The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-05
CONFisCATIoN ACT.
fPunLro-Eo. 1901

Be u enacted by The Senate and House of
REPRESENTATIVES of the United States Of ABle,--
tea in Congress assembled, That every person
who shall hereafter commit the crime of
treason against the United States, and
shall be adjudged guilty thereof, shall
suffer death, and all his slaves, if any,
shall be declared and made free; or at
the discretion of the court, he shall be
imprisoned for not less than five years,
and fined not less than ten thousand dol
lars; said fine shall be levied aud collect
ed on any or all of the property, real and
personal, excluding slaves, of which the
said person so convicted was the owner
at the time of committing the said crime,
any sale or conveyance to the contrary,
Notwithstanding.
Sec. 2. Ind be 10 further enacted, That
If any person shall hereafter incite, set
on foot, assist, or engage in any rebellion
or instruction against the authority of
the United States, or the laws thereof, or
shall give aid or comfort thereto, or shall
engage In, or give aid and comfort TO, any
such existing rebellion or instruction,
and be convicted thereof, such person
shall be punished by Imprisonment for
period Lot exceeding ten years, or by
fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars,
and by the Liberation Of all his slaves il
any he have; or by both of said punish
ments, at the discretion Of the court.
Sec 3. AHd be IL further enacted, That
every person guilty of either of the often
ces described in this act shall be forever
incapable and disqualified to hold any
office under the United States.
Sec 4. And be IL further enacted, That
this act shall not be construed in any
way TO affect or altar the prosecution,
conviction, or punishment of any person
or persons guilty of treason against the
United States before the passage of this
act, unless such person is convicted I'M
der this act.
Sec 3. And be IL further enacted, That
70 ensure the speedy termination of the
present rebellion, it shall be the duty of
the President of the United States to
cause the seizure of all the estate and
property, money, stocks, credits, and eff
fects of the persons hereinafter named
in this section, and TO apply and use the
same and the proceeds thereof for the
support Of the army of the United States;
that is to say:
First. OF any person hereafter acting
as an officer Of the army or navy of the
rebels in array against the Government
of the United States.
Secondly OF any person hereafter act
ing as President, Yice-President, menu
Der of Congress, judge of any court, cab
met officer, foreign minister, commits
sioner or consul of the so-called Confed-
crate States of America.
Thirdly. OF any person acting as
Governor of a State, member of a Con-
vention or Legislature, or Judge of any
court Of any of the so-called Confederate
States Of America.
FOurihly. or any person who, having
held an Office of honor, trust orpl, fit in
Che United States, shall hereafter hold an
Office in the so-called Confederate States
of America.
Filthy. OF any person hereafter hold
ing an office or agency under the so-call-
cd Confederate States of America, or UNI
der any of the several States Of the said
Confederacy, or the laws thereof whe-
Their such Office or agency be national,
state, or municipal in its name or char
acter Provided, That the persons thirdly,
fourthly and Gfthly above described
shall have accepted their appointment or
election since the date of the pretended
ordinance of secession of the State, or
shall have taken an oath of allegiance TO-,
or TO support the Constitution Of the So
called Confederate States.
Sixthly. OF any person who, owning
50, "a. II,
of the United States, or in the District of
Columbia, shall hereafter assist and give
aid and comfort TO such rebellion; and all
sales, transfers, or conveyances Of any
suchIproperty shall be null and void; and
il shall be a sufficient bar TO any suit
brought by such person for the possessions
or use Of such property, or any of it, TO
allege and prove that he is one of the per-
sons described in this section.
Sec 6. Ind be Il further enacted, That if
any person within any State or Terrific
nv Of the United States other than those
named as aforesaid, after the passage of
this act, being engaged in armed rebel
lion against the Government of the Unit
ed States, or aiding or abetting such re-
bellion, shall moi, within sixty days after
public warning and proclamation duly
given and made by the President Of the
United States, cease to aid, countenance,
and abet such rebellion, and return TO his
allegiance TO the United States, all the
estate and property, moneys, stocks and
credits of such person shall be liable 10
seizure as aforesaid, aud il shall be the
duty of the President 10 seize and use
them as aforesaid, or the proceeds there
of And all sales, transfers or convey
auces Of any such property after the ex-
piration of the said sixty days from the
date of such warning and proclamation,
sball be null aud void; and it shall be a
sufficient bar 10 any suit brought by such
person for the possession or the use Of
such property, or any Of it, to allege and