Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-08-20


Be il enacted b. tie Senate ana House Of Re
presentatipes of he United States Of America in
Congress assembled, That if, during the present
or any future iusurrecton against the Govern
ment of the United States, after the President
of the United States shall have declared, by
proclamation that the laws of the United States
are opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed
by combinations too powerful to be suppressed
by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings,
or Ivy the power vested in the marshas by law,
any person or persons, his, her, or their agent
attorney, or employee, shall purchase or acquire,
sell or give, any property of whatsoever kind or
description, with intent to use or employ the
same, or suffer the same to be used or employed
in aiding, abetting, or promoting such nsnrrec-
tion or resistance to the lnws, or any person or
persons engaged therein or if any person or
persons being the owner or owners of any such
property, shall knowingly use or employ, or con-
sent to the use or employment Of the same as
aforesaid, all such property is hereby declared
to be lawful subject of prize and capture where
ever found and il shall be the duty of the Presi-
dent of the United States to cause the same to
be seized, confscated, and condemned.
Sec. 2. Aad be ii further enacted That such
prizes and capture shall be condemned in the
district or circuit court of the United States hay
ing jurisdiction of the amount, or in admiralty
in any district in which the same may be SEIZED
OF into which they may be taken and proceed
ings first instituted.
Sec g. And be il further enacted, That the
Attorney General, or any district attorney of the
United States in which said property may at the
time be, may institute the proceedings of con-
demnation, and in such case they shall be wholly
| for the benefit of the United States or any per
sen may file an information with such attorney,
in which case the proceedings shall be for the
use of such informer and the United States in
equal parts.
Sec. 4. And be ii further enacted, That when
ever hereafter, during the present insurrectiou
against the Government OF the United States,
any person claimed to be held to labor or service
under the law of any State, shall be required or
] permitted by the person to whom such labor or
service is claimed to be due, or by the lawful
agent of such person to take up arms against the
United States, or shall be required or permitted
by the person to whom such labor or service is
claimed to be due, or his lawful agent, to work
or to be employed in or upon any fort, navy yard,
cock, armory, ship, entrenchment, or in any
military or naval service whatsoever, against the
government and lawful authority of the United
States, then and in every such case the person
to whom such labor or service is claimed to be
due shall forfeit his claim to such labor, any law
of the State or of the United States TO the con-
lrary Notwithstanding. And whenever thereafter
the person claiming such labor or service shall
seek to enforce his claim, it shall be full and
sufficient answer TO such claim that the person
whose service or labor is claimed had been en-
ployed in hostile service against the Government
of the United States, contrary 10 the provisions
of this act,
Approved, August 6, 1861.