Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-07-20
SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 20, 1867.
ing powers. They are the substantive body

| lerrltOry, however, aCqulreu Dy purchase
or conquest, or by inheritance, is the proper
| ty only of that substantive power, and that
power bound up by the Constitution, that
power alone is governed by the Constitu-
tion, but does not extend for any purpose
into any Territory or acquired province.
| Why, then, talk about the Constitution re-
| gulating the action of Congress in pro-
vince, in a Territory, or in conquered
| State, whether conquered from a legitimate
State or an illegitimate State / may be
asked how one would treat the Confederate
States of America. just as Congress chooses.
They are our property-their citizens are
our subjects Their lives and their liberties
are subject to the supreme will of this 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
10 branch of the Government, there is no
power in the Government, except what
have mentioned, that has any right to inter
fere or to say one word on the subject If
you wish to punish the maefactors for vio-
lated majesty, that is another matter. Pos
sibly you might do SO through your courte
of JUSTICE 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 a
state of peace or restoration, it is under the
military authority of the Government, and
any tribunal constituted by the military au-
thority, any military tribunal, any court
martial, can try any one of those who belong
ed to the belligerent forces.
Jefferson Davis, or any man of the army
of the Confederacy, conquered by us, is this
day subject to trial by military tribunal. If
had my way l would long ago have or
no nj tr;h for
power, and would have put Jefferson Da-
Wis and all the members Of his Cabinet on
trial for the murders at Andersonville, the
murders at Salisbury, and the shooting
down of prisoners of war in cold blood.
Every man of them is responsible for these
crimes. 1t was mockery to try that wick
ed fellow, Wirz, and make him responsible
for acts which the Confederate Cabinet was
guilty of. Of course, they should be con-
demned. Whether they should be executed
afterwards give no opinion. would car
ry out such punishment as, in my judgment,
the justice of the country required. would
carry it out through the legal tribunal have
mentioned, and which are as much the legal
tribunal of the land as the Supreme Court
OF the United States. This is my view ex-
actly of what would be logical. AS to the
question of confiscation, think that man
who has murdered a thousand men, who
has robbed thousand widows and orphans,
who has burned down a thousand houses,
escapes we'll if, owning hundred thousand
dollars, he is fined fifty thousand dollars as
punishment and to repair his ravages. l
said before that was not in favor of san
culinary punishment. trust, in saying that,
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 execu-
ton of murdercrs and pirates some ap-
plause and clapping of hands, followed by
some Kisses that clamor finds 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 nor policy under heaven, and no sense
of justice that will condemn that really he
roic, much enduring man-who, for six
years, has been hunted with reward upon
his head; has been driven from one end of
his empire to another, until he got to the
very border; who has no parallel in history
that l know of except it be William of
Orange, who was driven from island to is-
land and from sand-patch to sand-patch,
by just about as bloody prosecutor as was
to be found in Maximilian-when he de-
should be shot down without further trial.
l am not going to shrink from saying
that think such punishment proper. do
not say nor do ask that anybody should
be executed in this country. There has got
to be sickly humanity here which l dare
not get alongside of, for fear might catch
it. Laughter And it is now held by one
of the most liberal and enlightened gentle
men in the country mean GerIitt Smith
that we should even pay portion of the
damages inflicted on the rebels and pay n
portion of the rebel debt. Laughter.
shall come some day to have an argument
with Horace Greedy about that, and there
fore l need not say anything further. | be-
lieve I have said enough to explain my
views on the subject, and now l ask for a
vote
AS Mr.. Stevens concluded his remarks
there was considerable applause on the part
of the member