Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-06-13
ANOTHER LETTER FROM THADDEUB
STEVENS.
Developments Of Ris mild COHasea-
ten" idea.

THADDEUS STEVENS h3s written the
fOllFFing letter in vindication Of his pro-
: pOsd policy of c~onAsoation
L~AECAsTEK, PA, May %. 1867.
Dear Sir: Short as your letter is, l fear
I cannot answer it without violating an
Injunction of my medical advisors not to
become excited. You live in q regio&
which was two or three times invaded
by the armies of Jefferson Davis. In the
counties Of Bedford, Fulton, Franklin,
Cumberland, Adams and York, theN
visited almost every farmer and other
Inhabitants, and plundered them Of their
horses, cattle, provisions, wagons and
money when found, besides some de-
tached cases. They laid in ashes one
thriving village of six thousand people,
and turned the inhabitants houseless into
the streets to seek shelter in fence cor
ners. No provision has ever been made
or is now making, TO reimburse the plum
dered citizens. BY the law Of nations, a
government makes no compensation for
damages done by an invading army, IN
less such government be victorious,
when il always provides by treaty for
the payment by the vanquIshee enemy.
A government which neglects to make
such provision on behalf of its plundered
citizens is basely negligent of It's duty.
A qadsi peace exists between the late
belligerents, the terms of which are die
tated wholly by congress, which is under
the control Of the republican party.
Nothing but the proceeds Of the conhs-
cation Of a small portion Of the property
Of the wealthy rebels can be applied to
pay the damages inflicted by the ma
raudeTs, unless il be paid out Of the treas
ury of the United States. A few repub-
rs.oA r.,H,,-. .T-~a-g o-paNfa =, fl,f-I
course, are fitting through and explod-
ing in The republican atmosphere. They
attract sufficient public attention to en-
able them to assure the amiable rebels
who inflicted this injury that they need
fear no confscatiOn; that nobody of
any note in the north is in favor
Of imposing such punishment for the
sake of remuneration or of Justice. They
assure them that nothing snail be taken
from Aiken's estate Of millions, from
Hampton, Davis, Orr, Faulkner, or from
q thousand Others who are still worth
their hundreds Of thousands, to reim-
buTse the loyal men, north and south,
who were plundered Of their estates, and
TO aid your poor neighbors to rebuild
their humble tenements. lt is scarcely
TO be endured that congress for two SEES
sions should sit Indifferent TO these suf-
ferings, and take go steps to enforce these
rights. These remarks apply to large
portions Of Maryland, Of West Virginia,
Ohio, Indiana and Missouri, as well as
to the slave states. He who can patiently
listen to that patent humanity which we
now see propsgated has more command
of himself than have. Indeed, it looks
as if we were@4ln to add to the burden
of our taxation to defray the expenses OF
transportation and the ovation of tri-
umphant traitors. But | must stop, or
shall commit the fault against which /
have been warned.
With great respect, you're bedient servant,
THADDEUS STEVENS.
Hon. EDWARD MCPHERSON, CLERK house OF
on this ebulition Of mingled avarice
and revenge, the National IateAkgeacer
saws
Mr. Stevens stil pUrsues his favorite
hobgOblin. Though warned Of the dan
ger'0f any mental excitement, he cannot
restrain his eagerness to promulgate his
pet theory Of e~Onfscation, and so in an
other letter he calls for retaliation for the
losses inflicted by the war. de treats
solely OF that aspect Of the o~onfiseation
question which is peculiarly grateful to
him, because it Involves his own pecu-
mary interest. He thinks congress
Ddseiy Negligent al AoL providing Tor Il
the losses Of those who have suffered
from the invasiOns and depredations Of
the Confederate troops.D And so he
would have the property of the wealthier
rebels levied upon III order to meet his
own and similar losses. Unwarned by
the leszons Of history, be would an the
south With embittesed citizens, in order
that he and others may be Unidentified.
He thinks it a hardship that be should
lose his property. Was 1t not a greater
hardship that other menshould lose their
Wal is the direst Of ealamities.
IL rights few wrongs, and it indicts IN
told misery. Yet Mr.. Stevens, ia order
to compensate himself and those situated
like him, would perpetnate passions and
OF bitterness that would Inevitably
lead 70 another war, apd, though profess
ing to be for peace, you'd rekindle the
hostility Between tho north and south,
and create q perm nenuy disaffeeted
ia the republic. We hope too well
Of the people to believe that his words 81
folly VIII De at Al I'D edsd,