Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-11-19
Mr. Stevens on OonfgoatiOn.

Mr. Thaddeus Stevens threatens to renew
his efforts to secure the confscation of the
property of certain classes in the South and
we hope that, when he brings forward his
motion, it may be promptly and effectually
sGuelched. The South is already not only
poverty. stricken, but absolutely beggared.-
Let our readers imagine what the condition
of the loyal States would be if all our nation
al securities, now in the hands of the people,
were made suddenly worthless if the bonds
of the Individual States reduced in value one
half, and made unstable at almost any price;
if the bank circulation were caused to sudden
ly disappear; if the greenbacks were wiped
out ike pencil marks, by damp sponge if
nine-twenueths of the manufacturing machi>
merry were destroyed if three fourths of the
domestic animals were killed off; if half of
the household furniture, cOnveniences and
utensils were broken up; if half the young
men in the country were slain if the labor
system, such as we have enjoyed, were utterly
upturned /; ifall public and private credit were
so far destroyed that no State could borrow a
dollar and no man could buy for his note
bushel of corn if, in word, out OF all our
former wealth nothing but weedy land heri-
tage Of disorder remained-imagine the loyal
States, we say, SO reduced, and we have pic
ture Of what the South is today.
Ifit were possible to add to the disabilities
of people already so poor in all that consti-
tutes wealth if there were no such thing in
in the economy of God or man as forgiveness
ofsins, if it were possible, even, to punish six
millions of people by the imposition of the
penalties that may be fitted to an individual
what, we ask, would Mr. Stevens accomplish
by the Incorporation Of his proposal into law
Will he increase the average loyalty of the
people to the government of the United
States by turning them out of the homes in
which they now barely subsist Will the
productive industry of the South be increased
by new obstacles in the way of tilling her
fields? Will harmony between the unrecon-
ciled sections be promoted by this new and
potent cause ofestrangement and hate? ? No,
Mr.. Stevens, no! But suppose the public
good and the demands of justice made confs-
cation even remotely justiiable, how would
we proceed? Who will buy the property
that Mr.. Stevens proposes that the Marshall
may take The negroes have nothing; the
whites have nothing; there is no emigration
sOuthword-in the condition of affairs created
by this measure there could be no emigration
Where, then, is the market for the confscated
estates! Is there so little land in this broad
country that Northern men will go South to
buy property that carries with il on entail of
irrecOncilable hate and possibly of blood
Are Europeans so lavish of their lives that
they covet homes that eau be at the most but
insecurely held by perpetual vigilance and the
repeating riae?' Are there any people, any
where, who long for the state of society that
general or even partial confscation in the
SOth would create-for the wayside assassina>
tions of intruding landlords, for retaliatory
measures directed against elected owners, for
the bitter feuds and animosities that would end |
only in the death or banishment of those who |
are parties thereto. Or does the government,
stepping out of It's legitimate functions, desire
to be the great landlord aud leasor of half the |
estate in domain on which an empire might |
be founded, having always an army Of depen- |
dents ready to do its will.
These are only interrogatiye suggestions
but they point ont. in general way, the OBJ |
jectious chat we held TO be valid against the |
whole confscation scheme and we are sure
they will strike our readers as fOrcibly as they |
have impressed us aud, having considered |
them, they will agree with the ablest thinkers |
and wisest statesmen of our party, that confs- |
cation would be cruelty for which no necessi- |
ty has yet arisen-for which none will arise. |
The object Ofall parties should be-the object |
of the Republican party is-frst, Justice, |
then Peace. This last is the corOllary of the |
first. Justice, not in its inexorable and retri-
butive sense but that diviner thing which |
makes Heaven possible to man.
Chicago Tribune.