The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-01
Senator Collamers Bill to Punish Treason

Oenat9 ana now before that D0uy. we ike IL,
and believe if it were enacted into IL law, and
rlgid|y enforced as it ought to be, especially
that clause which frees the slaves Of traitors on
conviction of their crime, it would SUI Substantially
kill Slavery. We should, however, like the sec
ond section Of the bill better if its provisions
extended to the slaves owned at the time the
crime was committed. We presume this is the
intent of the bill but it should not be left in
doubt. As it now stands it seems only to refer to
the slaves owned at the time of the conviction.
SEC. l. If any person or persons. owing allie
glance to the United States SHALL after the pas
sage of this act, levy war against them. or shall
adhere to their enemies giving them aid and
comfort, and shall thereof b. convicted, on
confession in open court, or on testimony of two
witnesses to the same overt act Of treason,
whereof he or they shall stand indicted, such
person or persons shall be adjudsed guilty of
treason against the United States, and shall suf.
ter death or imprisonment not less than five
years, and be fined not less than $40 900 which
fine shall be levied and collected on any all of
the property, real or personal. of which the
said person or persons 50 convicted was owner
at the time of committing of the said act, any
sale or conveyance to the contrary notwithstand-
ing and every person so convicted shall be for
ever incapable and disqualified from holding any
Office under the United States but the Presi.
dent may pardon or remit the whole or any
part of said punishment.
SECTION 2. And be ii further enacted, That
the persons to whose labor or service any pc. son
convicted under this act has claim by the laws
of any State, shall thereupon be forever free
and discharged theretrom.
SECTION 3. And be IL 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 such person is con-
victed under this act
ScT1oN 4. And be 1t further enacted, That
whenever it shall be deemed necessary to the
speedy and successful termination of rebellion
by the President, he is hereby authorized, by
such Commissioners as he shall appoint to Sc
quester and seize the property, real and personal
Of such persons as shall bear arms against the
United States, or give aid and comfort to such
persons wherever situated and if within any
part of the United States the inhabitants where
Of have been proclaimed to be In state OF IN
surrec,ion, to hold, occupy, rent and contract
tor the United States until the ordinary course
of judicial proceeding shall be restored in the
State or district where the same is situated, and
IN all cases until the owners OF said property can
be proceeded against by legal prosecution but
no persons holden to service, or labor, commonly
called slaves, shall be taken under this section.
And all such personal property as shall be SO
taxi which is perishable or expensive in keep.
ing, may he sold by said Commissioners, who
shall keep and render iull accounts OF all the
avails and receipts of said property 50 sold, lei
or occupied, and pay over the awaits 10 the Treas
ury Of the United States.
SECTION ). and be ii further enacted, That
whenever the President in pursuance ct existing
laws, shall by proclamation, have declared the
inhabitants ui amy State or section, or part
thereoiln stnte,ot InsurrccUlon against the Uni
ted S.atx, he is ne;4Dy auth1rlz9I, ;sJ any time
thereafter, by proclamation, to extend to any
such persons who may have participated therein,
and in any such state or part thereof as he
shall! lndge proper, pardon and amnesty, with
such conditions as he shall declare and proclaim
SECTION 6. lind be 1t FURTHER enactcd, That If
any State, or part thereof, in which the inhabi-
tants have. by the President been declared in
state of Instruction, the sand instruction shall
have continued for period of six months, then,
ard in that case, The President is hereby au-
to the successful suppression Of said nsurrec-
ton, by proclamation to fix and appoint day
when all persons holden to service or labor in
any such State, or part thereof, as he shall de-
clare, whose service or labor is, by the law or
custom Of said State due to any person or per
sons, who, after the day 50 fixed by said procla
nation, shall levy war or participate III insur
tion against the United States or give aid to the
same, snail be free and discharged from all such
clam to labor and service and thereupon said
persons shall be forever free and discharged from
said labor and service, any law or custom OF
said State to the contrary Notwithstanding.
SECTION !. And be IL FURTHER ehacttd, That
whenever any person claiming to be entitled to
the service Of any other person as slave shall
seek to enforce such claim, he shall in the fist
instance, and as II preliminary 10 the trial of
such claim, show satisfactorily that he and the
due during the period Of instruction or rebel
lion was loyal to the United States.
SUPPOSED DEsETERs. Col. Croker and Mai
Cassidy of the 03l New York regiment near
Yorktown passed the line Of our pickats few
nights since and joincd the rebels. Both have
relations in Fairfax County Va They had the
impudence 20 send back, by IL flag of truce
for their baggage, claiming that they had been
taken prisoners.
The Richmond Examiner of the 23d ut says
on substance;
The destiny of the confederacy is ing