The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-03-27
The Gonfscation Bill.


ton Bill offered by Thad Stevens in the
House on the 18th inst. The author
made characteristic speech in support
of the measure, and on motion, further
consideration of the subject was post
poDed until December next:
A BILL RELATIVE TO DAMAGES DONE TO
LOYAL MEN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Whereas, it is due 10 justice, and as an
example to future times that some proper
punishment should be inflicted on the
people who constituted the "Confedcrate
States of America" both because they,
declaring an unjust war against the Uni
ted States for the purpose of destroying
republican liberty, and permanently es-
tablislling slavery; rs Nell us for the cruel
and barbarous ttianucr in which they con-
Quoted said War. in violation of all the
laws of civilized warfare, and also to
compel them to make some compensation
for the damages and expenditures caused
by said war: therefore,
Bel enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives of the United States
of America, in Congress assembled, That
all the public lands belonging to the ten
States that formed the government of the
so-caled Confederate States of America,"
shall be forfeited by said States and be-
come forthwith vested in the United
States.
SEC. 2. Aid be it 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 scVcn-
tcenth July, Ammo Domini eighteen hun
drcd and sixty-twc; and bold and appro-
pirate the same as enemy's PROPERTY; and
to proceed to condemnation with that al
ready seized.
Sec g. And be it 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 seven
teen, Ammo Domini eighteen hundred and
siXty-two, two commissions or more, as
by him may BIZ defined necessary, shall
be appointed BY the President for each of
the said "Confedcrate States" to consist
of three persons each, one of whom shall
be dn officer of the late or present army,
and two shall be civilians, neither of
whom shall be citizens of the State for
which be shall be appointed; and that
the said commissions shall proceed to adj
! Indicate and condemn the property afore-
said under such forms arid proceedings as
shall be prescribed by the Attorney Gen
eral of the United States; whereupon the
title to said property shall become vested
in the United States.
Sec: 4. And be it further enacted, That
out of the lands thus seized and confsca-
ted, the slaves who have been liberated
by the operations of the war and the
amendment to the Constitution; or other
wise; who resided in said Confederate
States On the fourth day of March, Ammo
Domini eighteen hundred and siXty-one,
or since, shall have distributed to them as
follows, namely: To each male person
who is the head of a family, forty acres
to each adult male, whether the head Of
family or not; forty acres: to each wild
'ow who is the head Of a family; forty
acres to be held BIZ them in fee simple,
but to be inalienable for the next ten
years after they become seized thereof.
For the purpose of distributing and allot-
ting said land, the Secretary of War shall
appoint as many commissions in each
State as he shall deem necessary, to con-
sist of three members each, two of whom
at least shall not be citizetis Of the State
for which they are appointed. Each Of
said commissioners shall receive a salary
of three thousand dollars annually, and
all his necessary expenses. Each COM
mission shall be allowed ore clerk, whose
salary shall be two thousand dollars per
annum. The title to the homestead afore:
said shall be vested in trustees for The
use of the liberated persons aforesaid
trustees shall be appointed by the Secre-
tary of War; and shall receive such salary
as he shall direct, not exceeding three
thousand dollars per annum. At the end
of ten years the absolute title to said
homesteads shall be conveyed to said
owners or to the heirs of such as are then
dead.
SECS. And be it further enacted, That
out of the balance Of the property thus
seized and confscated, there shall be
raised, in the manner hereinafter provi-
dcd, d sum equal to fifty dollars for each
homestead, to be applied By the trustees
hereinafter mentioned, towards the eroc-
ton Of buildings on the said homesteads
for the use Of said slaves: and the further
sum of tive hundred millions of dollars,
which shall be appropriated as follows; to
Wit Two hundred millions shall bein-
vested in United States si& per centum
securities, and the interest. thereof shall
be semi!annuully added to the pensions
! allowed by law to pensioners who have
become SO by reason of the late war;
three hundred millions, or so much thereof
as may be needed, shall be appropriated
to pay damages done to loyal citizens by
the civil or military operations of the gov
ernment lately called the Confederate
States of America"
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That
in order that inst discrimination NAV be