Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-04-25
SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF 90.
VIMHVA,

The Federal Congress has passed the bill 10
abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia, and
LINCOLN, true to his abolition instincts, has
signed it. Consequently it is now a law. The
powerful influence of the few conservatives in
Congress was exerted to prevent executive &C
quiescence, but the ultra abolitonists carried
their point, and secured for their bantlng the
approval of their master. The following is a
synopsis of the bill, made by the Chicago Times /:
Section one declares that s persons in the District Of
Columbia held 10 service or labor by reason Of African
descent freed Of and from s such claim and that
slavery shall not hereafter exist in the District
Section authorizes all loyal masters to present
within ninety days statements Of the names age, value
etc, of the slaves freed by the act
section third authorizes the President to appoint three
commissioners 70 determine the value Of the claims pre-
sened and make awards but provides inst the entire
sum appraised and appOrtioned shall not exceed an
average Of $500 for each slave in the District
Section four directs the commissioners 10 report WITHIN
nine months the Secretary Of the Treasury who Is
directed pay the amounts awarded nd IN Gee
of conflicting claims it is provided for their adu9Ta
by equity proceedings in the circuit court OF 'ne
S C ions i've and six regulate the meetings OF the
commissioner their mode Of procedure, ana Pro'lueS
| that their comp nsstion shall be S2OO0 each .
Section spprOpriates one Hilhon oi aoNAIs u
pay for the negroes set free.
Section eight Furnishes with imprisonment any person
! tent Of enslaving them 81
Sections nine and ten provide that the clerk OF tne
circuit court of the District shall keep register Of per
sons freed bv the act and certhcste # freedom
to each person freed, the payment Of twenty n'e
cents therefor.
Section eleven approprates SlOJOOJ, TO oe eAPehueu
under the direction Of the President to aid IN the col
onz4on and settlement Of such free persons OF Aican
descent residing in said District including those 70
be liberated by this act may desire 10 emgste 70 he
republics Of Hayti or Ii er8 such other country be-
y0nd the limits Of the United States as the President may
determine
Section twelve repeals all laws State and Federal and
al city ordinances Of Georgetown and Washington IN
consistent with the act.
The following is LINCOLNs message to Con-
gress, approving the bill;
Fsll0E- Ci-sns Of he Senate and House Of Representa-
tires:
The act entitled AN act for the release of certain
persons held 10 service or labor in the District Of Colum-
bia" has this day been approved and signed.
have never doubted the constitutional authority Of
Congress to abolish slavery in the District and have
desired the national capital freed from the in
sttution in some satisfactory way. Hence there has
never been in my mind any question the subject,
cept Of eXp-diency, arising In view Of all the cir
cumstances there be within and about this
act which might have taken shape more sat
isfacOry my judgment, do attempt & specify
them. grstited that the true principles Of compen
satiOn nd colOnZs both recognized and practi-
csly applied in this act In the matter Of compeusa-
ton e. t. provided that ella may be presented within
ninety days the passage Of the act but not thereafter
and there saving clause for minors tsss cOUet,
insane, or absent persons presume this is omission
by oversight and recommend that it be supplied
by smendatOry supp emental act
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.