Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-05-02
Heavy on COnfisc.,tiOn.

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cation bill, heretofore referred to in our
columns, is beginning to be realized. A
resolution advocating confscatiou was in
troduced in the recent mongrel convention
in Richmond, and debated at considerable
length, and finally referred to the commit
tee on resolutions by a unanimous VOTE
From the range and character of the de-
bate, it is evident that the sable orators
drew from Stevens speech all their argu-
ments and illustrations. Whilst the reso-
luton referred more particularly to the act
OF 1862. by the provisions of which the
property of all the Southern people whose
estates amounted to twenty thousand dol
lars and upwards was confscated, yet the
debate showed clearly that large majority
OF the members were in favor of more
comprehensive system for plundering the
South. One Of the chief orators said that
thousands and millions of his oountrymen
lad their eyes on sumfn else sides what
they stood on. They wanted the lands of
the landholders, and the party. that got
their aotes must giue the colored man land
to stand on" Another pious brother, who
wanted nothing but what was right, said
that, as. the children of Israel borrowed"
money and jewels, and their masters
and mistress clothes" so also ought his
honest brethren s'borrow" the property of
their former owners. We suggest that
spoons be added to the list. Another
'.son of thunder" who was not afraid Of
man or devil, said that he would have land,
if he had to take it by violence. The
committee, however, notwithstanding the
clamor for Gland" ''money and jewels,
and their masters and mistress Clothes
reported resolution in the following
words -
.''Resolved, That this Convention does most
heartily approve and endorse al acts passed
by Congress" -. 49, <at5.
This artful dodge seemed to satisfy the
confscationists, after being assured that
they could not get the lands of the whites
until Mr. Stevens bill should become
law. Then, Of course, their glowing ex-
pectations would be realized It would
not do, mo,o, to sanction the wholesale sys-
TEN ofplunder advocated by the prominent
speakers and uproarously applauded by
the great body Of those who participated
in the proceedings; for that would have
been a little too strong for the more mode
rate portion Of the loyalists in the State,
who are satisfied with the conditions alrea-
dy imposed upon US by the late acts of
Congress.
Insatiate monsters have not your gen.
erals, your soldiers, and your preachers,
during the war, "ccm fscated' and ''borro,g-
ed' enough of the property of the Southern
people? Is it not enough that thousands
should have been reduced, by your system
OF borrowing" to the lowest extremity
of suffering and starvation? VIII you
"borrow" the last dollar the last piece of
jewelry, and the last suit of clothes from
our destitute women and children?
We have no idea that even the radical
party, as such, in this State or elsewhere
would sanction such monstrocities policy,
if they were even lost to all sense of moral
obligation, would dictate different course
We simply refer to them for the purpose
of exposing to public contempt the true
character of the men who are endeayoring
to get the government Of the State in their
hands In their ignorance they have in
discreetly s'let the cat out Of the bag'';;-
we have the issues upon which they would
go into the election of delegates to the
State Convention to be held next fall
we must see to it that none of these ex-.
tremists get into that body; and for that
purpose we must unite with the honest,
intelligent element of the community
We want such men to represent us as will
conform the organic law to the requirements
of the late acts of Congress more, no
less. If, on the other hand, these extrem-
ests should succeed in getting the control
of the Convention, they threaten to 90 be-
yond the requirement of the reconstruction
acts, and deprive every man who partici-
pated in the rebellion of voice in the 60
vernment, for all time to come.
We must cease to discuss the merits of
"passivity" and activity and turn our
attention to the paramount obligation of
roting. There are good men enough in
the State to carry it against the destruc-
tiyes, and it is their duty to be sufficiently
"active" to do it, i8a Fl 4; aaf-gai
@ The latest news from Europe, per
Atlantic Gable, would seem to justify the
belief that the difficulty between Prussia