Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-07

I'd. TO the payment of the sum assessed the
value of the slaves of such owners as shall youn-
tarly apply to the State Treasurer for compensation
at the true value of the said slaves, as determined by
the then existing assessment.
3D. To the payment, as compensation for such as
may remain slaves until the first day of January
eighteen hundred and seventy-two and be then en-
titled to freedom by force of the limitation contained
in this act in that behalf at the true value ascer
tanned by then the existing assessment.
Sec. il. And Be IL further endctcd, That when
any person shall desire free any slave, for compen
sation, as herein before provided before the time
when such slave would otherwise become free by the
provisions of this act such person shall tender to the
State Treasurer a deed of freedom duly executed
under his hand and seal, attested by at least one
competent witness and properly acknowledged,
as provided by law in regard to other deeds,
whereupon the State Treasurer, if he have
money in his hands applicable TO such payment,
shall pay to such person the sum at which such slave
stands assessed at the time Of the execution of the
deed of freedom, but il he shall not then have any
money applicable, lie shall note on his list the fact
and date of the tender of the deed and such person
shall be entitled, until the next assessment and so
long as he shall in the mean time remain the owner
of such slave to priority payment according to the
priority of TENDER whensoeVer thereafter there may
be money in the hands Of the State Treasurer APP
peable thereto and the same shall he requested by
such owner accompanied by the delivery of the deed
TO the State Treasurer. Upon snch payment and
delivery, the deed of freedom shall become absolute
and the State Treasurer SHALL within thirty days
thereafter cause the said deed to be lodged for re-
cord in the Recorders Office Of the County in which
such master or owner resides, il resident, or if Il
nonresident then, in the County in which the slave
shall have been assessed. The fee for recording
shall be paid by the State Treasurer ont Of the fund
in his hands. A failure on the part of the State
Treasurer to lodge the deed for record shall not
affect the validity of the deed.
SEC. II And be II FURTHER cnacfcd, That in case
there be any slave or person held TO involuntary
seryitude other than for crime as aforesaid remain
ing on the first day of January eighteen hundred
and seventy two, who may not heretofore have be.
come Free either by arriving to the age of thirty
five years or by the voluntary act of the master or
owner or otherwise, than at and upon said first day
of January eighteen hundred and seventy, two the
master or owner shall be entitled TO receive from
the State Treasurer the sum at which the said slave
or person held to involuntary servtude shall stand
assessed on the assessment list then last made and
returned as aforesaid, which sum shall be deemed
and taken to be in full payment and compensation
for such slave or person held to servitude aore-
said and on and after the said first day of January
eighteen hundred and seventy-two, there shall be
neither slavery involuntary servitude in the State
of Delaware, except as punishment for crime as
aforesaid.
! SEC Is. And be Gt t9rtteT enocted That ~ case
the owner or master shall refuse or neglect to take
the sum assessed as the value of any slave who may
become free by the operation of this act, or shall be
minor nonresident, or otherwise omit or fail to re-
ceive the same for any cause whatsoever then the
State Treasurer may deposite the sum so assessed
as the value, to the credit of such owner or master
in the Farmers Bank Of the State Of Delaware, in
the County in which such slave is assessed and such
deposite shall operate as payment in the same man
ner as if such owner or master had received the
same.
SEC. a. And Je ii further enacted That if any
Assessor shall knowingly and wilfully assess, any
slave upon any other principle than the actual vau
thereof he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeano
and shall be fined in any sum not exceeding iiv
hundred dollars. The words the true value there
of in money" used in this act in relation to
ments shall be understood to mean and are hereb
declared to mean, the fair cash value of such slave
if sold in this State, to person residing therein
and such slave to be employed only in this Stat
and 10 assessment of value shall be based on an
| other principle
If any assessors shall fail to return the origina
list to the Clerk of the Peace or the copies therec
) to the State Treasurer and Auditor within ten day
as above prescribed or shall return Il false list d
shall alter any assessment after the same shall hay
! been settled, he shall be guilty of a misdemeano
1 and shall be fined not less than fifty nor more tina
two hundred dollars.
D SEC 1G. And be ID further enacted, That an
G person owning u slave or slaves or having I'll
t management thereof shall deliver to the AssessC
+ when required an account thereof stating the a.
and the term OF service, which shall be dated an