hcwas captured at all, or that,
with other leading rebels, he did not effect his
escape rom the country. TO all such it would
doubtless be, reiet to learn that the arch |
'conspirator had made his escape from Fortress
Monroe, and was safely on his way across the
Atlantic, At any rate, they would feel that
the Government has well got rid of an ele-
plant that is costly to keep and for which
ther isao market value. Ir'' ---~,-
But this is aside from the point we had in
view in commecing this article Our object 1
was mainly to intrduce and endorse the fol,
lowing from the Indiana paper from which
we have already quoted: ,ss9S sci
What we care most for and what we want.
is not idemnity for the past nor even punish |
ment as such-but security for the future |
Welof course want to see some penalty applied |
to treason; we want the President, for iu- |
stance, to make good his pledge and oft repeat
ed promise that treason was odious," though |
we would Willingly excuse him from the 9TH
er clause OF his promise, to ssimpoverish trait
ors. x We do not want any man, simply on |
account, Of having been a rebel, to be either
impoverished or personally punished. And in |
TINS we believe those styled radicals" will agree
with us. They are both at the South and |
among the Copperheads Of the North, said to |
be "Dloodthirsty" and to desire the most rigid |
and condign punishment for the rebels.
. This is not true. 1t is the farthest possible |
from the truth. There is probably not one in
a hundred of those called radicals" at the 4
North who would Recommend any kind of
or even indictment and trial, of
the rebels. Above all others of the loyal peo-
pie, the radicals" are the most for mercy and 1
hDeral, lenlent treatment. But they want Sc |
csA'styyor the future They want to see treas
on in some way or other, made "odiouS." 1t |
Is neither, however, by hanging nor imprison-
ment, nor by confiscation OF proptrty. Keep
the leading rebels out of power and out of of
ice, and let the rebel States be placed in the
hands OF loyal men-and the radicals will be
satisfied. Let the laws of Congress and the
promises ofthe President in regard to traitors
and treason, be carried out, and the radicals
we believe, viii ask no more.
And how is this to be done? Simply by /
disabling all leading rebels from holding Office
either state or national franchise then-ifl
not forever, Tor term of years, and see to it Il
that in recognizing the late rebel states, their
governments are IN the hands and under the |
control of loyal men. If this cannos be done
at once, wait till it can. There need be no |
FURRY in restoring" those states to the Gun
on3 The Union and the Government got |
Aong for four years without them. They can |
get along four years more without them-bet-
Ier, we, believe, than with Them But no mat
Ter how long it fequires-whether one wear.
our years, or twenty years-keep them out
md under thecontrol of the national govern
nent, until they can be and ale placedJin the
hands of loyal men. This is Of vastly more l.
than confiscation or punishment. |
II Is, however, all tie punishment we want to
see lnflacted-simply the disffanchisement and
ulsqnanneation Of prominent, active, leading
feeeE: Let the men who managed and con-
trolled the "Southern Confederacy.n as its civ |
u and military officers. stand back in the new
order OF things, and let another class of men
bold power awhile-simply as measure OF
for the future, and for making treason
'dsoas. This we ask, and this we must have.
80. AFFAIRS IN ALABAMA. 4
We had the pleasure few days since of a