Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-03-23
STEVENS ON CaNFTscATION.
"Eeace.
a Curst Wolf Thy fury inward on thyseli
50 Prey, and consume tnee!'
"In mourning and In Wo

Peace!
" Curst Wolfl Thy fury inward on myself
q Prev. and consume tneet'
an mourning and IN Wo
d Curst spirit, tarry thou!'
" To the other dOgsF' Dante.
The following is the text of the Bill OF
C~onfscation, introduced into the House
of Representatives by THADDEUs STE
VEINS, for the purpose, as the preamble
declares, Of inficting punishment on
uthe people who constituted the Confed-
crate States of America, both because
they, declaring an unjust war against
the United States for the purpose Of de-
stroying republican liberty, and perma-
nently establishing slavery, a well as
for the cruel and barbarous manner in
which they conducted said war, in viola
ton of all the laws of civilized warfare,
and also to compel them to make some
compensation for the damages and ex-
pe~nditures caused ty said war -
BILL.
Be IL enacted 6y the Senate and House
of RepreSentd6UeS Of the United States Of
hAlEN III ~ 1DfNAH COO NAoUraNtINANNf -+@% 80
the public lands belonging to the ten
states that formed the government Of the
sO-called Confederate States of Amer
lea, - shall be forfeited by said states and
become forthwith vested in the United
States.
SEC. 2. Andbe e further enacted, That
the president shall forthwith proceed to
cause the seizure of such of the property
belonging TO the belligerent enemy as is
deemed forfeited by the act of the 18th
July, Ammo Domini, eighteen hundred
and siXty-two, and hold and appropriate
the same as enemy's property, and to
proceed 10 condemnation with that al
ready seized.
Sec. 3. Ind be ii further enacted,
That in lieu of the proceeding TO condemn
the property thus seized, as enemy's
property, as is provided by the act Of
July seventeen, Ammo Domini, eighteen
hundred and siXty-twO, two commits
siOns or more, as by him may be deemed
necessary, shall be appointed by the
president for each of the said "COnfed-
crate States" 10 consist of three persons
eRcb, one of whom shall be an officer OF
the late or present army, and two shall
be civilians, neither of whom shall be
citizens OF the state for which he shall
be appointed; and that the said commits
sions shall proceed TO adjudicate and
condemn the property aforesaid, under
such forms and proceedings as shall be
prescribed by the encouragement of the
United States whereupOn the title TO
said property shall become vested in tie
United States.
Sec. 4. ARd be u further enacted, That
out Of the lands thus seized and cOnfis-
a.H-l I'll I - - ~
by the operations of the war and the
amendment to the constitution, or other
wise, wharesided in said " Confederate
States on the fourth day of Ma. ch,
A. d. eighteen hundred and ~sixtv-one,
or since, shall have distributed to them
as follows, namely To each male per
son who is the head of a family, f6rty
acres; TO each adult male, whether the
head of q family or not, forty acres; to
each widow who is the head Of a family,
forty acres to be held by them in fee
simple, but to be inalienable for the next
ten years after they become seized
thereof. For the purpose of distributing
and allOtting said land, the secretary OF
war shal appoint As many commissions
IN each state as he shall deem necessary,
to consist Of three members each,
two of whom at least shall not
be citizens Of the state for which
they are appointed. Each of said
commissioner shall receive a salary
of three thousand dollars D
ally, and all his necessary expenses.
Each commission shall he allowed one
clerk, whose salary shall be two thou
sand dollars per annum. The title to
the homestead aforesaid shall be vested
in trustees for the use of the liberated
persons aforesaid trustees shall be ap-
pointed by the secretary of war, and
shall receive such salary as he shall di-
rect, not exceeding three thousand dol
per annum. At the end of ten year.
the absolute title 10 said homesteads
shall be conveyed to said owners, or 10
the heirs Of such as are then dead.
Sec. 3. Ind be further enacted, That
out OF the balance of the property thus
seized n cOnfiseated, there shall be
in the manner hereinafter pro-
vided, a sum equal TO fifty dollars for
each homestead, to be applied, by the
trustees, hereinafter mentioned, toward
the erection of buildings on said home
for the use OF said slaves and the
sum Of five hundred millions Of
which shall be appropriated as
to wit: Two hundred millions
shall be invested in United States
six per centum securities. and
The interests thereof shall be semi
annually added TO the pensions
allowed by law to pensioners who have
30 by reason Of the late war;
hundred millions, or so much
hereof as may be needed, shall be appro-
lriated TO pay damages done to lOysl
citizens by the civil Of military opera
ions OF the government lately called
he Confederate States Of America"
Sec. 3. And be HJuyther enacted, That /
n order that just discrimination may be
made, b property Of no d shall be
elZed whose whole estate on the fourth
lay OF March, Ammo DOmini eighteen
.undred n siXty-five, was not worth
more than five hundred dollars, to be
'alued by the said commission. unless
Ie shall have voluntarily become an
fhcer or employee in the military or
ivil service Of the Confederate States
( America or in the civil or military
Of some u Of said states, andin
nfOrcing all c-onfiscations the sum or
alue Of five thousand dollars in real or
ersonal property shall be left OF assigned
o the delinquent.
Sec. z. and be Il further enacted. That
be commission shall put a Just and i'm
artlal Valuation on all the property thus
n forfeited, and when such wall
alton shall be completed 10 the several
-ates, all the said commissioners shall
leet IN the city Of Washington, and
ssess lhe nVe hundred millions afore-
4ld, as Wen as the allowances for home
eau oulldlngs, pro rata, on each Of The
fopertles or estates thus seized, and
nall give notice OF such assessment aud
pportionment by publication for sixtv
avs IN TWO daily newspapers In The city
{ Washington, and in two daily news
apers ia the capitals Of each Of the said
Confederate States"
Sec. s. ind be II further enacted That
the n OF said seized and forfeited
shall, within ninety DAYS after
le first OF said publications, paw into
lie treasury Of the United States the
i'm assessed on their estates resn,ct.
ely, all OF their estates and lands MT |
.mally appropriated 70 the liberated {
AYES, shall be released and restored ri ]
owners. !
Sec. 8. ind be ii further enacted. That ]
the land, estates and property of
latever kind, which shall not be re.
emed as aforesaid, within ninety DAYS, !
all be sold and converted into money, 6
such time and manner as ma be :
emed by the said commissioners most
.vantageous to the United States: Pro- q
led, That no arable land shall be sold I
larger tracts than five hundred acres : !
"a provided further, That no longer I
sdit shall be given than three years.
Upon this generous and liberal PROPOSE
"A, the Cincinnati Enquirer remarks as c
=
invite attention to the eonfiseation e
!, published elsewhere, taking from Il
southerR whites their lands, and Civ 4
them TO the negroes, lately introduced n
o the house Of representatives bv n,
addeus Stevens, the radical leader in q,
body. IL is, even Ia these times Of {.
iueal outrage q criminality, such 3 nc
nstrons enactment 50 thoroughly Cl