Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-09-18
The connscat,on Act.


BE it enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-
seutatiyes Of the United States of America IN Con-
gress a2sembed, That il, during the present or any
future lIsuTlectl0n against the government OF the
United States after tlie president OF the Unhed
States shall have declared, ly proclamation, tAst
the laws Vi the United States are opposed, and the
execution thereof ODstucted, by combinations too
powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course Of
Judicial proceeding. or by the power vested ia the
inarslals by law, any person OF persons his ler or
tier agent, attorney, or employee, shall purchase
or acquire. sell or give, ans property OF whatsoever
kind or description, with intent 10 use or employ the
same OF suffer tie same TO be used employ ed. III
aiGlGg abettiug or promoting such iusuu ectUn or
resistance 10 the iaNs, or amy person Or persons en-
gagged thefeiHi OF II any person or persons, beng
the owner or owners OF any such property, shan
knowingly use or employ or consent 10 the use or
employment Of the same AZ aforesaid, all such prop
eTty hereby declared to be lawful subject OF prize
and capture wherever found; and it shall be the
duty OF the president Of the United States to
cause the same to be seized, coniscated, and CON
demned.
Sec 2. And be it further enacted. That such
prizes and capture shall he condemned in the district
circuit court Of the United States having juTsGic
tion Of the amount or in admiralty in any district
in which tile same may be seized, or into which they
may be taken and proceedings first instituted
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the At
torney General, or any district attorney OF the
United States in which said property may AT the
time be- may institute the proceedings OF condemna-
tion and i'll such case they shall be wholly for the
benefit OF the United States; or any person may file
an information with such attorney, III which case
the proceedings shall be for the use OF such l1ormer
and the United States in equal parts.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That whenever
hereafter, during the present instruction 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 permitted by the
person TO whom such labor 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 dock, 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 per-
son TO whom such labor service Is claimed to be
due shall forfeit bis claig TO such labor any law OF
the state or of the United States to the contrary not
withstanding And whenever thereafter the person
claiming such labor service shall seek to enforce
his cain it shall be full and sufficient answer to
such claim that the person whose service or labor
is claimed had been employed in hostile service
against the government of the United States, con
trary to the provisions of this act
Approved, August 6, 1861.