Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-07-14


An Act to provide for the collection of abandon
ed property and for the prevention of frauds
in insurrectiOnary districts within the United
States.
BE IL enacted 5V The Sendfe and House Of Reprs-
ssntitires cfhe Tinted States Of insrjca N Con
grcss assembled, That it shall be lawful for the
Secretary Of the Treasury, from and after the
passage Of this act, as he shall from time to time
see hit, 10 appontn special agent or agents to
receive and collect all abandoned or captured
property in any State or Territory, or any por-
ton of aHy State or Territory of tho United
States, designated as in insurrechon against the
lawful Government Of the United States by the
proclamation of the President of July first. eigh-
teen hundred md sixty-two Provided, That
such. property shall not include any kind or des-
crip'ion which has bren used or which was in
tended to be used, for waging or carrying on
war against the United States, such as arms.
ordnance, ships, STEAMBOATS,, or other water
craft, aud the furniture, forage, military sun
| plies, or munitions Of war
Sec. 2. And Be Il FURTHER enacted, That any
part OF the goods or property received or collect
ed by such agent or agents may be nppropriated
to public use on due apprasement nm certificate
thereof, or forwarded TO nny place of snle within
the loyal States, as the public interests may re-
quire and all salgs of such property shall be at
auction to the highest bidder, and The proceeds
thereof shall be paid into the Treasury Of the
United States.
Sec. And be il 6lrthtr enacied That the
Secretary of the Treasury may require the
special agents appointed undepths act to give a
bond, with such securities and in such amount
as he shall deem necessary, and to re-
quire the increase Of said amounts, and the
strengthening of said security, ms circumstances
may demand and he shall also cause book or
books OF account to be kept, showing from whom
such property was received, the cost of trAnspOr
taton, and proceeds of the sale thereof And
any person claiming TO have been the owner o
any such abandoned ar captured property may
, al any time within the two years after the sup
preston Of the rebellion, prefer his claims 10 III,
proceeds thereof in the Court of Claims and oil
proof to the satisfaction Of said court of hii
I, ownership OF said property, Of his right to til,
proceeds thereof and that he has never giyeI
any aid or comfort to the present rebellion l.
receive the residue of such proceeds, after tn
y deduction Of any purchase money which ma,
have been paid together with the expenses 0
= transportation and sale of tad property, an
l any other lawful expenses attending the disposi
u ton thereof
Sec. 4. 1nd be il further enacted, That all pro
=, perry coming into any of the United States no
', declared in nsurrection as aforesaid from with
= in any of the States declared in instruction
- through or by any other person than any agon
- duly appointed under the provisions of this act
:, or under lawful clearance by the proper office
OF the Treasury Department shall he confscate
+, to the use of the Government of the Unite
-, States. And the proceedings for the condemna
- ton and sale Of any such property shall he in
stituted and conducted under the direction of III
Secretary of the Treasury, in the mode pre-
scribed by the eighty ninth and ninetieth sec
4. tons OF the act of March second seventeen hun
dred and ninety-nine, entitled IAN act to regulat
The collection Of duties OH imports md Tonnage.
And any agent or agents, person or persons, b.
or through whom such property shall come with
IN the lines Of the United States unlawfully, O
IS aforesaid, shall be Judged guilty of q msdemear
At or, and on conviction thereof shall be fined
I, any sum not exceeding one thousand dollars. @
J. Imprisoned for any time not exceeding one yeai
he or b0th, Mt the discretion Of the court And th
o. hnes, penalties and f0rieiiures acoruinR unde
A. this act may he mitigated or RENTED in III
20 mode prescribed by the act of March thre,
TO seventeen hundred and ninety seven, or in sue
O. manner, in special cases. as the Secretary of III
Treasury may prescribe.
Sec. D. And be Il firfheT enacfsd. That iii
, NTH section Of the "Act to further provide 70
= the collection Of the revenue upon the Northern
. Norlheastern, and Northwestern frontier. an
: Tor other purposes approved July fourteen
=, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, shall be 3
a. construed as to allow the temporary officer
= Whicn nave been or may he appointed at port
. which have been or may be opened or establish
ed in States declared to be in Instruction h
the proclamation of the President Gu the first s
July eighteen hundred aud sixty.two, the sam
compensation which by law is allowed TO per
inanent officers of the same position, or IN
90 ordinary compensation of special agents. ms IN
Secretary of the Treasury may determine.
Sec D. And be ii FURTHER enacted That il sbal
n. be the duty OF every officer or private of Nh
is regular OF volunteer forces of the United States
a or any officer, sailor, or marine in the naya
nj service Of the United States, upon The milan
waters OF the United States, who may tale a
receive any such abandoned property, or cotton
e sugar rice, or tobacco from persons in smell In
u surrectonary districts, or have II under nj
I'd control, to turn the same over to an agen
1t appointed as aforesaid, who shall give reesir
I'd Therefore and in he shall refuse or neoler
of SO to do he shall be tried by court-martioi mn
y shah be dismissed from the service, or. If a
On oilcer. reduced TO the ranks, or suffer such obe
e punishment as said court shall order, with Nh
N approval Of the President Of me United States.
III Sec. Z. And Je hriler eaacted That none 4
tue provisions of this act shall apply to any law
le iql maritime prize by the naval forces Of III
If United States. ''
le Approved, March 70, 1868.