Year: 1862

Speech Of senator COwan, Of Penn
sylvania, Against the COnfiscatiOn
Hill i'm the Z. :. senate.


On the 4th inst. Mr.. Cowan (Republi.
can addressed the Senate against the
confsca,ion BILL His speech is too long
for publication in our columns. but the
following extract will give some idea OF lis
character and spirit:


This bill proposes to liberate 100000
Of fslaves-truly the most stupendous stroke
for universal emancipation ever attempted
ia the world. Ipdesd think it virtually
liberxies tho Whole 4.OOO.OUO What is to
be the effect Of this upon the war? Shall
We be stronger. or shall We find that we
have only doubled the number Of those in
arm against us? They now have no cause
for rebellion. Will not this bill fuEish
them one? Let the loyal men Of that sec.
ton. who know them. answ, this question.
| will abide their answer. | submit again
,ha, no delibera,ive assembly in the world
ever before eat in judgment on so stupen-
dous an issue. Yes, as if TO blind us still
more. this bill has proposition OF sall
greater magnitude. and. if possible. of still
greater difficulty: that is to take these nil
Iions and transfer them to some tropical
cline. and to protect them there with all
the rights and guarantees Of freemen. And
this is all provided for in single section
and single sentence of nine lines. Truly
We must have recently transported our
selves from the practical domain OF facts.
and set down in the romantic regions OF
| Eastern fiction. Do tbe advocates Of this
measure propose to confer upon the Presi-
dent the gold making touch Of Midas?
Nothing short of the ring and lamp Of AL
ladin, with their attendant genii, would
insure the success Of such scheme. unless
it is believed that the Treasury no;e pos
sesses this mage power.


And even under that supposition. think
the owners of those Southern climes, and
the transportation Companies. ought to be
consulted in regard to the legal tender
clause. presame It is not supposed that
this modern exodus will be supported on
the way by quails and mamma; and yet |
am free to say that it will require some
such miraculous interposition as that which
favored the Israelites in their journey out
of Egypt. But, sir, is it not strange that
this schems should be SO cooly presented
for our consideration. aud urged to lis
final consummation, with kind of sur
prise that any one should oppose It? Ii
is certainly duo to the county, that we
should not make haste to engage in such
gigantic schemes. Then. again, there Is
further consideration involved in this
bill, and one of still greater moment. which
is. that il is in direct conflict with the
Constitution Of the United States. requi-
ring Of us. If we pass it, to set aside and
ignore that instrument. in its most valua-
BILE and fundamental provisions. those
which guarantee ,hs life and property ol
the citizen. and those which define the
limits and boundaries Of The several De-
partmeDts Of this Government. Pass this
bill, and all that is left Of the Constitution
is not worth much--certainly not worth
this terrible war which We are ROW wa
ging for it-for be 1t remembered that
this war is waged solely for the prsserva'
ton of the Constitution. | am aware that
some think that the Constitution Is re-
s,raint upon the free action of the nation
in the conduct Of this war. which they
supposed could be carried on great dea
better without it. have no hesitation In
saying that no greater mistake has ever
been made anywhere than is made by such
people.