Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-05-01
THE BILL OF FREEDOM
EMANCIPATION IN THE DISTRICT.


EMANCIPATION IN THE DISTRICT.
AN AC IT for the releasing Of certain pers ons held
to service or aborin the District Of Columbia.
BE Il enared Jythe Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
america an Congress assembled, That all
persons held to service or labor within the
District Of Columbia by reason of African
decent are hereby discharged and freed of
and from all claim to such service or labor;
and from and after the passage of this act
neither slavery nor involuntary servitude,
except for crime, whereof the party shall
be duly convicted, shall hereafter exist in
said District.
SEC 2. And be 1t fuiiher enacted. That
all persons loyal to the United States,
holding claims to service or labor against
persons discharged therefrom by this act.
may. within ninety days from the passge
thereof. and not thereafter, present to the
Commissioners hereinafter mentioned.
their respective statements or petitions in
writing verified by oath or Affirmation,
setting forth the names, ages. and person
al description of such persons. the manner
in which said petitioners acquired such
claim. and any facts touching the value
thereof. and declaring his allegiance to the
Government of the United States. and that
he has not borne arms against the United
States during the present re bellion, nor in
any way given aid or comfort thereto:
proyided. that the oath of the party to the
petition shall not be evidence Of the facts
herein stated.
SEC. 8. 1nd be Il further enacted, That
the President of the United States. with
the advice and consent of the Senate, shall
appoint three Commissioners, residents oi
the District of Columbia. any two Of whom
shall have power to act, who shall receive
the petitions above mentioned. and who
shall investigate and determine the validi-
ty and value Of the claims therein present
ed. as aforesaid. and appraise and appor-
ton, under the proviso hereto annexed.
the value in money Of the several claims
by them found to be valid: provided, ho,O-
ever, That the entire sum so appraised and
lapportioned shall not exceed in the aggre-
gate an amount equal to $500 for each
person shown to have been held by lawful
claim; dnd procided further, That no
claim shall be allowed for any slave
brought into said District after the passage
of this act, nor for any slave claimed by
any person who has borne arms against
the Government of the United States in
the present rebellion, or in any way given
aid and comfort thereto, or which origin.
ates in or by virtue of any transfer hereto
fore made, or which shall hereafter be
made by any person who has in any man
ner aided or sustained the rebellion against
the Government of the United States.
SEC. 4. And Be Il further enacted, That
said Commissioners shall. within nine
months from the passage Of this act. make
full and final report of. their proceedings,
findings and appraisement. and shall de-
liver the same to the Secretary Of the
Treasury. which report shall be deemed
and taken to be conclusive in all respects,
except as hereinafter provided. and the
Secretary Of the Treasury shall. with like
exceptions, canse the amounts so appor-
toned 10 said claims to be paid from the
Treasury Of the United States to the par
/ ties found b. said report entitled thereto
as aforesaid, and the same shall be received
in full and, complete compensation: pro-
vided, That in case where petitions may be
filed presenting conflicting claims or set
ting up liens. said Commissioners shall
so specify in said report. and payment shall
not be made according to the award Of
said com m issioners unfil n reriod of sixtv