The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-06-12

JT. EHfor


! JTr. Eliior:
| AS we ere thrown into u stale of things,
truly anomalous, an'i can find no analogy in
the readings OF history to beacon us on in
our cropping, who has wisdom sufficient TO
advise us w!.It is best to be done /! Who
can dictate the course OF action to DO pu".
sued? Discussions not Illuminated wiz,
The teachings Of elaborated argument. on
gender e%ch ement, which prompts impru-
dent differences, calculated TO create ideas,
anu arouse passions, dangerous and mischc-
vous in their tendencies.
Surely IN these times Of general dcprcs
sion, We have no persons who are anxious
to put on the harness Of the politician in
order TO pnrtnkc Of tho spoil of party.
None so base rs to be willing ''to owe his
GREATNESS to his country's ruin" And, no
one, il is hoped, who willtully attempts to
accomplish his own ends, by working with
threats upon the harrasscd minds Of u ter.
ribly distressed people. Who. after patient
investigation, candidly believes that confis.
cation will ever be the result, If a majority
of tho voters cast their ballots against call
ing convention? Who, with intellect, so
illuminated, can proclaim the postulatc.
'that all will he wcll'' if II plurality of
votes are cast in favor Of the calling of q
convention? And yet, Mr.. Editor, how
frequently do VIC hear, and see in print, Che
word contiscation. Does the ut!ercr dwell
upon tho fact, that the use Of the word is
tranght with evil. and is adopted to work
incalculablc injury to our country That
1t paralyzes the energies, prevents all spirit
of enterprise, and shuts out all desire for
improvement in one ciass, and creates false
hopes ana bcgats idlcnoss in another
Mr. Editor, will conhscation ever be car
ried into effect? Let us see.
1t is true, the Radical is the boldcst party
that has been In power since tho days OF
CROMWELL. 1t is true, this party has resort
ell TO the most extreme measures to effect
its ends, but whenever the Constitution has
stood in its way with language distinct and
emphatic, absolute and final, the party has
paused and set vigorously to- work
remove the obstacle; it may have been by
compulsion, but nevertheless the party JUS.
titles its acts by having the legal form
written and stamped upon the record. The
ipse dieh of Congress, "that state of war
ground upon which is based tho military
rule in tho DISTRICTS.
The Southern States, in convention callcd
by tho Provisional Governors, cmnncipated
their slaves, and ratified tho Constitutional
amendments, abolishing slavery throughout
all the territory Of the Union, and thereby
gave the necessary vote to engraft those
amendments upon tho Constitution. and Nv
which the slaves in the States of MARYLAND.
Kentucy and Delaware were manumittcd'
That aot passed through oil the channels of
tho circumlocutory offices, hns all the i'm.
press of red tape upon ii, and is envelopcd
with all the ceremony Of legal form.
Only under tho Constitution, can confis.
cation for treason be considered In Arti.
olo III. and Section 8, of the Constitution.
he language is clear and emphatic, abso.
luto and final, Congress shall have powcr
to doolarc the punishment Of treason. but
| no attainder Of treason shall work corrun
| ton of blood or forfeiture, except during
tho life Of tho person attainted." Only ,tbe
i!fe time estate can be sold, and so soon ns
tho person conpictcd Of treason dies, then
immediately upon his denth, tho property
sold, Is restored to his legal heirs what
has Chief Jnatioe Chase dono in this matter
| Judge Underwood of Virginia. ordered
tho confsoation Of the estate of n Vi"einian
for treason, = The case was carried I'D to tho
United States Court of Errors, md, Chief
Justice Chase, ono of the most tinflucntiallea
dcrs of the Radical party, sent the case back
upon tho ground, st. "That the sale Of the
property was absolute" wicl, could not be
done, as only the life estate could be confsca
ted 2d. "Thnt there could bc no confisoa
tion for treason until tho party had been
indicted by grand jury and convicted by a
court Of competent jurisdiction" ~.
What does Attorney General Stanborry
say? "The provision in tile Constitution of