The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-07-21

hscate the property of rebels, and for other
purposes:"
Be 1t enacted bg the Senate and House of
Representatives ofMe United States of amer
icd in Congress assembled, That every person
who shall hereafter commit the crime of trea-
son against the United States, and shall be adj
judged guilty thereof, shall suffer death, and
all his slaves, If any shall be declared and made
free; or he shall be imprisoned for not less
than five years and fined not less than $4,000,
and all his slaves. if any, shall be declared and
made Free said fine shall be levied and collect
ed on any or all of the property, real and per-
sonal, excluding slaves, of which the said per-
son so convicted was the owner at the time of
committing the said crime, any sale or convey
ance to the contrary notwithstanding.
SEC. 2. And be IL further enacted, That if
any person shall hereafter incite, set on foot,
assist or engage in any rebellion or insurrec-
ton against the authority of the United States,
or the laws thereof or shall give aid or COM
Tort to, or shall engage in, or give aid and COM
fort to any such existing rebellion or insurrec-
ton, and be convicted thereof, such person
shall be punished by Imprisonment for period
not exceeding ten years, by a fine not exceed
ing $4,000, and by liberation ofall his slaves,
l. any he have.
SEC. 3. And be IL further enacted, That
every person guilty of either of the ofienses de-
scribed in this act shall be forever incapable
and disqualified to hold any office under the
United States.
SEC. 4. And be 1t further enacted, That this
act shall not be construed in any way to affect
or alter the prosecution, conviction or punish
ment of any person orpersons guilty of treason
against the United States before the passage
OF this act unless such person is convicted un-
der this act
SEC. 5. 4nd be IL further enacted, That to
insure the speedy termination of the present
rebellion, it shall be the duty of the President
OF the United States to cause the seizure of all
the estate and property, money, stocks credits,
and effects of the persons hereafter named in
this section, and to apply and use the same,
and the proceeds thereof,for the support of the
Army Of the United States, that is to say:
First, Of any person hereafter acting as an Of
hcer OF the army or navy of the rebels in arms
against the Government of the United States:
secondly, of any person hereafter acting as
President, Vice President, Member of Con-
gress, Judge of any Court, Cabinet Officer,
Foreign Minister, Commissioner or Consul of
the so-called Confederate States of America;
thirdly, of any person acting as Governor of
State, member of a Convention or Legislature,
or Judge ofany Court of any of the so-called
Confederate States of America: fourthly, of
any person who, having held an office of hon
or, trust or profit in the United States, shall
hereafter hold an office in the so-called Con-
federate States of America; filthy, of any per-
son hereafter holding any office or agency I'M
der the Government of the so-called Confeder-
ate States of America, or under any of the sew
eral States of the said Confederacy, or the laws
thereof, whether such office or agency be ma
tional, State, or municipal in its name or char
acter: Pr0uided, That the persons thirdly,
fourthly and filthy above described shall have
accepted their appointment or election since
the date OF the pretended ordinance of seces-
sion Of the State, or shall have taken an oath
OF allegiance to, or to support the Constitution
OF the so-caled Confederate States; sixthly, of
any persons who, owning property in any 10y
al State or territory of the United States, or
in the District of Columbia, shall hereafter as
sist and give aid and comfort tosuch rebellion;
and all sales, transfers, or conveyances of any
such property shall be null and void: and il
shall be sufficient bar to any suit brought by
such person for the possession or the use of
such property, or any of it, to allege and prove
that he is one Of the persons described in this
section.
SEC. 6. And be it further enacted. That If
any person within any State or Territory of
the United States, other than those named as
aforesaid, after the passage of this act being
engaged in armed rebellion against the Gov
eminent Of the United States, or aiding or
abetting such rebellion, shall not, within sixty
days after public warning and proclamation
duly given and made by the Pretident of the
United States cease to aid, countenance and
abet such rebellion, and return TO his allegiance
to the United States, all the estate and proper
ty, moneys, stocks and credits of such person
shall be liable to seizure as aforesaid. and il
shall be the duty Of the President to seize and
use them as Aforesaid, or the proceeds thereof
AND all sales, transfers or conveyances of any
such property after the expiration of the said
sixty days from the date of such warning and
proclamation shall be null and void and it
shall be sufficient bar to any suit brought by
such person for the possession or the use of
such property, or any of it, to allege and prove
that he is one of the persons described in this
section
SEC, Z. And be IL further enacted, That
to secure the condemnation and sale Of any
such property after the same shall have been
seized, so that ii may he made available for the
purposes aforesaid, proceedings in rem shall be
instituted in the name Of the United States, in
any District Court thereof or in any Territori-
al Court, or in the United States District Court
for the District Of Columbia, within which the
property above described, or any part thereof,
may be found, or into which the same. if NOV
able, may first be brought, which proceedings
shall conform, as nearly as may be, to proceed
lngs IN admiralty or revenue cases and if said
property, whether real or personal shall be
found to have belonged to a person engaged in
rebellion, or who has given aid or comfort
thereto, the same shall be condemned as enc
mics property and become the property of
the United States, and may be disposed of as
the Court shall decree, and the proceeds there
OF paid into the Treasury of the United States,
for the purposes aforesaid.
Sec 8. And be IL further enacted, That
the several Courts aforesaid shall have power
to make such ORDERS establish such forms of
decree and sale, and direct such deeds and
conveyances TO be executed and delivered by
the marshals thereof where real estate shall be
the subject of sale as shall fifty and efficiently
effect the purposes of this act, and vest in the
purchasers of such property good and valid IL
ties there. And the said Court shall have the
power to allow such fees and charges of their
officers as shall be reasonable and proper in
the premises.
SEC. .. And be it further enacted, That all
slaves of persons who shall hereafter be en-
gagged in rebellion against the GOVERNMENT of
the United States, or who shall in any way
give aid or comfort thereto. escaping from such
persons, and taking refuge within the lines of
the army; and all slaves captured from such
persons, or deserted by them, and coming UNI
der the control of the Government of the Unit
ed States; and all slaves ofsuch persons found
or being within any place occupied by rebel
forces, and afterward occupied by the forces of
the United States, shall be deemed captives of
war, and shall be forever free of their sery-
itude, and not again held as slaves.
SEC. 10. And be IL further enacted, That
no slave, escaping into any State, Territory or
the district OF Columbia, from any other State
shall be delivered up, or in any way impeded
or hindered of his liberty, except for crime. or
some offence against the laws. unless the Der-