The Lansing state Republican., 1862-05-21
[OFFICIAL.l
LAWS OF TAX UNITED STATES
Passed at the Second sesslon Of the Thirty.
Seventh Congress.
fPCHiIc-No. COL


(PrBuo-No 60.l
AN ACT for the release Of certain persons held TO service
or labor IN the District Of Columbia.
BE enacted By TIE Senate and House Of Reresestotires
Of ths Cnited Xatss Of AMersc0, Cress assemtJed
That all persons held To service or labor within
the District OF Columbia by Of African descent
hereby discharged and freed Of and from all claim
such Labor aud from and after the passage
this act neither slavery nor involuntary
for cr,me whereof the party shall be duly convicted
shall hereafter exist in said District.
Sec z. Aad Be fsth<v eacsd, That all persons 10y
al to the United states, holding claims to
bor against persons discharged therefrom by this act
may, within ninety days from the passage thereof but
not thereafter present 10 the hereinafter
mentioned their respective statements petitions
writing verified by oath affirmation setting forth the
names ages and personal description OF such persons
the manner IN which said petitioners acquired such
claim aud any facts touching the value thereof
carng his allegiance to the Government Of the United
States and that he has not borne against the Uni
ted States during the present rebellion in any way
given aid comfort thereto Pr0rsdsd That the oath
the party to the petition shall not bs evidence Of the
facts therein stated.
Sec. 3. Asd Be further esaced, That the President
Of the United Sttes with the advice and Of
the District Of Columbia, any two Of whom shau have
power to act who shall receive the petitions above men
toned, and who shall investigate and determine the
validity and value Of the Claims therein presented,
Aforesaid and apprase and appOrtion under the provsO
hereto annexed the value in money Of the several
BY them found 10 be valid: Provided A0pever That the
In the aggregate amount equal to three hundred dol
for each person shown to have been 20 held by law
full claim: And prorsded further, That claim shall be
allowed for slave slaves brought into said District
after the passage of this act any slave claimed
by person who has borne against the Govern
vi the United States in the present rebellion
any way given aid or comfort thereto, which origi
mates in or BY virtue OF any transfer heretofore made
which shall hereafter be made, by any person who
has in any manner aided or sustained the rebellion
against the Government of the United States.
Sec. T. And be Il further enacted, That said commits
siouers SHALL within nine months from the passage
this act make full and final report Of their proceed
ings, findings and apprasement, and shall deliver the
same to the secretary Of the Treasury which report
shall be deemed and taken to be conclusive in ali re
spect except as hereinafter provided and the Secrets
OF the Treasury shall with like exception the
amounts apportioBed to said claims be paid from
the Treasury O the United to the parties founo
by said report u be entitled thereto Aforesaid
the same shall be received in full and complete compen
sation Pr0rded That in where petitions may b.
filed presenting conflicting claims setting up liens
said commissioners shall SO specify in said report
ayment shall not be made according to the award
commissioners until period Of sixty days shall hav,
elapsed during which time any petitioner claiming q
interest in the particular may file bill in equity
in the Circuit Court OF the District Of Columbia maknl
all other claimants defendants thereto setting forth tn
proceedings in such before said commissioners
their action therein and praying that the party whom
ayment has been awarded may be snjoined from re
ceiving the same and said court shall grant such pro
complainant served upon the secretary Of the Treas
who shall thereupon cause the said amount Of
be paid into said court subject to its orders ma
decree which pay men, shall be in full and complet
| compensation as in other cases.
Sec. s. Awd be Il further sa0cted, That said commits
sioners shall hold their sessions the city Of WashinS
ton at such place and times the President of the
ted States may direct OF which they shall give due
/ public notice They shall have power to subpoena an
compel the attendance Of witnesses receive
mOny and enforce its production, civil cases befor
courts Of justice without the exclusion Of any wnes
account Of color; anu they may before ther
the persons making claim To labor, and exam
ma for
the persons 80 Claimed. Said commissioners sha
| appoint clerk, who shall keep files and CON
pets record OF all proceedings before them, VII
shall have power TO administer oaths and afrmatons
said proceedings and who shall issue all lawful proces
by them ordered The Marshal Of the District Of Couu
ba shall personally, or by deputy attend upon the
sions Of said commissioners, and shall the pr,
cess issued by said clerk.
| Sec g. And Be further enacted That said coumu
soners shall receive in compensation for their service
the Of two thousand dollars each 70 Be paid upo
the fling Of their report that said clerk shall receiy
for his services the sum Of two hundred dollars ps
that said marshal shall receive such fees =
allowed by law for similar services performed by him
the Circuit Court Of the District Of Columbia that q
secretary OF the Treasury shall ali other reaso
able expenses Of said commission to be audited and
owed and that said compensation, fees, and sxpens
sha be paid from the Treasury Of the United States
Sec :. And be further enacted That for the purpot
Of carrying this act into effect there hereby appropr
atsd out Of any money in the Treasury not otherwi
appropriated not exceeding million Of dollar
Sec. s. And be Il further enacted, That any person
persons who shall kiinap, or in any manner transpo
procure 20 be taken out of said District any pcrs
| or persons discharged and freed by the provisions
this act, any free person persons with intent
cnslave or sell such person pcrsons into slavery,
shall ensave OF said freed persons the person
persons So offending shail be deemed guilty Of fslon
and on conviction thereof in any court of compete
jurisdiction in said District shall be imprisoned in
penitentAry not less than Eve more than TWEEN
, years.
Sec .. And be Il further enacted That within TWEEN
days. within such further time the commissoue
herein provided for shall limit after the passage OF
| act, statement IN writing or schedule shall be al
with the clerk OF the Circuit Court for the District
Columbia, by the several claimants 20 the D
Of the persons made free manumsted by this
setting forth the names, ages sex and particular
scrpton Of such persons, severay and the said Gle
shall receive and record in book BY him to be prov
ed and kept for that purpose, the said statements
schedules on receiving fty ceats each therefor and
+ claim shall be allowed TO any claimant or owner "
. | shall neglect this requirement
Sec. 10. And Be further eced That the said e,s
and his successors in Office shall, from time to time
demand, and on receiving twenty i've cents theref
prepare sign and deliver 70 each person made free
mAnumitfed by this act. certificate under the seal
said court setting out the name and description
such person and stating that such person was duly m,
| united and set free by this act
Sec. IL And b Il fsrtAer enactsd, That the sum
one hundred thousand dollars, out Of any money
treasury not otherwise appropriated IL hereby app
priate to be expended under the direction OF The Pr
ident Of the United States aid in the
settlement Of such free persons Of African descent
residing IN said District including those to be Hern,
By this act, may desire to emierats 70 the RsuubI
of Hayu Or Liberia, or such other country beyond
limits a the United States the President may det
mine: Prusidd The expenditure for this purpose q
not exceed one hundred dollars for each smicrsat
= Sec. II. A.d Be e fsvtA1 esaesd, That al acts
Congress and all laws of the State Of Maryland IN 10
IN said District, and al ordinances Of the cities Of VA
ngsco and Georgescwn, Inconsistent with the provs
IARD - 49, A.