Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1910-05-05
Does Not Find the Proclamation.
Editor The Gazette


would be glad to know that Mr..
Lincoln issued such a proclamation
as mentioned BY Mr.. Lively, but 1
cannot find it IN The Messages and /
Papers of the Presidents, published
by Act of Congress. On the con-
trary. I find an Act Of Congress sP-
roved by Mr.. Lincoln. dated July (
.25. 1862, denouncing death, or I'M
prisonment, ana confiscation OF
property on svery person IN the
Confederate States engaged IN re-
sisting the Federal government.
! See Messages and Papers OF the
Presidents" vol. VI %. This act
on its face could not be entirely car
1 r;ed cut, as il would have brought
| upon the government the hostility Of
every civilized nation. But it IN
doubtedly served as a great encour-
agement TO private rapine and plum
der on the part of the Federal sol
b diers.
If General Ord gave Mr.. Lively
an order for his printing press. ii was
in pursuance of General Ord's own
4 conception that ne had no right 70
j retain private property after peace
b William and Mary College was nof
a reimbursed under Lincoln's procla-
b. nation, but after repeated applca
tons 10 Congress It was reimbursed
q in 1888 under the principles Of The
l. International Law which declare
n that colleges. Libraries and schoo
ie buildings should be sacredly re
'e spected. Their destruction can
le no way help on success in wal
al but may be of great injury to Ut
born generations. So the Arlingto
an estate was never restored. as Nj
~ Lively says. to the Lee heirs. b'
P Congress paid the Lees for it ats
=r years of suit. And Congress ST
a retains possession of it.
rs Under all the rules of war priva
en- property is sacred and should
respected, and yet for all proper
destroyed or consumed during d
war. Congress. except in cases
churches. colleges. &c. has steaC
ly refused payment. And there
aid really a very good reason for Il
rk' refusal. because TO pay for the plu
W. der would bankrupt the govenmei
lad which no one desires.
MT. Tie plain truth is that the Fed
he al government from beginning to {
the proclaimed the doctrine that 'rebe
had no rights OF any sort. either
ms, property or life, except what
rm' authorities might graciously allc
'ec- And yet consistency thou ar
had jewel" In 1776 the Uni
his Colonies broke up the great Brit
les- Empire on the ground that "gove
or ment was based on consent of
OF the governed. " They had, tn
cite 5000. 900 of people occupying
the territory no greater than the SoI
roP. land. In 1901 this self-same cour
VIII or rather the northern and west
ucal p srt of il. denied the right OF II
to pendence to 100000 of people
hem the South. The absurdity invol
We in this contradiction IS rendered
the the more striking, since, while
n government was waging war aga
ater- the South on the most gigantic SC
It was extending to the little nat
our of Central America and the S
OF negro republics Of Hayti and
= are Domingo the high honors and &C
LONG estes of sovereign and indePen'
States. In our day we have. c
seen the Federal government u
Roosevelt directly interfere in
lnam affairs of Columbia and set up
City contemplate little republic OF ?
ma as an independent power.