The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-15

LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES
PaSei al Tee Second sessioc e De Thirty ,orsHh
CouuaH.

lpuBrtc- 20. So
AN ACT for The release Of certain persons held 20
service or labor ia the District OF Columbia.
Be enacted bB the Senate and House OF ReBrcssaia.
tires Of he UnAed States of Amsroa IL Cosgess osseB-
bicd, That all persons held TO service labor within
the District OF Columbia by reason Of African des
cent are hereby discharged and freed of aud from all
claim 70 such service or labor and from and after
the passage Of this act neither slavery nor iuyoun
tary serytude, except for crime, whereof the party
District.
SEQ 2. And Be il further enacted That OH persons
loyal to the United Statos, holding claims 90 service
on labor against persons discharged therOfom By this
act may, within ninety days from the passage There
Of but not thereafter, present the commissioners
hereinaftor mentioned their respective statements
petitions IN writing, verified by oath ulrma ton,
soiting forth The names, ages and personal descrin
tun Of such persons, tho manner in which said pot
TONERS acquired such claim aud ANY facts touching
The value thereof aud declaring his allegiance 20 the
Government Of the United States, aud that he has
not borne arms sgaust the United States during the
present rebellion nor in my way given aid OF COM
fort therefor lTogdtj, That the oath Of the party TO
In stated.
Sec. B. Ind be further enacted. That the President
OF the United States, with the advice and consent Of
the senate shall appoint three commissioners resi-
dents Of the District Of Columbia, any two of Whtm
shall have power 10 act, who shall receive the
petitions above mentioned, and who shall investigate
aud determine the validity and value of the claims
therein presented, Jas aforesaid, and apprasc and
apportion, under The proyso hereto annexed, the
value in money Of the several claims by them found
to be valid Pu0rd-d, holgeUer That the entire sum
so appraised and apporonod shall not exceed IN the
aggregate an amount equal 20 three hundred dollars
Tor each person shown so have been held by lawful
claim iHd B0gde6, ytiyther That no claim shall be
allowed for any slave or slaves brought into said
District az err the passage Of this act nor for any
slave claimed by any person who hns borne arms
against the Government OF the United States in the
present rebellion or in any way given aid comfort
thereto, or which originates in by virtue OF any
transfer heretofore made oc which shall hereafter DO
made by any person who has in any manner aided
OF sustained the rebellion against the Government
Of the United States.
Sec. 4. aud Be IL 6uG.er enacted, That said commits
sloncrs shall within niue months from the pas-.e Of
act, m Ike full and anal report of their proceed
Jugs, hndingsi ana appraisement and shall deliver
the same 20 the Secretary Of tho Treasury which re
port shall be deemed aud taken 10 be conclusive In
all RESPECTS except as hereinafter provided
ana tho Secretary OF the Treasury shall,
with like exception, cause the amounts so
apportoned to said claims 60 be paid from
the Treasury Of tho United States to the parties
found by SAID report 60 be entitled thereto as afore
said and the shall be received In full aud COM
pete compensation! PIoridod, That In cases whore
petitions may be filed presenting conflicting claims
or setting up lieHs, said commissioners shall SO
specify in said report, and payment shall not be
made according To the award of sid commissioners
until eriOu of sixty days shall have elapsed during
which time any petitioner aimng an interest in the
particular amount may file a bill in equity IN the
circuit Court OF the District Of Columbia, akiug all
other claimants defendants thereto setting forth he
proceedings la such case before said commissioners
and their acuon therein, and praying that the party
to whom payment has been awarded may be euioined
from receiving the same and ii said court shall
grant such provisional ORDER copy thereof may on
motion OF said complainant, be served upon the Sec
rotary OF the Tro sury who shall thrreupun cause
the SAID amount OF money to be paid into said court,
subject TO It's orders and final decree VIII ch payment
shall be in full aud complete COM enssuon, in
| Uthe ser.
