The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1867-06-06
THAD. STEVENS ON CON.
EISCATION.

FISCATION.
Hon. sThaddeus Stevers> in q letter
to the Gettysburgh penn. Star
and Herald, published by the Hon.
Edward Mcpherson, Clerk of the
U. s. House ofRepresentatives thus
defends his proposed policy Of confis-
cation:
Lancaster, Penn, May 20, 81
DEAR SIR: Short as your letter
is, fear |, cannot answer it without
violating an injunction of my medi.
cal advisers, not to become excited.
You live in a region which was two
or, three times invaded by tho armies
of Jefferson Davis. In the, counties
of Bedford. Fulton, Franklin, Cum
berland, Adams, and YorlS, .the rch-
els visited almost every farmer and
other inhabitant, and plundered
them of their horses, cattle, provi-
lsions, wages, and money when found.
Besides some detached cases, they
laid in ashes one thriving village of
| 5000 people, and turned the inhabi
tants h)useless into the streets to
seek their shelter in fence corners.
| No provisions has ever been made or
is now making to reimburse the
/ plundered citizens. l..3 &
/ By the law Of nations, Govern
ment makes no compensation for
damages done by the invading army,
unless such Government be victori.
GUS. when i, always provides by
treaty for the payment by the van.
pushed enemy. A Government
(which neglects 20 make such provi
sions on behalf Of its piundered citi
zens; is basely negligent of it's duty
/ A quas; peace exists between the
late belligerents, the terms Of which
/ is under the control of the Republi
. can party. Nothing but the pro
ceedsl of the confiscation Of a small
! portion of the property of tho veal
1 thy rebels can be applied to pay the
damages inflicted by the marauders
unless it be paid out by the Treasury
of the United States. A few republic
can mcteors, always erratic in their
courselare fitting through and ex
ploring in the Republican atmosphere
They attract sufficient public atten
ton to enable them TO assure the
amiabie rebels who inflicted this in
Jury, that they need fear no con6sca
ton; that nobody o. any note in the
1 North is in favor of imposing such
i punishment for the sake Of renumer-
alton or. Justice. They assure them
that nothing shall be taken from
i Aiken's estate Of millions, from
Hampton. Davis, Orr, Faulkner, o.
from a Thousand others who are
still worth hundreds of thousands
20 reimburse the loyal mon NORTH
4 and South who were plundered 20
/ their estates, and to aid your poo,
neighbors to rebuild their humble
4 tenements. aEm 5
/ IT is scarcely to be endured thai
4 Congress for two sessions should Sit
indifferent to these sufferings and
take no steps to enforce these rights
These remarks apply to large por
tons Of, Maryland. West Virginia
Ohio, Indiana and Missouri, as wei
as to the slave States. He who car
/ patiently listen to that potent
humanity which we now see propo
j gated has more command Of himsel
than | have. Indeed, it looks as i
we were still to add to the burden O.
our taxation to defray the expenses
of transportation and the ovation Of
4 triumphant traitors. But | must
stop, or l shall commit the fault
against which have been warned
With great respect,
Your obedient servant,
! THADDEUs STEVENS.