The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-03-26

BITTER ENEMY.-Mr Thad. Stevens seems
to be influenced by the most malignant feelings
towards the South. Last week he introduced a
bill into the House of Representatives to confs-
cate a large amount of the property of Southern
people. 1t was postponed till December next.
but he made speech in favor of it. from which
we make few extracts as specimens.
We do not believe that Mr. Stevens will be sus-
tanned in his extreme views by the Radical party
in Congress. especially if the Southern States &C
cept and carry out the Reconstruction Acts re-
Gently passed. and promptly apply for admission
into the Union under the ame.
In support of his bill Mr. Stevens said:
The laws of war authorize us to take this
property by our sovereign power; by law now
to be passed. We have subdued enemy in our
power; we have all their property and lives at our
disposal No peace has been formed. No terms
of peace or of reconciliation have been yet pro-
claimed, unless the proclamation of the Prezi-
dent can make peace and war. The Constitu-
ton denies him any power in either case. Then,
unless Andrew johnson be king, the terms of
peace yet to be proclaimed Among those
terms. as we have shown. we have right to i'm
pose confi<cation of all their property-to lin
poverish'' them. as Andrew johnson has told US;
to ''divide their large FARMS and sell them to in
dustrious men, This is strict law and good
common sense. Now, then, without reference to
any former act, have right to seize the prop
erty named in this bill. and ten times more You
behold at your feet conquered foe, atrocious
| enemy. Tell him on what terms he may arise
and depart or remain loyal. But do not embrace
him too hastily. Be sure first that there is no
dagger in his girdle.''
| Here is his idea of mercy:
This bill is very merciful toward cruel, out
| lawed begerent. who. when their armies were
dispersed. would gladly have compromised il
their lives were saved. Those who will be af-
fected by this bill will not exceed seventy thou
sand out of population of six million whites, fol
this is a people of aristocrats and subjects-of a
proud nobility and cringi poor peasantry.--
| Those seventy thousand persons own about three
hundred and ninety million acres of land out OF
| the five hundred millions in the Confederate
States. This together with the town property
cannot be worth less than $40 O0O.O 100000. This
estimate includes no mans property who was
worth less than $4,000; does it include any
personal property. which may perhaps swell it to
| SI2 zoo, 100000. The fine proposed would be
| but one twentieth of their estates. Were ever
such great malefactors SO gently dealt with ~
| On the pardoning power he discourses as fol-
| lows:
II must take the liberty to deny that any par
| don, any other power vested in the President
| can withdraw these forfeited estates from the
oonfscaton decreed by Congress. Nothing less
! than act of Congress can divest them from the
| United States and bestow them on the pardoned
| belligerents. But, at the most, the pardons ex-
tend to but fourteen thousand out of seventy thou
| sand wealthy belligerents. While there is no,
| the least pretence in law that The President, by
pardon or otherwise. can wrest this property from
| the Government. yet it is melancholy that the
Executive should confederate with traitors, and
by his own act and on his own individual respon-
sbility attempt to take billions out of the Treas
ury of the United States to Zurich bloody traitors
| to impose burdens on the loyal men who rsked
| life and property to the nation that fawnne
| rebels ght live i'm afauence and glorify him.
| But even if all those now pardoned were beyond
our reach. there still several thousand who
are not shielded by these potential Characters
That will suffice for the small sum which this bill
| reouires'"