Year: 1867

| uc was Ill luVOT VI tilc ucCcptuiicoo VI IuSS
military bills, because he thought it the bes
we could do. Isa'd to him, "You do no
say that for yourselves, but for your bricl
stores y [Applausc.l But you arc no
half so wise asyou are knavish You woult
lose the Constitution and thccountry to SAVE
your brick stores, and then by your very
course you will lose your brick stores also
/ am ashamed to talk Or use argumentsabout
coniiscation in time of peace 1t is wal
power, not known to international law excep,
as war power, to be used only in time Of
war, upon an enemies goods Confiscatior
in time Of peace is nothing more Or less than
robbery!


But you say they have got the power and
they will exercise it, unless we do as they
bid us. And will you in this case abandon
your only protection 1t is like going Out
into the highway and surrendering yourpurse
to the robher to keep him from taking it


could introduce great deal of high au.
thority to establish the point, but Twill not
Insult the Radical portion Of this audience
by reading from any authority for them ex-
cept from a Massachusetts, Judge. Here is
what he says:


1t has been supposed that ifthc govern.
mcnt have the rights of q belligcrcnt, then,
ritcr the rebellion is suppressed, it will have
the rights Of conquest that State and its
inhabitants may be permanently divested OF
all political privileges, and treated as foreign
territory acquired by arms. This is an er-
ror. Bclligerent rights cannot be exercised
where there are no bclligerents."


That is what said Confscation is only
Il war measure, and ceases with the war. "
Again "When the United States take
possession of rebel district, they mere vim
dictate their per-existing title. Under des-
potic governments the right of confscation
may be unlimited but under our govern
ment the right of sovereignty over any por-
tion of State is given and limited by the
Constitution, and will be the same after the
war as it was before the war"


There is one Lot in Massachusetts, and if
Abraham were alive to day, l would have
him pray to God to spare that State and trust
it-not only to three men, but, even to one
There is at least one good man in it, and he
is Judge, and dares to proclaim to all
that security to property is given by the
Constitution the same after as before the
war. And now, | will read for the patri-
OTIS of the audience, something from the
most distinguished of all writer's on inter-
national law:


"When sovereign, arrogating to himself
the absolute disposal of people whom he
has conquered, attempts to reduce them to
slavery, he perpetuates the state of warfare
between that nation and himself. Should
it be said that in such case, there may be
peace, and kind Of compact by which the
conquerer consents to spare the lives of the
vanquished on condition that they acknowl-
edge themselves his slaves he who makes
such an assertion, is ignorant that war
gives no right to take away the life of an
enemy, who has laid down his arms and
submitted. But let us not dispute the
point ; lot the :nan who holds such princi-
pies of jurisprut keep them for his own
use and benefit i well deserves to be sub
jcct to such law. But men of spirit, to
whom life is nothing-less than nothing,
unless swcetoncd with liberty, will always
conceive themselves at war with that OPP
pressor, though actual hostlities are sus-
pended on their part, through want of abil-
ity."


My friends, this was written by q man
who lived in dcspotic times, a man who was
taught under dcspotic government, and
how his love oflibcrty and law shames the
pratcrs about loyalty in free America


But / will dwell no more on this subject
Coniiscation is the law of enemies in war,
and in peace it is the law Of the robber. If
they have the will to rob you, you will nev-
CT escape b. submitting to their power. If
you submit, give up the law and substitute
the will Of the robbcr, he boldly avows that
It is his purpose, not to give the black man
bis richtr, but to bring about such meas
urcs, AID so to shape things as to perpet-
ate tie rule Of the Radical party. Every
man who joins the party, and can satisfy
them that be viii sincerely help in this
work, will be accepted. They will put their
arms around you and call you brothers.
[Applausc.1 You can make friend Of
the devil upon these same terms laugh
ter and applause, and there is but little
difference between them. Great applause
If you please the one you will go to the 9th
cr, and am not sure but you will get what
you deserve, but object to your taking the
country with you. 1mmcse applause.
But, q ! it is sad to see the Constitution
upon and the country destroyed,
only to perpetuate their hcillish dynasty
and then to see some of our own people join
in this unholy work, calling upon us to SUBJ
nit and become the agents Of our own dis
honor This is sad, sorrowful, and fills me
with shame!
These bills propose OF every step to abro-
gate the Constitution-trample upon the
State and its laws-to blot out every hope