American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-07-24

substantial body. Territory, however
acquired by purchase or conquest, or by
inheritance, is the property only of that
substantive power, and that power is
bound up by the Constitution. That
power alone is governed by the Constitu-
tion but does not extend for any pur.
pose into any territory or acquired prov
ince.
Why, then, talk about the Constitution
regulating the action Of Congress in a
province, in territory, or in conquered
State, whether conquered from a legiti>
mate State or an illegitimate State /
may be asked how one would treat the
Confederate States of America. just as
Congress chooses. They are our prop
erty; their citizens are our subjects.
Their lives and their liberties are sub
ject to the supreme will of the body,
always controlled by the laws of nations,
the laws of war and the laws of humanity
There is no other power on earth-there
is no branch of the government-there is
no power in the government, except what
[ have mentioned, that has any right to
interfere or say one word on the subject.
IF you wish to punish the malefactors for
violated majesty, that is another matter.
Possibly you might do so through your
courts Of practice at least you might
attempt it, but | don't suppose you can
do it. But there is one thing clear
That territory not being yet declared by
Congress to be in state of peace or res,
toration, it is under the military authority
Of the government, and any tribunal con
stituted by the military authority, any
military tribunal, any court martial, can
try any one Of those who belonged to the
beligerent forces. Jefferson Davis, or
any man of the army of the confederacy,
conquered by us, is this dav subjec to
trial by military tribunal. If l had my
way, would long ago have organized a
military tribunal, under military power,
and would have put Jefferson Davis
and all the members of his Cabinet on
trial for the murders at Andersonville,
the murders at Salisbury, and the shoot
ing down of prisoners of war in cold blood.
Every man Of them is responsible for
these crimes. 1t was mockery to try that
wicked fellow, Wirz, and make him re-
sponsible for acts which the Confederate
Cabinet was guilty Of OF course, they
should be condemned Whether they
should he executed aiHterward | give no
opinion. would carry out such pun
ishment as, in my judgment, the justice
Of the country required. | would carry
it out through the legal tribunal have
mentioned, and which is as much the
legal tribunal of thellaud as the Supreme
Court Of the United States. This is my
view exactly of what would be logical.
As to the question of confscation, think
that a man who has murdered thousand
men, who has robbed thousand widows
and orphans, who has burned down
thousand houses, escapes well, if owning
hundred thousand dollars he is fined
fifty thousand dollars, as a punishment,
and to repair his ravages. l said before
that was not in favor Of sanGuinary
punishment. l trust, in saying that |
need not be supposed TO condemn them
when they are necessary, for instance, the
clamor that has been raised against the
Mexican government for the heroic exc
cution of murderers and pirates Some
applause and clapping of hands by mem
bers, followed by some Kisses
That clamOr nls no favor with me- |
think that while he has gone far enough,
though not half as far as he might be
justified in going, yet there is no law or
policy, under Heaven. and no sense Of
justice that will condemn that real heroic,
much enduring man, who for six years
has been hunte with reward upon his
head has been driven from one end of
his empire to another until he got to the
very end who has no parallel in history
that know of except it be William OF
Orange" who was driven from island to
island and from sand patch to sand patch
by just about as bloody prosecutor as
was to be found in Maximilian' when he
decreed that every man warning against
him should be shot down without further
trial. | am not going to shrink from
saying that l think such punishment
proper. do not say nor do ask, that
anybody should be executed in this coun-
try. There has got to be a sickly hui
manity here which l dare not get along
side of, for fear catch it. Laughter, ]
And it is now held by one of the most
liberal and enlightened gentlemen in the
country I mean Gerritt SMITH that we
should eyen pay a portion of the damages
inflicted on the rebels, and pay portion
of the rebel debt. Laughter shall
come some day to have an argument
with Horace Gaeeley about that, and
therefore | need not say any further. l
believe l have said enough to explain my
views on the subj ct, and now l ask for
vote.
AS Mr.. Stevens concluded his remarks,
there was considerable applause on the
part of the members.
e>--<D.-->S
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