Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-05-02
The Treason Bill.

The following is a copy of the Treason bill
passed at the last session of the Legislature.
1t will be seen that its provisions are well di,
gested and that it ought to be carried out to
the very letter Let traitors read it and pause
over its provisions, viz:
SECTION l. Be 1t encctsd, &c, That if any
person or persons belonging to or residing
in this State, aud under the protection of its
laws shall take commission or commissions
from any person, State or States, or other the
enemies Of this State or of the United States
of America, or who shall levy against this
State or government thereof, or knowingly or
willingly shall aid or assist any enemies in op-
en- war against this State or the United States,
by joining their armies, or by enlisting or pro-
curing or persuading Others 10 enlist for that
purpose, or by furnishing such enemies with
arms or ammunition or any other articles for
their aid and comfort or by carrying on
traitCronS correspondence with them, or shall
form, or be in auywise concerned in forming
any combination or plot or conspiracy for be-
traying this State or the United States of
America into the hands or power Of any for
eigu ehemy, or any organized or pretended
government engaged in resisting the laws of
the United States or shall give or send any in
teligence to the enemies of this State or Of
the United States Of America or shall with
the intent TO oppose, prevent or subvert the
government Of this State, or of the United
States, endeavor to persuade any persons
from entering the service Of the State or Of
the United States, or from joining any volunteer,
company or association of the State about be-
ing mustered into service, or shall use any
fS ,ffa hrit bcl
out any hope Of reward with like intent to
induce any person o. persons to abandon said
service, or withdraw from any volunteer COM
pauy or association already organized under
the laws of the Comm onwealth for that pur
pose every person so offending, and being e-
galy convicted thereof, shall be guilty Of q
high misdemeanor, and shall be sentenced TO
undergo solitary Imprisonment in the peniten-
tiary at hard labor for term not exceeding
ten years, and Je fined in a sum not exceeding
Eve thousand dollars or both at the discretion
of the conrt Pr0ridsd, That this Act shall
not prohibit any citizen from taking or receiv-
ing civil commissions for the acknowledgment
Of deeds and other instruments Of writing.
SIC ,. That if any person or persons with
in this Commonwealth shall SELL build. furnish
construct alter, or fit out, or shall aid or as
sist IN selling, building, constructing altering
or fitting out any vessel or vessels for the pur-
pose of making wa7 or prVateering or other
purpose, to be used in the service of any per-
son or parties whatever, to make war on the
United States Of America, or TO resist, by
force or otherwise, the execution Of the laws Of
the United States, such person or persons shall
be guilty of msdemeanor, and on conviction
thereof, shall be sentenced to undergo solitary
Imprisonment in the Peu.tenijary at hard labor
not exceeding ten years, and be fned in c sum
not exceeding ten thousand dollars, or both.
at the discretion Of the court.
SEC 8 That every person holding a com
mission as an officer in the volunteer or militia
forces of this Commonwealth, shall, with
in thirty days after the passage of this
Act, be required 10 take the oath Of allegiance
TO this State aud to the United States, aud if
any person holding such commission shall re-
fuse 10 take such oath, the Governor Shall
have the authority 10 revoke and anuul the
commission Of such person, and supply bis
place BY appointment, until the vacancy thus
crea;cd shall be supplied As provided for va
cancieS in other cases by existing laws of this
Commonwealth The said oath of allegiance
shall be administered BIZ the Adjutant Geue-
raj or any Judge of the Cour! of Common
Pleas and may be transmitted 10 the several
brigade inspectors OF this Commonwealth, who
shall in turn administer the same to the off
GERS embraced within the bounds of their re
spective brigade
SEC. 4 No civil process shall issue or be
enforced against any person mustered into the
service Of this State or Of the United States
during the term for which he shall be engaged
in such service, nor until thirty days after he
shall be discharged lherefrom. Prorided.
That the operations of all statutes of linita-
tioDs shall be suspended upon all claims ag ainst
such person during such term.