Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-04-22

AN ACT Tor the release Ot certain persOns held
Io seryice or labor il the nistrictul Columbia
He n saa,9ea IN Me S9tatc anal HOuse of R,sre
statJhres ui lie aiiti States VI Imericd m Con.
grtss aSsenbied, That all persons held to service
or labor within the District cf Columbia by
reason Of African descent ate hereby discharged
aud freed vi aud from all claim to such service
on labor and from und after the passage of this
act neither slavery nor involuntary serytude
except tor CRIME, whereof the party shall he
duly convicted, shall hereafter exist in said Dis
trict.
Sec, ., lud bt Il 6UAer cnactta. That all
persons loyal to the United States holding
claims tO service or labor against persons dis.
charged thereiIom by this act, may, within
ninety days from the passage thereof, but not
thereafter, present 10 the commissioners herein
after mentioned their respective statements or
/ petitions in whiting, verified by oath or atiirmn.-
ton, setting forth the names, ages, and personal
/ description of such persons, the manner III which
said petitioners acquired such claim, and any
facts touching the value thereof, aud declaring
/ his allegiance 10 the Government OF the United
States, nne that he has not borne arms against
! the United States during the present rebellion
nor in my way given and or comfort thereto
| Propdsd, That the oath Of the party to the peti.
tion shul not be evidence Of the facts therein
stated.
Sec D. Aad be Il Gtriher r,acisd That the
President Of the United States, with the advice
and consent Of the Senate, shall appoint three
eomnli si0uer5, residents OF the District of Co
lumba, any two OF whom shull have mower to
net, whu shall receive the petitions above men
toned, aud who shall investigate and determine
the validity and value Of the claims therein pre-
sented ns aforesaid, and appruise and apportion
under the proyis0 hereto annexed the value in
money of the several claims by them found to be
ynlid PfCGded, hopepsr That the entire cum
10 appraised and appOTtioned shnl not exceed in
the aggregate hn amount equal to three hundred
dollars Tor ench person shown to have been 30
held by lawful claim And proridsd ntFtdsr.
That no claim shall he allowed ljr any slave or
slaves brought into said District after the mas
sage of this act, nor for any slave claimed hy
any person who has borne arms against the Gov
ernment of the Uuited States IN the present re-
helon, or in any way given aid or comfort
thereto, or which originates IN OF by virtue Of
any transfer heretofore made, or which sian
hereafter lie made by any person who has in auy
manner aided or sustained the rebellion against
the Government of the United States.
Soc. T. AMI hs 4 furfler sldciya, That said
. commissioners shall, within nine months from
. the passage Of this act make Il full and final re-
port OF their proceedings, findings, and apprase-
Z ment, and shall deliver the same to the Secre-
b taTy Of the Treasury, which report shall lie
q deemed and taken 10 be conclusive in all re
e spects, except ~ hereinafter provided; and tina
! Secretary OF the Treasury shall, with like ex-
cepIi0n, cauhe the amounts So ;ippoTtioned 10
said claims to be paid from the Treasury Of the
United States 10 the parties found by said report
10 be entitled thereto az aforesaid and the same
shall lie received ia full and complete compensa.
, tion tiuriied, That in eases where petitions
may he filed presenting conflicting claims or set
Il ting up liens, said commissioners ahall 50 ape-
- city in snid report and payment shall not he
mahe according to the nward of said commits
" -oners until period Of sixty days shall have
elapsed during which time any petitioner claim
ing an interest in the particular nmOnnt NAV flt
;. hill in equity 10 the Circuit Court OF the Die
- triot uf Columbia, making all other claimants
II defendants thereto, setting forth the proceeding!
Ii in such case before said commissioners aud Their
4. action therein, and praying that the party Il
ii whom payment has been awarded may he en-
ii joined from receiving the same; and if said
court shall grant such provisional Order COPY
thereof may, motion of said complainant bq
y = serves upon the Secretary Of the Treasury, who
IA shall thereupOn cause the said amount of none,
to be paid into said court, subject to its order,
" and final decree, which payment shall be in full
y and complete compensation, AS in other cases.
~ Sec. .. And be il further sSaeied, That sait
~ commissioners shall hold their sessions in III,
y city Of Washington at such place and times /.
the President of the United States may direct
le of which they shall give duo and public notice
le They shall have power to subpoena and compe
10 the attendance OF witnesses, and to receive tes
n timony and enforce ils production, as in civi
I'd cases before courts Of Justice, without the ex
cusiOn Of any witness on account Of color ant
- they may summon before them the person.
a. a. making claim to service or labor, and examn,
10 " them under oath and they may also, for pur
i, poses of Identification and appraisement, cal
- before them the persons SO claimed. Said CON
= missiOners shall appoint clerk, who shall keel
~ files and complete record of all proceedings be.
20 fore them, who shall have power to administ
~ uaths and afirmatons in said proceedings AMI
,u y who shall issue all lawful process by them or.
le dered. The Marshal of the District Of Coum.
u ~ bia shall personally, or by deputy, attend upol
u u the sessions Of said commissioners, and shal
." execute the process issued by said clerk.
Sec. And be il ytlyther eadcted, That sal,
In commissioners shall receive in compensation 70
their services the sum of two thousand dollar
es each, to be paid upon the filing of their report
that said clerk shall receive for his services tn
Of sum of two hundred dollars per month that an
marshall shall receive such fees as are a0W Wet
es by law for similar services performed by him il
ng the Circuit Court Of the District of Columbia
that the Secretary Of the Treasury shall caus