Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-05-07
EMAN CIPATI0N.
~ rnE DISTRICT OF coLuMnrA.

The bill abolishing slavery in the Dis.
trict Of Columbia has been signed by the
President, and was returned to Congress
accompanied by a special message in the
/ following words:
Felloo citizens qfhc Senate
and House Of Representatives.
| The act entitled "An act for the release
Of certain persons held to service or labor
| in the District Of Columbia" has this day
been approved and signed.
! | have never doubted the constitution /
al authority of Congress to abolish slavery
in this District. aud have ever desired
to see the national capital freed from the
institution in some satisfactory way
Hence there has never been, in my mind,
any question upon the subject except the
one Of eXpediency, arising in view of all
the circumstances, If there be matters
within and about this act which might
have taken course or shape more salts
factory to my judgment, | do not at
tempt to specify them. | am gratilied
that the two principles of compensation
and colonization are both recognised and
practically applied in the act.
ln the matter Of compensation it IS
pro 'ided that claims may be presented
within ninety days from the passage Of
the act, but not thereafter" and there
is no saving for minors, femmes-covert
insane, or absent persons, | presume
this is an omission by mere oversight, and
recommend that it be supplied by an
amendatory or supplemental act
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
April lG, 1862.
The following are the first three sec.
tions of the bill, embracing its most i'm
porlant features:
AN ACT for the release Of certain per
sons held to scrv ce or labor in the Dis
triCt OF Columbia.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives OF the United States Of
America in Congress assembled, That all
persons held to service or labor within
the District Of Columbia by reason Of Af'
rican descent are hereby discharged and
freed OF and from al! Claim to such SER
vice or labor and from and after the pas
sage Of this act neither slavery nor inVOl.
untary servitude, except for crime, where
of the party shall be duly convicted, shall
hereafter exist in said District.
Sec. >. And be it further 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 passage
thereof, bat not thereafter, present TO the
commissioners herelnuftcI uioutlonedth Gil
respective statements or petition in wrl-
Ting, verified by oath or affirmation, set
ting forth the names, ages, and personal
description of such persons, the manner
in which said petitioners acquired such
claim, and any facts touching the value
thereof and declarin: his allegiance to
the Government Of the United States and
that he has not borne arms against the
United States during the present rebel I
lion, nor in any way given aid or comfort
thereto; Provided, That the oath OF the
party to the petition shall not be evidence
Of the facts therein stated
Sec 8. And be it further enacted, Tha.
the President of the United States, with
the advice and consent Of the Senate shall
appoint three commissioners, residents OF
the District of Columbia, any two ofwhom
shall have power to act, who shall receive
the petitions above mentioned, and who
shall investigate and determine the valid
ity and value Of the claims therein pre-
sented as aforesaid, and appraise and APP
portion, under the prOvso hereto annex.
ed, the value in money of the several
claims by them found to be valid Pro-
vided, however, That the entire sum so
appraised and appogtioned shall not eX'
ceed in the aggregate an amount equd! To
three hundred dollars for each person
shown to have been so held by lawful
claim. And provided, further, That no
claim shall be allowed for any slave or
slaves brought into said District after the
passage Of this act, nor for any slave claim
ed by any person who has borne arms
against the Government of the United
States in the presen. rebellion, or in any
way given aid or comfort thereto,or which
originates in or by virtue of any transfer
heretofore made, or which shall hereafter
be made by any person who has in any
manner aided or sustained the rebellion
against the Government of the United
States.
Sec. IL, appropriates 100000 "to aid
in the colonization and settlement oi
such free persons of African descen. now
residing in said District. including those
to be liberated by this act, as may desire
to emigrate to the Republics OF Hayu or
Liberia, or such other country beyond the
limits of the United States as the Presi'
dent may determine"
NER~John Brown jr. has written letter
to the Pine d, Palm stating that he and
his men have stolen SeceHtCeu hundred ne
proes from their masters since he has
been in Missouri.-Erchangc.
A noted character was once arraigned
before a certain Judge for stealing. When
the indictment was read, the accused
plead guilty, whereupon thu Judge or
dered him to be discharged, for the reason
that as "the prisoner was ncucr known 10 tell
the truth, he could not be belived now
Crawford Democrat.
Bea. Whenever you hear a man indul'
ging in TRADES against slavery, and decla
ring his willingness to see the institution
wiped out" regardless of Constitutional
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