Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-26
The COnfiscatiOa Bill of Mr..
Stevens. ....s ...,..s...

81, -s, Steve eaS., a.f.ai....
The spectacle presented by Hon. Thad-
deus Stevens, an old and feeble man of va
rying fortunes in public life, clanloriRg,
almostsolitarY and alone, in his last days, for
the vengeance of confiscation against the
Southern people, is really a sad and pitia-
BILE one, 1t renders him, indeed, more an
object of commiseration than the suffering
and distre ssed people whom he would
strike. 1t is gratifying to see that his con-
fiscatiOn project meets scant favor even
among some of the extremists of his party.
The Chicago Tribune, one of the most Wig
orOuS and -unyieldiDg OF Radical journals
has taken strong ground against it, declar-
ing that it issentitled to no encouragement,
and that the Western people do not desire
and will not tolerate it. The same tone
pervades the comments of most others of
the Republican press on the subject. The
idea of VindictiVeness and spoliation is re-
pudiated as at variance with the policy and
repugnant to the feelings of the North.
The Troy Whtg, Republican paper, on this
subject says:
Congress has, in the most solemn and de-
liberate manner, and with great unanimity,
adopted plan of reconstruction for the
South. In this plan the terms are definitely
stated and clearly defined upon which the
Southern States may be restored to full
rights in the Union, 1t is neither wise,
just or expedient to add new terms to those
already imposed. A proposition at this
time for measure of contiscation is mon
strously wicked. There is every indication
that the South is now willing to make the
effort to comply with the terms imposed by
the military bill. To interpoSe new and
cruel measures like that OF Mr.. Stevens can
have but one effect, that will be to fire the
Southern heart with bitter and unrelenting
hate, if not with utter despair. A confis-
cation act is only broached for the purpose
of Keeping the South out of the Union, and
to render its condition as miserable, hope
less and desperate as it is possible to make
it by national legislation. Stevens, Sum-
ner anu Butler, or any one else indOrsing
such proposition, can only be inspired by
a desire for revenge, for political agitation
and for personal advancement at the eX-
pense of the ruin of the country. (
The men pushing measures of general
confiscation know very we'll that they can
not take them through Congress. By ad-
sVocating such ultra laws, they only hope
to drive the South from making the effort
to come back into the Union under the G n
greSsiOnal. plan, and to harass, worry and
agitate the Southern people, to the end that
they may become desperate. Such are the
deSpicable sentiments that inspire the small
knot of ultraists who are asking for con-
fiscation laws. Congress is too wise to in
dOrse any such proposition, and yet the in
PRODUCTION and advocacy OF such measure
In congress Will nave most deplOraDle ana
depressing effect on the South. 1t is pecu-
liarly unfortunate and cruel in view of the
fact that in many portions of the South
gaunt hunger, want, poverty and famine
are staring whole communities in the
, face, and thousands upon thousands of
those who before the war rolled in luxury
and affluence are now making the most des-
perate efforts to drive the wolf of starvation
from their doors. While the loyal North
is contributing with a liberal and generous
hand to keep thousands at the South from
dying of hunger and starvation, it is a
most sad and piteous spectacle to see mem
bers of Congress attempting to add contis-
cation to the miseries already endured at
the South. Shame on such craftsmanship