The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-25
Confiscation and Emancipa-
ton Bill. ::

A Bill to suppress instruction, to punish trea..
son and rebellion, to seize and coafscateS
the property Of rebels, and for other pur.,
poses. u :.s
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives of the United States of Anei.i
Sca On Congress assembled, That every per-,
son who shall hereafter commit the crime of
treason against the United States and shall
be adjudged guilty thereof, shall suffer
death and all bis slaves, If any, shall be de.
clared and made free; or he shall be impri-
soned for not less than FIVE years and fined
not less than $4,000 and al his slaves, if
any, shall be declared and made free; said
fine shall be levied and collected on any or
all of the property, real and personal, ex-
GLIDING slaves, of which the said person so
convicted was the owner at the time of
committing the said crime, any sale or COB.
veyance to the contrary Notwithstanding.
Sec. 2. And be 1t further enacted, That
if any person shall hereafter incite, set on
foot, assist or engage in any rebellion or in~
surrection against the authority of the
United States, or the laws thereof, or shall
give aid or comfort thereto, Or shall engage
in, or give aid and comfort to, any such ex.
listing rebellion or instruction, and be con.
victed thereof, such person shall be punish
ed Tor period not exceeding ten years, by
a fine not exceeding $4,000, and by the lib
GRAFTON of all bis slaves, if any he have.
Sec. 3. Ind be 1t further enacted, That
every person guilty of either of the offences
described in this act shall be forever inca
ifsol 70 ho1l
under the United States.
Sec. 4. Aaad be 1t further enacted, That
this act shall not be construed in any way
to effect or alter the prosecution, conviction
or punishment OF any person or persons
guilty of treason against the United States
before the passage Of this act, unless sach
person is convicted under this act.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That
to insure the speedy termination of the press
ent 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 officer of the army or
navy of the Rebels 10 arms against the Gov.
eminent of the United States secondly, of
any person hereafter acting as President,
Vice. President, Member of Congress, Judge
of any Cont, Cabinet Officer, Foreign Min
lister, Commissioner, or Consul of the so.
called Confederate States of America
thirdly, of any person acting as Governor of
State, member of Convention or Legis-
lature, or Judge of any Court of any of the
so~called Confederate States of America
fourthly, of any person who, ha wing 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 holding any
office or agency under the Government of
the so-called Confederate States of America,
or under any of the several States of the
said Confederacy, or the laws thereof,
whether such Office or agency be national,
State or municipal in its name or charac.
ter: Provided, That the persons thirdly,
fourthly, and filthy above described shall
have accepted their appointment or election
since the date of the pretended ordinance of
Secession of the State, or shall have taken
an oath of allegiance to, or to support the
Constitution of the so-caIled Confederate
States sixthly, of any person who, owning
property in any loyal State or Territory Of
the United States, or in the District of Col.
umbia, shall hereafter assist and give aid
and comfort to such rebellion, and all sales,
transfers, or conveyances of any such prop
erty 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. 6. And be 1t 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 eogaged in armed rebellion against the
Government of the United States, or aiding
or abettiDg such rebellion, shall not, within
sixty days after public warning and procla-
nation duly given and made by the Presi.
dent of the United States, cease to aid,
countepaDce 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 to
seizure as aforesaid, and it shall be the du-
ty 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 be is one of the per-
sOps described in this section.
Sec. 7. Aaad be 1t further enacted, That to
secure the condemnation and sale OF any
such property after the same shall have
been seized, so that it may be made avail
able 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 Territorial Court, or in the United
States District Court for the District of
Columbia, within which the property de.
scribed or any part thereof may be found,
or into which the same if movable may first
be brought, which proceedings shall con.
form as nearly as may be to proceedings in
admiralty or revenue cases, and if said pro-
L