The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-04-25
OFFICIAL.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Passed at the Second Session Of the Thirty
SeUenth Congress.
IPuRLIc-Nn. 6n.1

TPUBLIc-No. 80.
AN ACT for the release of certain persons
held to service or labor in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House OF
Representatives. Of the United States of Amer
ica iSs Congress assembled, That all persons
held to service or labor within the District
of Columbia by reason of African descent
are hereby discharged aud 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 exit in said Dis
trict.
SEC. 2. Ind be 1t further c-n..ed, That
all persons loyal to the United States, hold
ing claim to service or labor against per-
sous discharges therefrom by this act may,
within ninety days from the passage there
of, but not thereafter, present to the COM
missioners hereinafter mentioned their re-
speetive statements or petitions in writing,
verified by oath or affirmation, setting forth
the names, ages, and personal description of
such persons, the manner in which said
petitioner acquired such claim, and any
facts touching the value thereof, and de-
claring his allegiance to the Government Of
the United States, and that he has not
borne arms against the United States dur
ing the present rebellion, 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. lind be IL further enacted, That
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 of whom
shall have power to act, who shall receive
the petitions above mentioned, and who
shall investigate and determine the validity.
and value of the claims therein presented,
as aforesaid, and appraise and apportiop,
under the proviso hereto annexed, the
value in money of the several claims by
them found to be valid: Provided, hoacever,
That the entire sum so appraised and ap-.
portioued shall not exceed in the aggregate
an amount equal to three hundred
dollars for each person shown to have
been so held by lawful claim And proUided,
further, That no claim shall be allowed for
any slave or slaves brought into said Dis
trict 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 or comfort thereunto, 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 rebel
lion against the Government of the United
States.
SEC. And be ii. further enacted, That said
commissioners shall, within nine months
from the passage of this act, make a full
and final report of their proceedings, find
ings, and appraisement, and shall deliver
the same to the Secretary of the Treasury,
which report shall be deemed and taken to
be conclusive in all respects, except ashere-
matter provided; aud :the Secretary of
the Treasury shall, with like exception
cause the amounts so apportioned to said
claims to be paid from the Treasury of the
United States to the parties found by said
report to be entitled thereto as aforesaid,
and the same shall be received in full and
complete compensation: Provided, That in
cases where petitions may be filed present.
ing conflicting claims or setting up liens,
said commissioners shall so specify in said
report, and payment shall not be made ac-
cording to the award of said commissioners
until a period of sixty days shall have
elapsed, during which time any petitioner
claiming an interest in the particular
amount may file bill in equity in the Cir
cult Court of the District of Columbia, max
ing all other claimants defendants thereto,
ssttingR forth the proceedings in such case
before said commissioners and their action
therein, and praying that the party to whom
payment has been awarded may be enjoin-
ed from receiving the same; and if said
court shall grant such provisional order,
copy thereof may, on molten of
asid complainant, be served upon the