Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-05-09
Ube Dtsaa
SENATOR COLLAMER's BILL FOR
THE PUNISHMENT OF REBELS.
BURLINGTOS
FRIDAY MORNING, NAY 3, 1862.

Ihe suultcL OF PROVISION lOT lhe IuhIsH-
ment Of the active traitors and rebels, and OF
those who aid OF abet their treason, is yet
all aaoat in C1ngrcss. %e know net how
many distinct bills have been introduced for
that purpose; but certainly many,and much
time has been spent in debate on the subject
in both Houses. So far as any votes already
taken show, there is a decided majority in
both Houses in favor of some positive and
strong enactment; but great disagreement
as 10 what the enactment shall ca bare epi
tome Of the provisions of the several bills
proposed would far exceed the limits OF our
columns, and moreover would be Of little IN
terest to our readers. Naturally, however,
the people Of this State must feel a spe-ial
interest in whatever is proposed by their
own Senators and Representatives and for
that reason we give below the bill introduced
by Senator Collamer a few days ago. On
The oath Of April, be spoke at length, stat
inc his objections to some Of the more prom
inent bills and amendments of red by 9th Is,
and also what be considered to be the supe-
rior merits of the bill offered by himself
The summary of lis speech which APPEARED
IL the papers a few days since, is too con-
fused and imperfect 90 give any just notion
Of what he said. We give his hill below,
and append, from a fuller report, 50 much
Of LIS speech as bears particularly On the
provisions Of his own bill
srNl.oa calIAnEEs coyfIscATi-S BILL
szcroy ]. h h7,Jg snaetss, Chat il any
person 0r persons owing all gian'e O. the Al'cd
States shall. after Tie passage Of this aci, levy
war against them, or shall adhere To tnelr enc
mics rfyi., them ali and mfor', and shall
thereof be convicted, confession il open court,
OF on testimony Of two witnesses, to the sane
overt act Of treason, whereof be or they shall
stand indicted, such person OF persons Shall be at-
udged guilty OF treason against the United states,
and shall suffer death or imprisonment not les
than FIVE years and be fined not less that Slu, val
which fine shall be levied and collected on any cr
all Of the property, real and personal, OF which
the said person or persons so convicted was owner
at the time Of the convicting Of the said act any
sale OF conveyance to the contrary notwithstand-
ing; and every persCn so convicted shall be ior-
ever incapable and disc aaifed from holding any
Office under the United states; but the President
may pardon or remit the whole or any part oi
said punish meat.
SECTION .. And be if fgrtteT ,Haefsd, Tha the
persons o whose Lab. or service any person con-
victed IN Ter this act has cIim BY the laws OF any
State, shall therclpon be forever free and dis
charged there:rom.
sEcrIoS 3. Ana b. II further enacted, That
this act shall not be construed in az way to affect
or alter the prosecution, convictio or punishment
Of auy person o persons guilty treason as nst !
the United States before the pas ge Of this act
un,ess such person is convicted der this act.
SEc71oN Aud BE- II furfhr enacted, That 1
whenever it shall be deemed necessary 10 the |
spee5y and successful termination Of a rebellion /
BY the President, be is hereby authorized b such
commissioners as he shall sFpOint, TO sequester |
and seize the property, real and personal, OF such
persous a. shan bear arms against the United /
States CT give aid and comfort TO such persons /
wherever situated; and if within any part ot the /
United States the il habitants whereof have been
proclaimed to be In state nsurrecion, TO hold,
occupy rent and {. ntract for the United states /
until the ordinary course Of Judicial proceeding l
shall Je restored in the State or district where the
same IS situated and in all until the owners OF
said property be proceeded against by legal pres
ecuton bat no persons holden to service, labor,
commonly called slaves, shall be taken under this |
section. and all such persoual property as shall |
be 20 ken whicJ is perishable or expensive IN |
keeping, may be sold by said Commissioners, who
shall keep and reu er full accounts Of all the
avails and receipts Of said property so sol let or
Occupied, and pa over the avaiis to the treasury
Of the United States.
SECTION 4. And &c - fH-tieT ,Haef,d., That
whenever the President, in pursuance Of existing
laws, shall, by PROCLAMATION, have declared the
inhabitants Of any State soctIOn or part there
Of in a state Of insuTrectioI gam .a1 United
States be is hereby suthori,ed,s, aay time there
after By pr0cla nation, 70 extend 70 any such per-
sons who may b ave participated therein, and IN
any sLeh State or part thereof as he shal Judge
proper, pardon and amnesty, with such exceptions
and at such lime and with such conditions as be
shall declare aud proclaim.
SECTION G. Aad be At furfhsr enacted, That if in
any state, or part thereof in which the inhabi-
tants have, by the President, been declared in a
state Of instruction, the said insurrection shall
have continued for period of six months, then
and in that case, the President is hereby author
lied if in his opinion it shall be necessary the
successful suppression Of said insurrection, by
proclamation. to fix and appoint day when all
persons holden to service or labor in any such
State, or part thereof, he shall declare, whose
service or labor Is, by the law custom Of saii /
State due any person or persons, who, after the
day 50 fixed by said proclamation, shall levy war
or participate in insurrection against the United
States OF give aid TO the same. shall be free and
discharged from all such claim to labor or service
and thereupon said persons shall be forever PREE
and discharged from said labor and service, any
law or custom o: said State to the contrary not
withstanding.
SECTION I. AID If hTeby eaae'sd, That
whenever any person claiming to be entitled to
the service Of any other person as a slave shall
seek to enforce such claim, he shall in the first in
stance and as preliminary to the trial Of such
claim, show satisfactorily that be and the person
to whom said Services claimed to be due DUR
ing the period Of insure ;tion or Itbeilion was
loyal to the United states.
On this. Mr.. Collamer spoke as follows;
HR. ooLLAHERs RExARKs.
In the fret phase, in order to enable the Pres.
to have in bis hands an opportunity to offer some
objects and advantages and purposes to that peo-
pie, have taken tins course; in the first section
Of my bill, provide that the punishment for
treason upon conviction may be death, or, in the
discretion Of the court, it may be fne and impris-
onment. That fine is limited TO be not less than
SIC, 600, and the Imprisonment to be not less an
five years. The maximum l have left to the dis 1
eretion Of the court intended that the fine in |