Even where the traitor is adjudged to death, there is good reason to doubt if his estate in fee-simple, which is absolutely his own, and alienable at his mere pleasure, may not be forfeited. It is admitted by Senators that the words of the Constitution do not forbid the forfeiture of the personal estate, which in the present days of commerce is usually much larger than the real estate, although to an unprofessional mind these words are as applicable to one as to the other; so that a person attainted of treason would forfeit all his personal estate, of every name and nature, no matter what its amount, even if he did not forfeit his real estate. But since an estate in fee-simple belongs absolutely to the owner, and is in all respects subject to his disposition, there seems no reason for its exemption which is not equally applicable to personal property. The claim of the family is as strong in one case as in the other. And if we take counsel of analogy, we find ourselves led in the same direction. It is difficult to say, that, in a case of treason, there can be any limitation to the amount of fine imposed; so that in sweeping extent it may take from the criminal all his estate, real and personal. And, secondly, it is very clear that the prohibition in the Constitution, whatever it be, is confined to “attainder of treason,” and not, therefore, applicable to a judgment for felony, which at the Common Law worked forfeiture of all estate, real and personal; so that under the Constitution such forfeiture for felony can be now maintained. But assuming the Constitution applicable to treason where there is no judgment of death, it is only reasonable to suppose that this prohibition is applicable _exclusively to that posthumous forfeiture depending upon corruption of blood_; and here the rule is sustained by intrinsic justice. But all present estate, real as well as personal, actually belonging to the traitor, is forfeited. Not doubting the intrinsic justice of this rule, I am sustained by the authority of Mr. Hallam, who, in a note to his invaluable History of Literature, after declaring, that, according to the principle of Grotius, the English law of forfeiture in high treason is just, being part of the direct punishment of the guilty, but that of attainder or corruption of blood is unjust, being an infliction on the innocent alone, stops to say:-- “I incline to concur in this distinction, and think it at least plausible, though it was seldom or never taken in the discussions concerning those two laws. Confiscation is no more unjust towards the posterity of an offender than fine, from which, of course, it only differs in degree.”[18] An opinion from such an authority is entitled to much weight in determining the proper signification of doubtful words.