The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-09-18
The demonstration Act.


persons aiding the same in the existing with tht
/ United States
The bill rectes in the nature Of preamble, the de
parure OF the governenAnd the people OF the UniteC
States from the usages OF civised warfare and the
cessity for only protection against such wrongs in
/ measures OF retaliation.
i The following is the principal legislative clause:
Belt enacted by the congress of the Confederate States
That all and every the lands tenements and heredita
ments goods and chattes, rights and credits, within
these Confederate States and every right and interest
therein held owned possessed enjoyed by Tor any
alien enemy slice the twentyrst OF May, 1851 except
such debts due to alien enemy may have been paid
into the treasury Of any OF the Confederate States
prior to the passage OF this law be and the
hereby sequesated by the Confederate States of Amer
lea, and shall be held for the tuindemny of any true
and loyal citizen resident of these Confederate States
other person aiding said Confederate States in the
prosecution OF the present between said Confede
rate States and the United States Of America and for
which he may suffer any loss injury under the act Of
te United States which this is retaliatory,
under any other Of the United States OF any State
thereof authorisng the seizure conscaton of the
property OF citizens residents Of the Confederate
States other person aiding said Confederate States
and the shall be seized and dposedof provided
for in this act: Provided however, when the estate,
property rights to be affected BY this act
within State of this Contederacy, which has be-
come such since the twenyhrst day OF May then this
act shall operate upon and to such estate property
right and all persons claiming the same from and after
die day such State became member Of this Confederacv
ana before: Provided further that the provisions
Of this act shall not extend tothe stocks oherpubic
securities Of the Confederate government or any Of the
States of this Contederacy held owned by an alien
enemy to any debt, obligation, due from the
Confederate government any of the States to such
alien enemy And provided also that the provisions of
ts act shall not embrace the property of citizens or
residents OF either OF the States Of Delaware Maryland
Kentucky, Missouri of the District Of Columbia or
the territories of New Mexico Arizona or the Indian
territory south Of Kansas except such of said citizens
residents shall commit actual hostes against the
Confederate States or aid or abe the United States in
the existing against the Confederate States.
SEC makes it the duty Of every citizen Of the Con
federate States to give information Of the property Of
alien enemies.
Sec. 8. Attorneys, agents, former partners trustees
or persons holding controlling any description OF
property interests OF alien enemies required to
give Information and render account OF the
receiver, pain Of being adjudged guilty Of a msde-
meanOr punishable by fine not exceeding $500 and inn
pris0nment for term not less than six months and of
being sued in addition for double the value Of the
property.
See / charges The grand jures in the Confederate
courts to inquire and make presentments Of the prop
erty OF alien enemies affected BY the provisions Of the
act.
See provides for tie appointment Of recciyer,by
each Confederate Judge, for each section Of the State
for which he holds court and in occasions Of necessity
for snbdstrics said reeeiFerto give bond and make
oath to discharge Ills duties well and truly.
Sec g. The duties of the receiver to take possess
ION and control Of the property Of alien enemies ior
accomplishing the purposes OF the act he may for
and recover such property in the Of the Confede
rate States bF the form OF petition to the court for
decree of sequestratiou All orders Of seizure Reces
sary secure the subject matter of the suit from danger
or loss injury, destruction, or waste, may be made by
the court but when such necessity does not exist in the
pt tFIa fyt
the hands Of the party in possession except that bank
and corporation stocks dividends and On real es
tate shall Be delivered up; and the further condition
as to other property credits that hepary in posses
sion shall pay all interests and profits accrued since
the 2ls OF May, 1861, into the hands Of the receiver
and at annual periods thereafter on pain ID case of
failure for Judgment against principal and security for
which execution shall be Issued i'll the name Of the
ceiver.
Sec. allows any claimant party interested in the
subject matter 81 tue suit t0ntervene aud defend to the
extent OF his Interest affidavit that alien enemy
has any interest In the right which lie asserts
See aQta0rses the issue OF wrs Of punishment to
attach credits due alien enemies and the courts shall
have power To condemn the property effects debts
the answer; and to make orders for the
bringing in Of third persons claiming, disclosed by
the answer, 70 have interest III the litigation,
See g. The district attorneyO The Confederate States
Is required to prosecute all instituted under this
act bis compensation to be per cent upon the fruits
Of the litigation.
See 10. THE receiver is required at least every Six
months, and much ofener as he may be required by
-he court to render account Of all matters in his
hands under His control stating accounts and making
settlements Of all matters separately, that the
actions i'll respect to each alien euenys property NAV
De kept recorded and preserved separately.
Sec II. Notice of settlements be published for
0ur weeks The iaterloCutOry settlement may be im-
leached al the first settlement which latter shall be
conclusive, unless reversed or impeached within two
years for fraud.
Sec L. The court having jurisdiction Of tile matter
al whenever sufficient cause shown therefor direct
HE sale Of amy personal property other than slaves
under this act, such terms to ii shall
seem best and suchsalc shall pass the title Of person
L. whose property the same has been sequestered.
Sec ID. Settlements of accounts for sequestered
property to bc recorded and copies forwarded to the
treasurer Of The Confederate States. Any embezze-
mtnt 0l money auder this act shall be liable indict
nent the guilty party to be confined at hard labor for
lot less than x months nor more than five years, and
tined in double tile amount enbezzled
See H. The president is authorised, by and with the
idyce and consent Of congress- to appoint three
with salaries Of thousand five hundred
dollars per annum who shall hold the seat of govern
nent two terms each year 1t is made the duty Of these
to hear and adjudge such complaints
nav be brought before them by any aiding the
,onfederacy ii the present war; who has been put to
oss bv the United States byany State thereof The
hiding Of the commissioners in favor Of any such claim
be taken prima tacia evidence Of the correct
less Of the demand and whenever congress shall pass
lie same it shall be paid from any money in the treasury
derived from sequesration under this act The board
# commissioners is designed only to continue until the
organisation Of the court of claims provided for BY the
constitution which shall take the place of the commits
toner's.
Sec. Is. All expenses incurred under the proceedings
# this act are required be paid from the sequestra
ion fund; tile receivers be allowed compensation of
wo and half per cent. receipts, and the same
mount expenditures: Provided, That the do
lot realise more than 5000 in one year.
See l6 Provides that the attorney general shall pre-
cribe uniform rules Of proceeding under this Law not
otherwise provided for.
Sec. II. Allows appeals to be taken from any final
decisions Of the district courts under this law in ordi
ary cases.
See. Is. The word person, as used ii the Law, to
include all private corporations
See. Jig. The courts vested with jurisdiction to
ette all partnerships between citizens of the Confedcr
tie States and alien enemies to separate the interest Of
be alien enemy and to sequestrate il and sever all
oint rights whore alien enemy is concerned for the
purposes Of 5equestration.
See ~. In all eases Of administration Of any matter
r thing under this act the court having jurisdiction
nay make such orders touching the preservation of the
property or effects under the direction control of the
eceyer not inconsistent with the foregoing provisions
5 it shall deem proper.