Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-09-23

states not warranted by the acts OF congress
relating to that subject, il is thought advsa
BILE to direct the special attention OF marshals
and district attorneys OF the United States TO
the provisions of these acts. The 9th section
of the act of July 18Th provides that all goods
and chattes, wares and merchandise, coming
from or proceeding to a state or place declared
to be in insurrectlon, together with the vessel
or vehicle conveying the same, or conveying
persons TO or from such STATE or place, shall be
forfeited to the United States. THIS section
obviously applies to all property in transit or
purchased, or provided with view to transit
between loyal and disloyal states, and espe.
cay to property forming the subject of com.
mercial intercourse. Such property, wherever
found, is liable to seizure, and the only redress
OF parties who think themselves aggrleved is
by appeal to the secretary OF the treasury,
who is invested by law with full power OF nit
igation and remission.
The first section of an act approved August
9th declares that II any person or persons, his,
her, or their agent attorney, " employee,
shall purchase or acquire, sell or give, any
property of whatever kind or description with
intent 10 use or employ the same or suffer the
same to be used or employed in aiding or abet.
ting or promoting such instruction, or any
person or persons engaged therein, or if any
person or persons, being the owners of any
such property snail knowingly use or employ
or suffer the use or employment OF the same
as aforesaid, all such property is hereby de-
cared to be lawful subject OF prize aud capture
wherever found.
No doubt can he entertained that this section
was well considered, and that its operation was
intended 10 be limited to property used in
furtherance Ol the Instruction. Only seizures
vnler the act of July 18Th should be made by
81 IL
treasury department, and all district attorneys
and marshas OF the United States should afford
all practicable counsel and aid in the eXecu-
ton Of the law Seizures under the act of
August 9Th Should be made by tue marshal of
the district III which such property may be
found, under the general or particular direction
OF the district attorney Or other superior au-
thoriy. For such seizures there is 10 power
of mitigation or remission in the secretary of
the treasury, but the district attorney or other
superior authority may direct the disconlnn-
ance OF any proceeding in relation thereto, and
the restoration OF the property seized.
Ii will be seen from an inspection OF these
provisions of the acts Of congress that no
property is c0nGscated or subjected To tur.eit
ure except such as is in transit or provided
for transit to or from iusurectionary States
or issued for the promotion Of iusurrecon
Real estate, bonds, prOmsory notes, monies
on deposit, and the ike, are therefore subject
to seizure or coDfiscation, in the absence of
evid, nee OF such unlawful use, All Officers,
while vigiant in the prevention OF the convey
ance of property to and from insurrectonary
states, or the use OF it for insurrectiUnary pur-
poses, are expected to be careful in avoiding
unnecessary veXation and cost by seizures not
warranted 10y law. Signed,
WM. H. SEWARD,
Secretary of State.