The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-01

which is nearly double their true worth at
the prices they could command in the State
and we have the whole value of the slaves to
be S500,000. This is the item of loss. Now
for the item of profit.
There are in the county of Sussex 635, 5,520
acres of land, at present valued at six dollars
per acre. If that value should be increased,
as it doubtless would, to Sl2 per acre, we have
an increment in the aggregate value OF the
land of 81, ,S13, 100, from which if we subtract
the loss on slaves by freeing them We have
net gain to the county of S3,3l3, 40, or If
we only admit the appreciation in the value
Of land to be So per acre, we still find the
county to be the gamer by 81, l04,373.
To make them equal in their future career
in prosperity requires but the substitution of
honorable free white labor for the degrading
system of negro slave labor. And what is
true of the least is true of the largest and OF
all the States in which the institution of
slavery now exists.
A BILL granting the aid of the United States
to certain States, upon the adoption by
them of system of emancipation, and to
provide for the colonization of free negroes.
Be it enacted By the Senate and House Of
Representatives of the United States Of Ameri-
ca in Congress assembled, That whenever the
President of the United States shall be salts
fed that any one of the States of Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee,
or Missouri shall have emancipated the slaves
therein by law within and throughout such
State, it shall be the duty of the President,
assisted by the Secretary of the Treasury, to
prepare and deliver to such State an amount
of bonds of the United States, bearing inter
est at the rate of FIVE per centum per annum
and payable at thirty years from the date
thereof, equrl to the aggregate value of all
the slaves within such State, at the rate of
three hundred dollars for each slave as the
same shall be ascertained by an enumeration
to be made by the federal authorities desig-
mated for that purpose, at the time of emanci-
patton the whole amount for any one State
to be delivered at once, if the emancipation
shall be immediate, or in rateable instalments
if it shall be gradual: Procided, That no
State shall make any compensation to the
owner of any slave who shall be proven to
have willingly engaged in or in any manner
aided the present rebellion, or who at any
time may have accepted and held any Office,
either civil, naval, or military, under the So
called Confederate States of America, or un-
der the State government of any one of said
Confederate States, and shall have willingly
taken the oath of allegiance to said so-callcd
Confederate States: And proctded, JiHther,
That, in the enumeration of said slaves, as
aforesaid, no slave shall be computed who
shall have been brought into the State so
emancipated, as aforesaid, from any other
State or country after the passage of this act.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted By the
authority aforesaid, That the whole amount
of bonds SO to be made and delivered, as afore-
said shall not exceed in the aggregate the
sum of ons hundred and eighty millions OF
dollars.
SEC. 8. And be IL further enacted by the
authority aforesaid That for The purpose q
deporting, cOloniztng, and settling the sldreS
so emancipated, as aforesaid, i~ some state,
territory or dominion beyond tie limits Of the
United States, the sum Of tcenty millions Of
dollars is hereby appropriated, out Of any
moneus in the treasury not otherwise dpPro-
priated, to be appended for tie purposes gtore-
said, at the discretion Of the President.
SEC. A. And be IL further enacted by the
authsrity aforesaid, That the benefits of this
act shall only insure to such State or States as
may pass such act or acts of emancipation
a, aforesaid, within fve years from the date
of the passage of this act, and shall provide
for the complete and entire emancipation o
Il the slaves therein within the period of twenty
. wears from the date of the passage of sale
. State act or acts.
SEC. S. And be 1t further enacted By tn
= : authority aforesaid, That if any State shall
= at anv time after having received any such
bonds. as aforesaid, by law introduce or tole
II rate slavery within its limits, contrary to the
If act of emancipation upon which such bonds
y shall have been received, such State shall re-
e fund to the United States all the principal
r and interest which may have been paid or
o any such bonds.
All ofwhich is respectfully submitted.
A. S. WHITE, of Indiana; F. P. BLAIR
JE., of Missouri; GEO. P. FISHER, of Della
) ware WV. E. LEHMAN, of Pennsylvania
X. V. wHALEY, of Virginia; S. L. CASEY, o
: kentucky A. j. CLEMENS, of Tennessee.
q have had no opportunity of reading TIL
J. foregoing report but, without expressing al
it opinion upon its merits, concur in presentin
e it to the. House. G. l.. Il. LEARY,
% OF Maryland.