Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-05-06
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN MAY s, 1862.

Senator Collamers Bill to Punish TIeasA
We print below what we suppose to % We
bin introduced by Senator Collamer io'o @e
Senate and now before that body. we ikeN
and believe If it we're enacted into law, md
riqidly enforced as it ought to be, especially
that clause which frees the slaves OF traltoFon
conviction Of their crime, it would substantially
5;l Slavery. We should, however, like the see
oud section Of the bill better if its pfoVhons
extended tc the slaves owned at the time the
crime was committed. We presume this the
intent Of the bill, but it should not be lei in
doubt. As it now stands it seems only to Teer to j
tle slaves owned at the time OF the conVieaon.
SIC. l. If any person or persons owingalle-
Glance 10 .he United States shall, after thtpas-
saoe OF this act, levy war against them, oE'hall
adhere to their enemies, giving them ail and
comfort, and shall thereof be conVicteI, on
confession in open court, or on testimony two
witnesses to the same overt act OF u4son,
whereof he or they shall stand inolcteo such
person or persons shall be adJudSed guilty OF
treason against the United States, and shs sut'
Ter death or imprisonment not less Than five
wears. and be fined not less than ) ,0O0 which
fine spall be levied and collected on any rail- Of
the property, real or personal, oil wh4h The
.ajd nerson or persons So convicted was owner
Al the time Of committing OF the said ae!, any
sale or CONVEYANCE TO thecontrary notwliistand-
ling and every person 50 convicted shal 0e Tor
ever Incapable and disqualified from holding any
IoGce under the United States but Tie Presl.
dent may pardon or remit the whole Or any
part OF said punishment
SECTION ,. And be further eaaaa, That
the persons to whose labor or service an, person
convicted under this act has claim by the laws
Of any State, shall thereupon be ioraer Tree
and discharged theretrom
SECTION 3 And be Il further hdatd, mat
tins act shall not be construed IN any way TO
effect Or alter The prosecution, convection or
; punishment Of any person or persons guilty 81
treason against the United States, before the
passage OF this act Unless such per'gn Is con-
: yIcted under tins act.
scrloN l. And Be It FURTHER endctd, That
whenever It shall be deemed necessary to the
speedy ana successful termination oil rebellion
by the President hc is hereby authorized, ~
such Commissioners as he shall app0a! to Sc
- auestcr and seize the property, real ana personal
ot such persons as shall bear arms against the
United States, or give aid and comlgfl 70 sucl
uersons wherever situated and II within any
part III the United States the inhabitants where-
ri 1i have been proclaimed TO be IN Is STATE o. IN
: surrectiOn, to hold, occupy, rent ana contract
,or thc nIted States until the Ordinary course
Il Of adicial proceeding shall be restored ~ th'
Stats or district where the sdlne Is situated, ans
/, IA all eases until the owners d said I'lperty car
> be proceeded against ~ legal prosecution ou
. nopers0ns holden To service, or LABOR common.
called slaves. shall be taken under tals section
:. And an such personal property as sail DC ;
:. TAX, which Is perishahe Or expensive N Keep
Ing, may BE SOLD by sand Commits )ners, wh
(, shall Keep and render toll accounts Of all tn
- ayails and receipts Of said property sold i
or occupied, and pay over the ayaiisu the lrea
ury Of The United States
SECTION 5. lind Be- /" IartAt. 'e"aeiea' IN
bn whenever the President 10 pursuance oi ezis'li
laws shall By proclamation, have declared u
inhabitants OF any State or section, or pa
i- thereof, IN state0t Insurrecton against the IN
Of ted States, he is hereby authorized, at any TIN
d. thereafter, by proclamation, 10 extend to at
such persons who may have participated iherei
" and IN any such state Or part thereof as
ny shall indse proper, pardon and amnesty, WI
ace such conditions as he shall declare and procail
m. sac.ioN q. Ind be Il further enacted, That
s. any State, or part thereof in which the inha'
~ ulpts have. by the President, been declared II
- state of insurectlon, the SAID lnsurrection sh
ted have continued for a period Of sixmonths, The
tbs and in that case. the President is hereby a
-. thorlzed. II IN his opinion II shall be neeessa
'e1 TO the successful suppression OF sand lnsurr
+. ton. by proclamation, to fix and appoint u d
TO when all persons holden Ia service or labor
hat any such State. or part thereof, as he shail
clare. whose service or labor Il, by the law
nv custom Of said State due to any person or ?
I'm sons who, after the day 50 fixed by said proc
hat nation. shall levy war or participate in ins
.hjs ton against the United States or give aid TO
y same. shall be free and discharged from all st
clam to labor and service and thereupon 5
tier persons shall be forever ire and discharged lr
and said labor and service, any law or custom
,me said State to the contrary Notwithstanding.
sycTtoN :. Ind Be Il further enacted, /
40 whenever any person claiming To be entitled
ere the service Of any other person as slave 81
seek to enforce such claim, he shall IN the
instance. and as i preliminary TO the trial
eyi- such claim. show satisfactorily that he and
own person to whom said service was claimed to
and due during the period of instruction or re
49, linn WAS lnvnl to the United States