Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-06-06

1ne IOliOWlnS letter / rom Hon. Ilad-
deus Stevens, in vindication of his pro-
posed policy of confiscation, recently ap-
peared in the Gettysburg (Pa.) Star and
Herald, of which Hon. Edward MePher-
son, Clerk of the U. S. House of Repre-
sentatives, is an editor:
LANCASTER, Pa, May %, 1867.
DEAR SIR: Short as your letter is,
fear | cannot answer it without violating
an injunction Of my medical adviser not
to become excited. You live in a region
which was two or three times invaded by
the armies of Jefferson Davis. In the
Counties of Bedford, Fulton, Franklin,
Cumberland, Adams, and York they Wis
tied almost every farmer and other in
habitant, and plundered them of their
horses, cattle, provisions, wagons, and
money, when found, beside some detach-
ed cases. They laid in ashes one thriving
village of 5000 people, and turned the in
habitants houseless into the streets to
seek shelter in fence corners. No pro-
vision has ever been made, or is now
making, to reimburse the plundered cit
izens. BY the law of nations a govern
ment makes no compensation for DANA
ges done by an invading army, unless
such government be victorious when it
always provides by treaty for the pay
ment by the vanquished enemy. A gov
ernment which neglects to make such
provision on behalf of its plundered cit
izens is basely negligent of its duty. A
quasi peace exists between the late bell
ligerents, the terms of which are dictated
wholly by Congress, which is under the
control of the Republican party. Moth
ing but the proceeds of the confiscation
of small portion of the property of the
wealthy Rebels can be applied to pay the
damages inflicted by the marauders, un-
less it be paid out by the Treasury of the
United States. A few Republican me-
teors, always erratic in their course, are
fitting through and exploding in the
Republican atmosphere. They attract
sufficient public attention to enable them
to assure the amiable Rebels who inflict-
ed this injury that they need fear no con-
fiscation;. that nobody of any note in the
North is in favor of imposing such pun
ishment for the sake of remuneration, or
of justice, They assure them that moth
ing shall 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 thous-
ands, to reimburse the loyal men, North
and South, who were plunderea of their
estates, and to aid your poor neighbors
to rebuild their humble tenements. II is
scarcely to be endured that Congress for
two sessions should sit Indifferent to these
sufferings, and take no steps to enforce
these rights. These remarks apply to
large portions of Maryland, West Vir-
ginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri, as
well as to the slave States. He who can
patiently listen TO that patient humanity
which we now see propagated, has more
command of himself than L have. In
deed it looks as if we were still to add to
the burden of our taxation to defray the
expenses of transportation, and the ova-
tion of triumphant traitors. But must
stop, or shall commit the fault against
which / have been warned. With great
respect, your obedient servant,
THADDEUs STEVENS.