Sec g. and be Il further eiiacei, That said com
mi-siunsrs shall hold their sessions in the city Of
Washington, at such place ana times az the President
OF he Omitted States nay direct, orwh they shall
AIN
70 subpoena and compel the attendance of witnesses
and to receive testimony and entorceits production,
as In civil cases before courts Of Justice without the
exclusion Of any witness ON account Of color; and
they may summon before them e persons making
claim TO service or labor and examine them Huder
oath aud they may also, for purposes OF dcnuhca-
tion and appraisement cal before them the persons
| so claimed, Said Commissioners shall appoint a
clerk, who shall keep toa lpietc record Of an
administer oaths and affirmation in said proceed
ngs, aud who shall issue all lawful process by them
ordered. The Marshal of the District OF Columbia
shall personally or by deputy, attcud upon the sess-
ions OF said commissioners, ana shall execute the
process issued by said clerk.
Sec. 6. AHdbe further otIolsi That said commits.
slencrS sha receive M compensation for their sgryi-
ces the sum Of two thousand dollars each 90 De paid
upon the Ming Of their report; that said clerk shall
receive Tor his services the sum of two hundred Ju-
lars per month that said marshal shall receive such
fees as are allowed by law for similar services nor.
] formed by him la the Circuit Court Of the
/ District Of Columbia; that the Secretary of
/ the Treasury shall cause all other reasonable
] expenses of said commission 10 be- audited
and allowed, and that said Compensation
fees, ana expenses shall be paid from the treasury Of
Sec. Z, And BED brtie, esaoisd, That for he pur
pose of carrying this into effect there is heieby
appropriated out of any money ia the treasury not
| otherwise appropriated sum not exceeding one
| million Of dollars.
Sec. 8. And be further enacted That any person or
| persons who SHAH kiIuap, or In any manner trans
port or procure 10 be taken out VI said District any
person or persons discharged freed BY the proyis
Ions Of THIS act, or any free person persons with
iutent 70 rc-enslaYe sell such person or parsUs I'M
TO slavery shall ro-onsavc any Of sal d need per
| sons, the person or persons 30 Offending shall be
| deemed guilty of felony and ON conviction
/ tion In said District, hall be imprisoned in
the ponitentaiy not less than hye OF more than
! twenty years.
| Sec o. AHd be trttcr eaaciel That within twopty
days within such further time as the couitpissio y
ers herein provided for shall limit ailer the passle
/ ofhs act statement In writing or schedule shall
be hled with the clerk Of the Circuit C0urt for the
| District of Columbia, by the several owners and
claimants 10 the service Of the person. made free rr
mauunitied by this act, setting forth the names,
ages, SEX ant particular deception OF such persons
sevcrally Che said clerk shall receive and re-
cord, ia book by him 90 DO provided and Kent for
that purpose, the said statements or schedules
cciying any cents each therefor, and claim shall
be allowed Go any claimant or owner who shall neg.
| lect this requirement
Sec. no. And be Further enacted That the said Gle
and Dos Successors In Office shall, from time 90 time,
on demand, and ON receiving twenty hve cents there
for, prepare, en-, and deliver to each person made
| free or mauumttel by this act a certificate under
the seal Of said court, sct the name, age aud
description OF such person, ana stating that such
| person was duly manumitted and set iroe by this
| act
sec, n. and be tUt,sr enacted That tho sum of
one hundred thuusau dollars out ofany money ina the
treasury not otherwise appropriated FL hereby apIru.
priatcd, 90 DO expended aruor the direction ui tho
PreAdeut uftho Uuici States, 10 aid la the colouz
alton ana ettlement OF such persons Of African de-
see tu0W resi- ling Ia said District, including those
30 Doe liberated by this act, may desire 90 emlgrate
20 tho Republics Of layu or Liberia, or such other
country beyond the limits OF the United States as
the President may determine Pror.ded The eXUcn-
dture for This purpose shall not exceed one hundred
! dollars Tor each emigraut.
Sec. ~. lad BE- g Further enacted, That an lcts Of
Congress aud an laws of the state Of Maryland In
force, Ia said District, aud al ordinances OF the oit
les of Washington and Georgetown, inconsistent with
| the prov isious of this act ufo hereby repealed.
| Approved, April To, 1862.
NASHVILLE, TENNEsSEE,