Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-23


Az ACT for the of certain persons held 10
vice or labor in the District Of Culuinoa
BE it enacted by the senate snd house ofrepresenta
tv7s the ted of America in congress
bcd that all held to service labor within The
hereby discharged and freed of and from ali claim
labor; ana from and after the passage Of
ccpt Tor VINE eot the party snail be duly convict
cd, Shalt hereafter exist III said district;
lie it further enacted, that all persons loyal to
the United states, holding claims 10 service or labor
against persons discharged thererom by tins act may,
within ninety days the passage thereof, but not
thereafter. present to the commissioners hereinafter
mentioned their respective statements petitions in
writing verified by oath ailrmatIOn setting forth the
ages and personal description ofsuch persons,
the which SAID petitioners acquired such clam,
and any facts touching the value thereof and declaring
his allegiance to the government Of the United states,
and that lie has against the United states
during the present rebellion, nor in any way given aid
comfort thereto Provided that the oath of the party
stated ted pV''''O" ' '''' - " '''' u nv
Sc B. Andbc further enacted that the president
the United states with the advice aud consent of the
senate shall appoint three commissioners residents OF
the District 0i Columbia any two OF whom shall have
power to act VINO sha receive e pettiOs aOo men
toned, and who shall investigate and determine the val
iduy value Of claim therein presented, aforesaid,
anu apTaisc ana appoI toi uueI le an
neXed the value in money OF the several claims by them
sum so apprasc and apPortiored shall not exceed in
aggregate amount equal to three hundred dollars
for each uerson have been held by lawful
claim; And provided further That no claim shall be al
after the passage of this act for any slave claimed
DieIt ri the InIted States in the present rebeion or IN
any way given aid or comfort thereto, or which origin
atcs In by virtue of any transfer heretofore made,
which shall hereafter be made by any person who has in
auv way aided or sustained the rebellion against the
government of the United states.
4. And be further enacted, that said commission
shall. within nine months from the passage OF this
make full ana final report Of their proceedings,
findings, and apprasemen ana sha deliver the same to
secretary OF the treasury which report shall be
deemed and taken to be conclusive in all respects except
hereinafter prOvded and the secretary of the
urr shall with like exception, cause the amounts 50 ap
pOrtiuned said claims to he paid from tho treasury
the United states to the parties found by said report
be entitled thereto aforesaid and the same shall be
received in full and complete compensation Provided
conflicting cla set ing LIENS said commissioners
made according to the award of said Commissioners until
period of sixty days shall have elapsed, during which
lar amount file bill in equity in the Circuit Court
of the District of Co unbia making all other claimants
defcnda thereto, settinpaOrt the proceedings such
before said commissioners ana their action therein
and praying that the party to whom pay ment has been
if said court shall giant such provisional order copy
ther, of may motion OF said complainant, be served
upon the secretary the treasury who shall hercupUn
the same amount of money to be paid into said
court subject its orders and final Decree which pay
ment shah be in full and complete compensation as in
Sec S. And be It further enacted, that said commits
soners shall hold their sessions in the city o. Washing
ton place and time the president OF the United
may direct, of which they shall have due and
public notice They shall have power to subpoena and
compel the attendance of Witnesses and to receive es
courts of justice, without the exclusion of any witness
on account Of color; and they may summon before
them the making claim to service labor and
examine them under OATH and they may also for pur
poses of identification and apprasement call before
them the persons claimed said commissioners shall
appoint clerk who shall keep files and complete record
of all proceedings before Ihei who snail nave power to
administer oaths and airmatOns in said proceedings,
and who shall issue all lawful process by them ordered
The marshal of the District OF COLUMBIA snail personal
ly, OF by deputy attend upon the sessions Ol sad com
,ssOnCrs and shall execute the process ISSUED by said
clerk.
soncrs shall receive IN compensation for their services
the filing Of their reports that said clerk snail receive
for his services of two hundred dollars per month";
at,a1gl ull rppp
by law for similar services periormeu ny nun ~ tne VT
rut court of the District OF COlumbia' that the secre
ary of the treasury shall cause all other reasonable ex
penses Of said commission 70 DC auui.eu au ~
and that said compensation, ices ana expenses snau Oe
maid from the treasury of the United ataies
Sec I. And be 1t urtner enacted lhat Or lne purpose
of cirrYg this act into effect there IS ou
Ste d. a sum not exceeding orc million Of dollars.
Sec g. And 1t Is further enacted Ihat any person or
persons who shall kdnap or ~ any manner lIAspu OF
procure TO be taken out OF sa9 DstpC,i S ,his sct
persons discharged and freed by the provisions OF ts A
person with intent to re lnsave OF
sell such persun Or persons mo od rsons so
slave Of said freed persons the person OF ~
offending shall be deemed guilty OF felony ana On eoi
District shall be mpr in the DenitenarY moi less
than five nor more than twenty wears. ,.,, -.
Sec. 9. And be II urther enacted That within twenty
DAYS or within such further lime as the commissioners
act, statement In writing schedule shall be filed with
the clerk Of the circuit court Tor the District OF C0u
the persons maze free msnnmtted by this act setting
forth the names ages sex, and particular description OF
and record In book by him to be provided kept for
that purpose the said statements schedules on recey
Ing hty ees each therefor, and no claim shall Oe ~
lowed to claimant or owner who shall neglect such re
See TO- And he It further enacted That the said clerk
and his successors h ofce shall from time to time on
prepare sign and deliver to each person made free man
UNITED by this act certificate under the seal Of said
court setting out the name aud description Of such
person. and stating that such person duly manuat
ted and set free by this act.
see il And beltturter enacted That the sum " one