Thus do I vindicate for Congress all the Rights of War. If, assuming the powers of Congress, any further question be raised as to the extent of these rights, I reply, briefly, that there is no right, according to received authorities, against a hostile sovereign or prince, embracing, of course, confiscation of property, real as well as personal, which may not in our discretion be exercised against a rebel enemy; and the reason is obvious. Whatever the mitigations of the Rights of War introduced by modern civilization, under which private property in certain cases is exempt from confiscation, _this rule does not apply to cases where there is a direct personal responsibility for the war_. And here is the precise difference between the responsibility of the sovereign or prince and the responsibility of the private citizen: the private citizen is excused; but the sovereign or prince is always held responsible to the full extent of his property, real as well as personal. Now every rebel who has voluntarily become a public enemy has assumed a _personal responsibility_, for which, according to acknowledged principles of public law, especially if he has taken high office in the rebel government, he is liable to the full extent of his property, real as well as personal. Every citizen who voluntarily aids in armed rebellion is a hostile sovereign or prince. A generous lenity may interfere to limit his liability, but on principles of public law he is in the very condition of Shylock, when his cruelty was arrested by the righteous judge:-- “If thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Are by the laws of Venice _confiscate_ Unto the State of Venice.” Such, Sir, is the extent of powers which may be exercised by Congress. Of course, it is for Congress to determine the degree of severity or lenity it will adopt. In claiming these powers to the full extent, I yield to no Senator in that spirit of clemency which, next to justice, is the grace and ornament of success. * * * * * Mr. President, these are the principles on which we must act. Announcing them and reducing them to practice, Congress will enlarge its accumulating claims to public gratitude.