Smyrna times., 1862-02-06
Emancipation in Delaware

Considerable interest was manifested in Pc
fiicsl cirelss Friday last on tae announcement
that a bill was prepared. and would be intro
daced ia The Legislature this week. providing
Ter the abolition OF slavery ia this State. The
bill provides that every Slave who is thirty. Eve
years sad upwards, shall be free within ninety
days after its passage; and all slaves under
thrIy- I've shall become free as they reach that
age; ard that from and after the first day Of
Jsnusry, 1872, there shall not be slavery or
iavslsDnry servituds, except as q punish hns Mt
fer crime. Males bern Of slave msther after
the passage Of the act, shall be held as Indicated
servants uniil the age Of 2l, and females uati
thsy are Is. The above provisions are based
sPOa ihe condition that Congress will, at it's
PtsseSt Session. engage to pay to the State OF
Delaware IN bonds Of the United States, bearing
ialsSfBt at the rate Of six per centum per an
qua. the sum Of $500, ,0GO. in ten asnsal install.
meats. S9O.OOO ts be payable en- some day be.
fsrs the fret day cfSspIember, 1862, le estab.
iish fans for securing full and fair cenpeaEa
tOa 10 the owners Of slaves who shall have
bssa diVested Of their property by force of the
act inauesIisn. The blIl provides for the ap.
PsIalmsnt Of an assessor in each county, whe
shall esiimsts the value Of the slaves, and fix
Iss R &c which shall be paid for them The
salary Of iAe State Treasurer shall be raised
when the act goes into operation from $500 to
$1,000. 90 account st his increased responsible
ties. and duties IN making payment to tie own
ere for their slaves
Ths subject has, since i;s announcement,
bsss paramOunt TO oil others of "a Legislative
character. md 1t is unnecessary for Us to say
meets wih much oPpositloa in this commuaity
with msny as an impolHic measure in the
present excited state Of the cOuntry. Wehear,
hsWeVsr, that many Of the prominent slave
sSners 10 the lower part Of the State are
strongly 10 faver Of The measure, considering
AB species Of property extra hazardous and
It Ihs bull should became a law, it would be
making certainty for an uncertainty, besides
paying them for that they can well get along
wIIhsat. There are about 100 slaves in
this State In the hands of 500 wGers or only
oae siave-hOlder in twenty of the voting
PePulsUun. At the proposed indemnity to be
paid By Congress. each slave will comma nd the
sEgrsEsts sum Of $500 per head. At this rate
SiPsy u 10 not 10 be wondered at that the slave
solssrs should 90 in for this measure in a cor
TssPsnd'ng ratio 10 the number they hold. II
10 act likely, however. that such project can
BE carried through thus Session. The people
s'em 10 want mare time Tor reflection and to
nsIurs their jndgemsnt.
Ths DelaDaredn ia considering the bill
grows indignant and uses the fsllewing Ian.
gUsge:
We have not time nor space to notice in de-
tail the provisions Of h abolition movement
u 10 a bill of iniquitss. proposing 10 free ali
the slaves Of thIe Stale, without the coDsent Of
their owners. On or before the frat day of Jan
a. ID. 1871, upon Condition that Congress. al
ns present session, shall psssa law paving 10
the State Of Delaware, in Government bonds.
the spr Of $9OO.OO0-iu instalmsnts.
Froz E5dIeaiiOns, Of which we shall speak in
proper terms hereafter, we have no doubt that
'his abelition banIling was hatched IN the brain
81 GTseley. Sumner, Hale aAd company at
WasAisgtsa Certain il Is that certain gen.
hsmen. who ought TO be in Washington attend.
Ing TO duties for which they are pa d out Of
Dheis Sans Golfers, are here engineering this
"o'enent. RumOr is telling some strange
tsiss heans the NEST masterpieces nave been
resoried to. IL 10 said, 10 secure vetes for this
msssere- TsCse means will receive sha De and
sa.ll AsreatIer be exposed. There 10 nothing
his 81, what shall be made manifest"