Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-03-29

CoNFIsCATIoN.


cred his expected speech upon the confs.
cation bill offered by him. It will h.
seen that he proposes to forfeit all tho mil
lie lands belonging to the ten Confedersto
States, and calls for the condemnation og
such of the property belonging to the bcI
hgerent enemy as is deemed forfeited h.,
act of 18th July, 1862. Out of the Land,
thus confiscated the slaves who have bee,
liberated by the operations of the war arc
allotted homesteads. Out of the balance oT
property sum shall be raised for the erec.
ton OF homestead buildings and the fur.
Their sum of $500,00O,OO0 of the amonnt
shall be appropriated for an income fo,
pensioners by the war, and to paw DAMAGE
done to loyal citizens by the Confederate
The property OF no one shall be seized
whose whole estate on the 18th day of Marcb
1866 was not worth more than S.. OOO. mn
less he shall have voluntarily become an
officer or employee of the Confederate Gov.
eminent; and in enforcing confiscation fbo
value of So, 900 shall be left to the delin.
quent.
AFTER THE "B1ACK CATS.
Mr.. CONFESS, in the United States Sen.
ate on Tuesday, offered resolution for the
appointment of committee to ascertain
who has been divulging the proceedings in
executive session. The resolution hos
caused quite commotion amongst the 70.
portorial "black cats. "
REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.
The registration of voters began in Wash.
ington city on Tuesday. But few persons
were challenged, and in all cases the par
ties were sworn and tho following questions
asked:
l. What is your age ?
2. Have you ever been convicted Of
crime =?
3. How long have You been resident OF
this District 4?
4. How long have you resided in this
ward ?
5. Have you voted at any election in
the District or in any State within the pc.
Rod of one year prior to the LIST Of June
next
6. Where were you during the existence
of the rebellion ?
T. Were you in the rebel army at anN
time =?
8. Did you furnish supplies of any kind
TO that army ?
Q. Had you any communication with any
person or persons in the rebel States be.
tween April, 1861, and April 1865
10. Were you engaged in any kind OF
trade with the enemy during The rebel
lion
THE PRESIDENTS VIEWS ON MILITARY REPrr.
Lies.
In an interview with President johnson,
last Saturday, the subject of reconstructine
the Southern States under the new military
governmental bill came up, and hisopinion be
ing asked on the subject, he shook his head
gravely, and remarked that the holding OF
elections under military control was in con
fict with the spirit of republican institu-
tons. Then rising and retiring to an ad-
joining room, he returned with book in
his hand and read the following extract
from an address of Daniel Webster to the
citizens of Massachusetts,, Oh the occasion
of the celebration of the completion of the
Bunker Hill Monument, on the 18th Of
June, 1643
They are yet on their trial, and [ hope
for favorable result but truth-sacred
truth-and fidelity to the cause of civil lib
erty compel me to say that hitherto they
have discovered quite too much of the spirit
of that monarchy from which they separa-
ted themselves. Quite too frequent resort
is made to military force, and quite too
much of the substance of the people is con
sumed in maintaining armies not for de-
fence against foreign aggression, but en-
forcing obedience to domestic authority
Standing armies are the oppressive instnl-
ments for governing the people in the
hands of hereditary and arbitrary mon.
archs. A military republic, government
founded on mock elections and supported
only by the sword is q movement indeed,
but retrogade and disastrous movement
from the regular and old fashioned mon
archial system. If men would enjoy the
blessings of republican government they
must govern themselves by reason, by mu-
tual counsel and consultation, by sense
and feeling of general interest, and by the
acquiescence of the minority in the will of
the majority properly expressed, and above
all, the military must be kept, accordingto
the language of our bill of rights, in strict
subordination to the civil authority
Wherever this lesson is not both learned
and practiced there can be no political free
dom. Absurd, preposterous is it, scof
and q satire on free forms of governme mt
to be prescribed by military leaders, and
the right of suffrage to be exercised at the
point of the sword"
His the President's) own feelings he
said agreed with Mr.. Webster on the sub
ject.
THAT LETTER OF RESIGNATION.
In the debate in the United States Sen
ate on the reference of the credentials OF
Mr.. Thomas, Senator elect from Maryland,
the fact was dwelt upon by those opposing
his admission that he had resigned his po-
sition as Secretary of the Treasury in Mr..
Buchanan's cabinet in letter which they
choose TO regard as disloyai The follow
ing is the extract on which this pretence is
grounded
1t has not been in my power, as you
are aware, to agree with you and majority
Of your Constitutional advisers in the meas
ures which have been adopted in reference
to the present condition of things in South
Carolina; nor do think it Mt all probable
that / shall be able to concur in the
views which you entertain, so far as un-
derstand them, touching the authority un-
der existing laws to enforce the collection
of the customs at the port of Charleston"