Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1867-03-28
T'hf getald,.
C3nfiscation of Rebel Estates.

avn A1ldNtelSuo ObSNSllo VIII Jhht
an early occasion to express his
sentiments on this important sub
iect The Intervention of the Pres
idential pardon for the purpose of
restoring property to rebel owners,
after such property had been pur-
chased and paid for under the con
fiscation laws of the United States,
and had been extensively improved,
has been of frightfully frequent oc
currence. In Washington city a
large amount ofproperty has chang
cd hands under the statutes of
Congress, and endless injury to de-
serving men will follow in conse-
quence of these Presidential par
dons and the litigation Of the courts
unless Congress should extend its
W. o'esome protection. The writer
of the following letter, who was re-
ferred to in the course of the debate
on reconstruction in the House by
Mr.. Stevens on Monday last, is a
reliable and patriotic citizen. His
experience is that of thousands, and
we print what he sent to the former
rebel owner of his property that
Congress may legislate with a knowl-
edge least one of many cases of
outrage us injustice and oppression.
While confscation should neither
be exceptionless nor merciless, the
Government of the United States
would fail in its obligations to the
true men if it allowed itself to be
influenced by the example of restor-
ing to red handed traitors property
that had been fairly purchased and
occupied by loyal citizens ;-WaSh-
tagtoa Chronicle.
"TAYLoRsTCWN, Va,
GAE February 10, 1867.
"WM d. MUTT, Esq.
"SR; | am informed that you
have notified my tenant, Matthias
Fletcher, that you are about to in
stitute proceedings against me thro'
him for the possession of the farm
which formerly belonged to you,
and which l purchased at tax sale
and paid the Government for Il
have simply-to say in the premises
that che property belongs to me,
and that any attempt to dispossess
my tenant of his quiet and lawful
possession will be resisted, not
through your bogus courts and
judges, but by any powerand means
atmaybe at my command. Your
courts are instruments for the OPP
preston of the men who would have
rather died than raise their hands
against their Government.
"You have, in my humble opin-
ion, offered a direct insult to the
power and magnanimity of the Gov
enment that to-day protects and
harbors you and permits you to en-
Joy the life you have forfeited. You
have in the same opinion but one
right common with all traitors, and
that is, the right to expiate at the
end of halter the crime you and
all of you committed when you
conspired knowingly and willingly
TO sap the foundation of our Gov
ernment and consign it and It's sa-
cred trusts to the bottom of cha
Dtic grave, Thank God that Coy
yet lives! 1t has caused
traitors and unworthy conlldents
and friends like yourself to feel its
power, and it will do the same
lgain. Mark i'll you and other
traitors may cause several to lose
faith in It, but | shall not believe
until | see. There is no human be-
.Rg who can turn his back with i'm
punity upon his friends; and it Is
not the nature of things that after
III we have suffered and endured at
.he hands of red handed and foul.
hearted rebels that the power we
have looked to and trusted in the
darkest hour of her anguish re
peat, that it is not in the nature of
.hings that this power should now
abandon its friends and acquiesce in
heir robbery by the enemies ofboth,
call you enemies because | know
Ton to be such, and every Union
nan who mingles among you knows
you to be such as represent You.
Sand II seems that you don't in
cad to be satisfied with the afore-
,aid property, butyou claim twenty
dollars damages for rents,
Sc. What cool, baseful impudence
'ou robbers have acquired! And,
o, cap the climax, you have en-
,Ioyed q tool, who rej0ices in sign
ng his name u. l.. Smith, attorney
cc. This adds Insult to injury.
erahably he thinks he Is, not known
nsIlis real character, We know
i'm only as JEFF. Davis tool; that
Il used to conllscate and sequestrate
he property of all Abolltionists and
Yankee sympathizers In this portion
Il the State. And you win be sat.
SIZED with the possession of my
arm and twenty thousand pocket
money! How reasonable you are
Toh are a reasonable robbeE in
Iced. You, your man Smith, work
Il on Yankee sympathizers' purse
Itrings, and your Hon. Judge
with your entire pack Of
'ebel shcriffs and attaches, you ex-
,eet to succeed, do yoUp Wen see.
intil then, remain, yours, very