The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-09-02
CoNF1scAT1oN ACT


5oQ IN CONGRESS assembled, That every person
who shall hereafter commit the crime Of
treason against the United States, and
shall be adjudged guilty thereof, shall
suffer death, and all his slaves if any,
shall be declared and made free; or al
the discretion Of the court, he shall be
imprisoned for not less than five years.
and fined not less than ten thousand dol
lars; said fine shall be levied and collect
ed on any OF all Of the property, real and
personal, excluding slaves, of which the
said person so convicted was the owner
at the time Of committing the said crime,
any sale or conveyance TO the contrary,
Notwithstanding.
Sec. 2. And Be u further enacted, That
il any person shall hereafter incito, set
on foot, assist, or engage in any rebellion
or insurrection against the authority of
the United States, OF the laws thereof or
shall give aid or comfort thereto, or shall
engage in, or give aid and comfort TO, any
such existing rebellion or instruction,
and be convicted thereof such person
shall be punished by imprisonment for a
period not exceeding ten years, or by
fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars,
and by the Liberation of all his slaves if
any he have; or by both of said punish
ments, at the discretion Of the court.
Sec. 3. Ind be 10 further enacted That
every person guilty of either of the often
ces described in this act shall be forever
incapable and disqualified TO hold any
office under the United States.
Sec. 4. And DO u further enacted, That
this act shall not be construed 10 any
way 10 affect or altar The prosecution,
conviction, or punishment Of any person
or persons guilty Of treason against the
United States before the passage Of this
act, unless such person is convicted I'M
der this act
Sec 8. ARd be 10 figtler enacted, That,
TO ensure the speedy termination Of the
present rebellion, il 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 ef-
fects of the persons hereinafter 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
asian officer of the army or navy Of the
rebels in array against the Government
Of the United States.
Secondly. OF any person hereafter act
ing as President, Vice President mem
Der of Congress, judge of any court cab
met officer, foreign minister, commits
sioner or consul Of the so-called Confe6-
crate States Of America.
Thirdly. OF any person acting as
Governor of State, member of a Con-
vention or Legislature, or judge of any
court Of any of the sO-called Confederate
States of America.
FOurihly. OF any person who, having
held an office of honor, trust or profit in
the United States, shall hereafter hold an
Office in the So called Confederate States
of America.
Filthy. OF any person hereafter hold
ing an office or agency under the social
ed Confederate States Of America, or un-
der any of the several States of the said
Confederacy, or the laws thereof whe-
Their such office or agency be national,
state. or municipal in it's name or char
acler Provided, That the persons thirdly,
fourthlY and 6fthlY above described
shall have accepted their appointment or
election since the date Of the pretended
ordinance Of secession Of tho State. or
shall have taken an oath Of allegiance 10.
or TO support the Constitution of, the so-
called Confederate States.
sixthly. OF any person who, owning
property In any loyal State or Territory
Of the United States, or in the District Of
Columbia, shall hereafter assist and give
aid and comfort to such rebellion; and all
sales, transfers, or conyeyances of any
such property shall be null and void; and
il shall be a sufficient bar TO any suit
brought by such person for the possession
or use Of such property, or any OF il, to
allege and prove that he is one Of the per-
sons described in this section.
Sec. 6. Ind be Il further enacted, Thatif
any person within any State or Terrific
ry Of the United States other than those
named as aforesaid, after the passage Of
this act, being engaged in armed rebel
lion against the Government of the Unit
ed States, or aiding or abetting such re-
bellion, shall not, within sixty days after
public warning and proclamation duly
given and made by the President 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 property, moneys, stocks and
credits of such person shall be liable 10
seizure as aforesaid, aud it shall be the
duty of the President TO seize and use
them as aforesaid, or the proceeds there
Of. And all sales, transfers or convey
ances Of any such property after the ox-
pirauon of the said sixty days from the |
date of such warning and proclamation, |
shall be null and void; and il shall be a |
sufficient bar 10 any suit brought by such |
person for the possession or the use Of |
such property, or any Of il, to allege and |
prove that he is one of the persons de- |
scribed in this section.
SEC. z. and be 10 further enacted, That |
10 secure the condemnation aud sale of |
any such property after the same shall |
have been seized, so that il may be made |
available for the purposes aforesaid, pro- |
ceedings in rem shall be instituted in .
the name Of the United States in any
district court thereof or in any Terrific |
rial court or in the United States dis /
trict court for the Districtof Columbia, |
within which the property above desert |
bed, or any part thereof, may be found, /
or into which the same, IL movable may |
first be brought, which proceedings shall /
conform as nearly as may be to proceed |
ings IN admiralty or revenue cases, and /
said property, whether real or personal,
shall be found 10 have belonged TO a per-
son engaged in rebellion, on who has give
en- AID or comfort thereto, the same shall
be condemned as enemies property, and
become the property Of the United States,
and may be disposed Of as the court shall