Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-06-07
THE PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.

WASHINGTON, May 2G, 1862.
the contiscation bill.
The House first voted on Mr.. Roscoe
Conkling's amendment to the third and fifth
clauses of the Select Committees Coniisca-
tion Bill relating to persons whose property
/ is to be confscated-thc amendment being
us folows:-
Preceded, That such persons shall have
accepted their appointment since the date of
the pretended Ordinance of Secession, or
taken the oath Of alligancc to the so-caled
Confederate States. This amendment refers
to any person acting as Governor of a State,
member of Convention or Legislature, or
Judge, or who may hereafter hold any office
or agency under the so-callcd Confederate
States
The amendment was adopted. Yeas 100 /;
nays so.
The bill was passed by vote of 50 yeas
against 6S nays.
The bill provides that all the estate, pro-
pcrty and moneys, stocks, credit and effects
of the person or persons hereinafter named,
are declared forfeited to the Government of
the Unietd States, and declared lawful sub
ject of seizure, and of prize and capture
wherever found, for the indemnity of the
| United States, against the expenses for sup
pressing the present Rebellion-that is to
| say:
First.-Of any person hereafter acting as
an officer in the army or navy of the Rebels,
now or hereafter, in arms against the Gov
ernment of the United States.
Secondly.-Any person hereafter acting as
President, Vice President, member Of Con
gress, Judge of any Court, Cabinet officer,
Foreign Minister, Commissioner or Consul,
of the so-called Confederate States.
Thirdly.-Any person acting as Cover
nor of State, member of convention or
Legislature, or Judge of any Court of the So
called Confederate States.
! Fouythly.-Any person who, having held
an office of honor, trust or profit in the Uni
ted States, shall hereafter hold an office in
the so-callcd Confederate States.
Fifthly.-Any person hereafter holding
any office or agency under the so-called Con-
federatc States, or any of the several States
of said Conlcderacy, or laws thereof, wheth-
er such office or agency be National, State or
Municipal in its name or character.
sixth.-If any person who, having pro-
pcrty in any loyal State or territory of the
United Utatcs, or in the District of Columbia,
shall hereafter assist and give aid and COM
fort to such rebellion, and the said estate,
property and moneys, stocks, credits, and
effects of these persons, are declared lawful
subjects of capture wherever found and the
President the United States shall cause the
same to be seized, to the end that they may
be confiscated and condemned to the use OF
the United States; and all sales, transfers,
or conveyanccs shall be null and void and
it shall be sufficient bar to any suit brought
by such person for possession, and for the
use of such property, or any of it, to allege
and prove he is one of the persons described
in this section.
The second section provides that if any
person within any State or Territory of the
United States, others than those already
specified, shall not, within sixty days after
public warning and proclamation by the
President, cease to aid, countenance and abet
such Rebellion and return to their allegiance,
their property shall in like manner be for
feited for the use OF the United States all
sales, transfers or cOnyeyances of any such
property, after the expiration of the said
sixty days from the date of the warning shall
be null and void.
The third section provides that to secure
the possession, condemnation and sale OF
such property, situate and being in any
State or territory of the United States, pro
ceedings in rem, shall be instituted in the
name of the United States in any District
] Court or Territorial Court, or in the United
I States District Court for the District oi
Columbia, within which the property may
be found, or into which the same, ifmoveable
may be first brought, which proceeding shall
conform as nearly as may be to proceedings
in prize cases, or to cases of forteiturcs, aris-
ing under the revenue laws; and the pro
perty SO seized and condemned, whether
real or personal, shall be sold under the de
cree of the court having cognizance of the
case and the proceeds deposited in the Trea-
sury of the United States for their use and
benefit.
The remainder of the sections provided
the necessary machinery for carrying the act
into effect
PrOvided, That the persons, thirdly and
filthy described, shall have accepted theiI
election or appointments to Office since the
date of the pretended ordinance of Secession
of such State, or shall have taken the oath
of allegiance TO the go called Confederate
States.