The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-05-08
..onuER WICKED PROPOSITION.

7ANorHER WICKED PROPOSITIONS.
Tn the Congressional proceedings of Monday
last. we find the following iniquitous scheme
proposed in the House by that venomous old
man, Stevens, Of Pennsylvapia:
| Mr. Stevens offered substitute for the bill
! introduced by him December 2Oth, and referred
to the Committee OF the Whole on the state OF
the Union, to double the pensions of those who
were made pensioners by the casualties of the
late war. to pay the damages done to loyal men
bv the rebel government and rebel raiders, and
to enforce the confscation of the property Of the
epemy. which was ordered to be printed. The
substitute forfeits to the United States all the
public lands belonging to the eleven States that
| formed the Government of the so-called Copfed-
crate States of America, directs the President
to cause the seizure forthwith of such property
belonging to the belligerent enemy as is deemed
forfeited by the act of the 18th of July, 1862,
! to hold and appropriate the same enemy's
property, and to proceed to the condemnation
of that already seized 1t also provides that
the President shall appoint two commissions, or
MORE to consist of three persons each, to adju-
dictate and condemn such property, which shall
then become vested in the United States. The
lands thus confscated shall be distributed to
the slaves liberated by the operations of the war
and the amendment to the Constitution, at the
rate of fifty acres to each adult male person, and
to each widow who is the head of a family, to
be held by them 10 fee simple but to be inalien-
able for ten years; after which time the absolute
title to the lands shall be conveyed to them -
The rest of the confscsted property is to be APP
piled to the following purposes, viz: Giving
one hundred dollars for the erection of buildings
on each homestead; two hundred millions TO be
invested in United States securities, and the in
terest added to.the pension OF pensioners; one
hundred millions to 60 toward equalizing the
bounties Of soldiers, and two hundred millions
to 60 toward defraying damages to loyal citizens
by the civil and military operations of the Gov
eminent lately called the Confederate States of
America. No persons property is to be seized
whose whole estate, on the 4th of March, 1868,
was not worth more than $4,000, unless he
had voluntarily become an officer or employee
in the military or civil service Of the called
Confederate States In enforcing all conGsca.
tions the value of $4,000 10 real or personal
property is to be left to delinquents. The last
section is as follows:
That so much of the joint resolution passed
tie 18th Of July, 1862, entitled "A resolution
explanatory of an act to suppress the insurrec-
ton, to punish treason and rebellion, to confs-
poses" as provides that no proceedings under it
shall be so construed as to work forfeiture
of the real estate beyond life, shall be repealed
so far as it refers to the seizure and forfeiture
of enemy's property.
THE RECONSTRUCTION PLANS.
A Washington correspondent Of the Balti-
more Sun writes as follows:
"The bearing Of the new Republican project
OF reconstruction upon the next Presidential
election will be regarded with much interest by
all parties. Should the Presidents plan of re-
storation prevail, the eleven Southern States
would be represented by loyal men at once, and
these would be in full participation with other
States of all rights .as members of the Union
But these States, it is contended by the Tepub-
| licans, would with the aid of one or two semi
rebel States, as they choose to term them, and
of certain Northern States which are always
ready to be demoraiized, give majority of eec-
| tora votes for a candidate who would be nom-
mated in opposition to the candidate of the Re
publican party.
Congress will, therefore, persist in measures
to defeat this combination. The eleven South
ern States in the Union for some purposes
and are acknowledged to be so by two out of
three branches of the Federal Government
Presidential electors, according to the provisions
of the existing Constitution. When the votes
are counted, it will belong to the President pro
tenn. of the Senate to count such votes as he
pleases, and declare the result. He would eth.
er act with his party or not. In either way, if
the result would be affected by his decision,
political crisis would arise.
The proposed Constitutional amendment as
sumes that the eleven Southern States are not
in the Union. = 1t is proposed in antagonism to
the Presidents views and policy. The amend
ment will pass Congress, even if it 60 no furth-
er. Whether it be ratified or not by the requi-
site plumber of States, it will settle the Presi-
dental election in favor of the Republican ma
jority Of Congress. If it be BOT ratified, Con-
gress will assume that the eleven Southern
States are not entitled to take part in the Pres
idential election. IF it be ratified, then the
eleven Southern States will either go with the
republicans or be divided, and besides, will be
cursailed in their number of electoral votes