Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-03-26

handed. There was no blasphemer then to
question Gods decree of confscatiOn. This
doctrine then was not ..satanic'' He who
questions 1t now will be blusphemer, whom
God viii bring to judgement. If we refuse
to this down.trodden aud oppressed race the
rights which Heaven decreed Them. and the
| remuneration Which they have earned through
long years of hopeless oppression, how can.
we hope to escape still further punishment if
God be just and ompipotent? 1t NAV come
In the-shape OF plaques of intestine wars
race against race, the oppressed agaiut the on
pressor. But come 1t will. Seek not to divert
our attention from justice by puerilc cry
about fatted calves!
Here is his idea of mercy:
The bill is very merciful towards cruel
outlawed belligerent, who, when their armies
were dispersed, would gladly have coihpro-
missed if their lives were saved Those who
viii be affected by this bill will not exceed
seventy thousand out Of population of six
million whites, for this is people of aristo-
Gratis aud subjects-of proud nobility and
bringing, poor peasantry. Those seventy
thousand persons own about three hundred
aud ninety million acres of iandsOut OF the
i've hundred millions in the Confederate
States. This, together withthe townprop
ty, cannot b. worth less than $4,000, 0UO,-
OUO. This estimate includes no mans pYo-
perty who was worth less than $4,000 nor
docs 1t include any personal property, which
nay perhaps swell it to $4,000, 600. 000.-
The fine proposed would bebut one -tw entieth
of their estates. Were ever such great male
factors so gently dealt with
On the pardoning power he discourscs as
follows:
Unjust take the liberty to deny that any
pardon, or any other power vested in the Pre-
sident, can withdraw these forfeited estates
from the confscation decreed by Congress-.
Nothing less than an act of Congress can di>
vest them from the United States and bestow
them on the pardoned beIligerents, No one
denies that the President possesses the par
doning power. This power is conferred on
the Chief Executive for wise purposes, to
correct the errors and mistakes of courts, and
imperfectiOns of human laws.
How we'll the President has adhered to the
object of this high prerogative others must
Judge. The special pardous granted cannot
indeed be over four thousand of the subjects
OF coufscatiou. The pardOns are granted for
the crime of treason. | shall not question
that such purdons may be pleaded In bar of
any prosecution for treason, and save tho
traitors property from ths forfeiture which
results from the conviction Of that crime
But the act of July II, 1862, Gnder which
these torte!tures arise, has no reference to
treason, Except the first four sections, under
which we do not ask the action of the Execu
tive.) 1t declares the property Of certain bel
li@erents, enemies of the United States. SUBJ
ject to seizure, aud orders it-to be appropria-
ted, as enemies property, to the service OF
the United States Government In perfect
ing the forfeiture it does not pretend to prose-
cute the owners for crime, but treats their
property as that of any enemy who was cap
tured as lawful prize. How can the Presi.
dent by pardon rctore the property thus
vested in the United States Suppose the
delinquent wcre-an alien enemy, and as such
his land or property was ordered to be seized
by act OF Congress could the President dis.
penSc with that law by lis sovereign power.
aud arrest the forfeiture in its transit to the
treasury The belligcrcnt has been guilty
OF no crime as bclligercEt Of which the TX.
ccutive could absolve him. Neither the war.
making power lsSr the power to make peace
Is III the President. The power to declare
war is vested in Congress alone. he p,yer
to make peace rests with the President and
the Senate The power 10 dispose of the pro.
perry of Il conquered people is vested in the
sovereign law EE5king power OF the nation,
which iii this Republic is Congress. a king
oi Engl once claimed AMI exercised the
right 20 dispense with an act of Parliament.
But the Parliament vindicated its rights. and
by an act Il VS., I'D declared all such par
dons and charters void, and that no ..disLcn-
sati"u by 0bs'0mtc of OF to any statute or
and part thereof be allowed" Have we tho
courage and the virtue of our British anccs-
tors?
But, at the most, the pardons extend to
but fourteen thousand out of seventy thou.
SAND wealthy belliscren:s. While there is
not the least 2retc:.ce in law that the Prcsi>
dent, By pardon or otherwise. Can wrest this
property from the Government, yet it is
melancholy that an Executive SHOULD conied
crate with traitors, and hy his own ino,vidUI!
responsibility attempt to take billions out of
the Treasury OF the United States to enrich
bloody traitors; to impose burdens on the
loyal men who risked life and property to
save the nation that fawning rebels might
live in uffiucnce and gIorily him. Bat even
if all those now Pardoncd were beyond our
reach, there still several thousand who
are not shielded by these potential charters
That will suffice for the small sum which this
bill requires.
0+avarsJ, no,G.o,4;- DIN