The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1863-05-20
Claims for Slaves Lost in
the Public Service.
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
OFFICE OF STATE AUDITOR,
COLUMBIA. Nav 7. 1853.

q for the preparation aud proof OF claims, by
citizens Of this State, for slaves lost while EN-.
ployed on the Notifications and other military
works within the State, or whose loss has been
occasoned by the said employment, are made
public for the information Of all concerned
l. The following resolutions were adopted BY
tie General Assembly of this State, at the scs-
sion held in January, 1868:
Resolved, That in the opinion of this General
Assembly, it is proper and just that the State
should compensate the owners Of slaves taken
10y the authority OF the State for the public SER
vice, Who have died from diseases contracted in
said service, and whose death or loss has been
occasioned by reason of said service.
Resoired, That the several claims now before
the Legislature, as well as all others that may
hereafter arise, be presented to James Upper,
Esq, State Auditor, to be audited. Also, that
said Auditor be authorized and required TO call
Tor any additional proof that he may deem re.
cessary to establish said claims; snd that he 70
port to the next session of the Legislature each
claim allowed, with the evidence on which his
judgment is based.
III. All claims now on file in this office, or
which may be hereafter submitted for audit un.
der the foregoing resolutions should be supper.
ted by the affidavit OF the claimant, which sffi.
davit should set forth as many of the following
cording to his knowledge, information or be.
lief:
l. The name and residence Of the owner of
the slave.
?. The name, age and qualifications Of the
slave, and bis cendition of health at the time of
the impressment by the authority of the State
3. The time when the agent of the State bv
whom aud the period for. which the impress.
ment was made.
4. The location Of the Notifications or other
public works Oh which the slave was employed
the duration of said employment; and tue name
OF the officer or other person having the charge
OF the slave while in the public service
b. The circumstances OF the loss; iiby DEATH
the nature of the disease; when and where con.
tracted; by what physician (if any it was treat
cd, and when and whe:e 1t terminated; if by
escape, when end how the escape was effected
and whether to the enemy or otherwise.
ILL., The statement of the claimant as to the
owne' ship, impressment aud loss of the slave,
should be corroborated 10y the affidavit of at
least one disinterested person. The fact of the
impressment should be verified, whenever prac,
tcahle, by the agent Of the State by whom the
impressment WAS made, or by one Of the Com.
missioners OF Roads for the District or Parish
IRON which the slave was taken, or by the Off.
Ger or overseer having charge Of the slave
while in the public service. The circumstances
OF the loss should be established in case Of
death, by the attending physician, if one was
employed, and his testimony can be obtained /;
and in case Of escape, by the person having
charge OF the slave ut the time OF escape If his
evidence can be obtained.
Nv. In addition to the foregoing proof, the
value Of the slave at the time OF impressneut
should be assessed by two dsinterestrd citizens
,Nls al, L - 4
was taken, who shall be first sworn to appraise
the said slave fairly and impartially.
V. Ii the owner of the slave is dead, or is Ia.
boring under any legal disability, the evidence
tending to establish the ownc ship, impress
ment and los, may be adduccd Dy the proper
legal representative OF such owner, who should
make affidavit of the facts indicated IN Section
ii, according to his knowledge, information aud
belief. The affidavit OF the owner, or OF his
representative, unsupported by other evidence,
will not be taken as conclusive of the facts sta.
ted therein, unless it shall appear that other
aud higher evidence cannot be obtained, which
fact should be distinctly set forth in the affida.
Wit Of the said party. And the officer taking
the affidavit should state in his cer tihcate OF au.
thentcation whether in his opinion. the said
party is or is not entitled 10 credit.
Nv. The following form OF certificate OF au.
Identification is suggested
STATE Of SOUTH CAROLINA,
DISTRICT.
], Clerk OF the Court OF
Common Pleas and General Sessions Tor other
officer authorized to administer oalhs) of said
District and State, do hereby certify that the
foregoing atiidavits Of .,
aud apprasement by i,
we're sworn to before me by the said parties
whose genuine signature are subscribed there.
to and that the said afliants and appraisers are
well known to me to be persons of veracity and
credibility.
In testimony whereof hereunto subscribe my
name and atiix the seal of the sad Court
L. 8. or my official SEAL at :,
this day OF 1853.
Signature and title Of officer.
VII. No provision has been made by the
Confederate Government for compensatine own.
ers for slaves lest III the public service prior to
April, 1858. The recent Act Of Congress Ito