The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-03-27
OLD TRAD. ON TIE RAMpAGE.

OLD THAD. ON The RAMPAGE.
There is no single article in our columns to-day
that will receive u more extensive reading than
the Confscation Bill proposed by the immaculate
THADDEUs OF perhaps better known as "Old Iron
Works." The people are frightened with hideous
images of confiseation, and fGmor is busy unfold
ing the plans inauguratedor predicting the posi-
BILE event wherein general coniscation Will take
place. We have never believed that This measure
will succeed, and with the present lights before U.S.
are confident that such will not be the cnse How
ever, the matter is postponed by Congress until
December next, and we may have faasoh to change
orsrengthen this opinion. At any rate we shall
keep our readers posted regarding the sentiment
of the controlling party on this vital subject Lei
it suffice now that present short extract from
the speech of STEVENS on presenting The bill, on
which occasion he was so much exhausted by con-
tinued illness to mike failure in the ing,
and necesstated to seek the aid of The Clerk
Here is the extract, defining the right OF such pre-
cedure:
But will briefly review some of the arguments
in favor of the right. We are treating thcss bel
ligerents simply as enemies, and their property as
enemies property now in the possession and power
of the cbh1ucrdf. BY the law ofnatons in its most
stringent provision all the property liberty, and
lives of conquered enemy Who has waged IN un-
just war are at the disposal of the victor Modern
civilization will seldom justify the exercise Of the
extreme right. The lives, the liberty, and, in
most cases, the real property CT the vanquished
are left untouohed. The property, however, of
vanqhslied is held in some shape ldble 10 pay the
expenses and damages sustained by the injured
party. If peace is brought about by treaty, it is
usually stipulated that the expenses and damages
shall be paid by the defeated belgerent. As such
| remuneration must be levied as taxes on the sub
jccs, it does subject all their property to this bur-
den Where there is no government capable Of
making terms of peace, the making power Of
the conqueror must fix the terms. This gives them
sufficient right to take just such property it may
deem proper. Where the subdued belligerent is
composed Of traitors, their personal crimes aggra-
vate their belligerent offence and justify severer
treatment, just as tribe of savages are treated
with more rigor than civilized foes
We might make the property of the enemy pay
the 81, ,O00, 100000 which we hare expended, as
well as the damages inflicted on loyal men by con-
fscation and INVASION which mi ght reach 81 ,000
00O,0 900 moro. This bill is merciful, asking less
than one-tenth of our just claims
We could be further justified in inficting severe
penalties upon this whole hostile people ga fierce
and savage people," as an '.obstnate enemy"
| trh 10 dutr nd 1;ch Orr f,u
safety reqdires stern justice.
What more savage or fierce people" than they
who deliberately starved to death sixty thousand
prisoners of mar; who shot OF. reduced to bondage
oil captive soldiers Of the colored race who sought
to burn bur cities through secret agcnts; who sent
infected materials into our ost popuous towns to
destroy noE-combatants, old men, women and
children, by the most lonthsonie and fatal dseas-
es; and who consummnted tieif baroarism by the
assassination of the mildest Of rnlers and the best
of men? If this is not "6ercs and savage enc
my" whom we have right to reduce TO absolute
submission md dependence, point me out one to
which the language of Vuttel will apply: You
would do great inju stice TO those mild savages who
owed US NO allegiance by pointing to those who
perpetrated the massacre of Wyoming or to the
Camanches or the wild Indians of the West, or the
fierce tribes of the OrOnOco-and.: yet yoh seize
their lands and expel them from their native
country.
BUTT msttcrs not what you may think of the
efficiency of the Act of July II, 1862 The law!
Of war authorize us to take this property by oui
sovereign power by Law now TO be passed VIZ
have subdued enemy in our power: we have al
their properly and lives at our disposal No peace
has been formed. No terms of peace or of recon
ciliation have beet yet proclaimed unless the pro
clamation of the President can make peace ant
war. The Constitution denies him any power il
either case. Then, unless Andrew Johnson b
king, the setms Of peace are yet to be proclaimed
Among those terms, as %e have shown, we have
right TO impose con6scaion of all their property
to simpoverish" them, as Andrew johnson In
told us to .'divde their large farms, and sell then
to industrious men," This is strict law and goo'
common sense. Now, then, without reference II
any former Act, *e have the right to seize th
property named in this Bill, and ten times more
You behold al your feet a conquered foe, an afro
cious enemy. Tell him on what terms he ma!
arise and depart or remain loyal. But do no
embrace him too hastily. De sure first that ther
is no dagger in his girdle.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, March 23
T. a.. IIoroo tho ounnlen,antol bill passed-tht