The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-28

sellectual and moral vigor has melted into a
;luid weakness which they mistake for mer-
cy, and which is untempered with single
Grain of Justice, and to those religionists
who mistake meanness for Christianity, and
who forget that the essence of religion is to
do unto others what others have right to
expect from YOU" 1t is offensive to certain
pretentious doctors of divinity who are
mawki.hly prating about the "fatted calf,
the prodgal son and forgiving father."-
They forget that there is no analogy between
the cases The thoughtless youth having re-
ceived part of his fathers estate, and pro
badly taking load of corn to market, fell
into bad company and contracted the loath-
some vice of drunkenness, and spent the
money in rioting and dcbauchery, and like
oil drunkards, made his bed with the swine,
and fed on husks; but like one case only in
a thousand, he reformed, joined the total alb
stinence society, washed himself clean. brush
ed his clothes, anu with repcntant steps re-
turned to his fathers house. Well might his
aged parent rejoice; well might he kill the
fatted calf at such q rescue. But how vc-
NAL was such offense compared with this
murderous rebellionl When the great an
cestor of this bloody race had slain his broth
er, and tremblingly met his Judge and
sought for pardon, what was the an
swera 1.-THE voice of thy brothers blood
crieth unto me from the ground. And now
art thou cursed from the earth, which hath
opened her mouth to receive thy brothers
blood from thy hand. When thou tilleth
the ground, it shall not hcnceforth yield unto
thee her strength; fugitive and a vaga-
bond shalt thou be in the EARTH" When
Cain cried out that his punishment was
more than he could bear" the Judge who
administered justice in mercy drove him
IL 4
no forgiveness for such sins. He prated of
the bill. BY the act of 18th of July, 1862,
treason is made punishable by death OF
smaller punishment, at the discretion of the
court. Before punishment can be inflicted
for treason or misprison of treason the party
must be duly convicted in q court of the
United States. Not so with the balance of
the bill. All the rest of that law (after the
first four sections) refers to persons engaged
in the belligerent army, or officially connec-
ted with the government known as the Con-
federate States of America, or to those who
voluntarily aided that power. While that law
supposed that most of the people compos-
ing that army and government were traitors.
yet they are dealt with in all the provisions
which refer to coniscation merely as bellig-
erents making an unjust war. The forfeit
ures which follow from u conviction for trea-
son are left to the operations Of the common
law. The fifth section enacts that Ito in
sure the speedy termination of the present
Rebellion it shall be the duty Of the Presi-
dent of the United States to cause the seiz-
ure Of all the estates and property, money,
stocks, credits, and effects of the persons
hereinafter named in this section, and apply
and use the same and the proceeds thereof
for the support of the army of the United
States" Then follow the enumeration of
all the officers of the Army and Navy of the
Confederate Government; all the civil Off
GERS of said Government; all persons engaged
in the Army or Navy, or aiding said Conted
crate States of America, unless they laid
down their arms within given time. To
secure the condemnation of property thus
seized, proceedings in rem are to be institu-
ted wherever the property may be found, |
which proceeding shall follow the proceed |
lngs in admiralty or revenue cases, and the |
same shall be condemned as enemies prop |
erty, and become the property of the United |
States, and the proceeds paid into the Treas
lry of the United States. 9th section act
Of 18th July, 1862 The eighth section pro-
Tides that the court shall make all necessary
orders, and the marsllals shall make deeds |
md conyeyances for such property to the
purchaser, and then such titles shall be good
md valid. This law is unrepealed. 1t is in
ull force, and stands on the statute-book rs
me of the laws which the President swore to
EXECUTE. would to God he had obcyed his
'ath Let us see that we obey ours) It
nay be objected that the Government is
tretching its powers in making such confis-
atlons. That was question well consider
d when the act of 1862 was passed 1t must
re remembered that this is not an open ques
ion; We arc merely considering the enforce
nent Of an existing law. But l will briefly
evieW some of the arguments in favor of the [
light. We are treating these belligerents
imply as enemies, and their property as enc {
lics' property now in the possession and {
ower of the conqueror. By the law of ma |
ions In its most stringent provision all the I
roperty. liberty, and lives of conquered {
nemy who has waged an unjust war are at {
ne disposal of the victor. Modern civiliza- t
ion will seldom justify the exercise of the {
xtreme right. The lives. the liberty, and, '
l most cases, the real property of the van c
uished are left untouched. The property, t
owever, of the vanquished is held in some t
lape liable to pay the expenses and DANA t
es sustained by the injured party. If peace l.
brought about by treaty, it is usually stip- i
lated that the expenses and damages shall Il
C paid by the defeated belligerent As
lch remuneration must be levied as taxes C
4 the subjects, it does subject all their prop t.
,ty to this burden. Where there is no gov O
'nment capable of making terms of peace, S
le making power of the conquercr must II
K the terms. This gives them sufficient b
ght to take just such property AS it may v
Gem proper. Where the subdued bclliger- e
1t is composed of traitors, their personal c
lines aggravate their belligerent offense and s.
stify severer treatment, just as a tribe of Il
wages are treated with more rigor than S
vilized foes. From such a people much Il
ore might and ought to be e1acted than Ii
ON an honorable enemy. Whenever exam h
e requires 1t, heavy fines should be impos- a
and the criminals reduced to poverty, as t,
as properly required by our excellent Pres Il
ent. Vattel says: "When, therefore, he u
Is subdued hostile nation, he undeniably p
ay, In the first place, do himself justice re- r.
'ecting the object which has given rise to tt
e war, and indemnify himself for the ex- N
9nses and damages which he has sustained n
it." Halleck Opp. 45D says that by strict b
ght property on land and real estate is SUBJ Il
ct to seizure, though seldom enforced with a
ordinary enemy. All writers agree with d
attel Up. 369): "Thus conqueror who has b
ken up arms not only against the sover- W
hrrf