Year: 1864

III court. Inc only redress lett person VINO might
be injured by an unlawful seizure is by application
to tho Court Of Claims at Washington City within
two years after the rebellion put down. This act
gives the agents unusual power and the courts of
the country will confirm the operations of the agents
within tho scope of the literal meaning of the act.
That is simply and alone to captured and abandon
cd property. The vast amount of captured and
abandoned property that now has and will come, or
fall into the hands of the agents of the government,
could-not be disposed of by the slow and tedious
Of the civil courts of the country in due time
and hence the necessity of the act during the war
creating extraordinary remedies under extraordinary
circumstances Any property that is forfeited to the
United States by the terms of the act of the 9th of
August, 1861, or of the 18th of July 1862, or for
breach of the revenue laws, cannot be disposed of
by the Special Agents Of the Treasury as captured
or abandoned property may be done. Tho net of
18th of March, 1868, does not repeal the two former
acts but leaves them standing in full force and cf
feet; and under the act of the 7th of july 1852, is
great work to be done in the way of having all of
the lands of every rebol and of every rebel alder
and abcttor dccrccd to the United States as forfeited
and to be sold ms such.


| The 4th section OF the act of 18th of March, 1903,
creates forfeiture of all property taken from dis
loyal State into a loyal State without the proper
permit, &C., and proceedings in cfecting a sale of
this kind Of forfeiture must be instituted in the courts
of the country.


AS wo now have the United States District and
Circuit Courts reorganizcd here, it is good time 70
commence the work Of forfeiture of the lands tene
mcnts, and hercditaments of the rebels. 1t is well
to keep the 9Th section of the act of 18th of july
1862, before the mind. The provision of which is
if any person engaged in armed rebellion agains
the United States, or ail;--.,- abctting such rebel
air abet -.----.---.- -.
rebellion within sixty days after public warning by
proclamation Of tho President shall forfeit all of his
estate and property monies, stocks and credits All
TINT has to be done under that section on the trial Of
the cause is simply to prove that the person whose
lands are proceeded against was engaged in armed
rebellion against the United States or that he gave
aid and comfort to those engaged in arms and that
he did not return to his allegiance to the United


States within sixty days after the proclamation afore-
said


The first step TO be taken towards the forfeiture is
the seizure Of the lands of all and of every person
guilty Of treason, or of giving aid and comfort to
those in armed rebellion, and then to report the same
to the District Attorney with such specific descrp-
tion of the lands that proper proceedings be in
stituted and in the end good titles made. There are
great many persons who forfeited their estates but
who have taken the benefit of the amnesty oath in
ordcr hold IN fo thoir nronortv aaorot
intention to give all the aid and comfort within
their power to the rebels. This oath is only con-
dtional pardon resting alone on the honest and
faithful performance thereof, and wo be to the man
against whom proof is made in our courts of vio-
lation of that oath. Then, DR.. Brownlow, you will
all the estate &c, of any and all persons who
have taken the amnesty oath and violated the same
by giving aid and comfort to the rebellion, TO be
seized and reported for forfeiture. Every person
who in good faith and with an honest purpose takes
said oath, and performs the same, is henccforward
entitled to all the rights of an American citizen
The person taking the oath, amongst other things
swears that he will henceforth faithfully support
protect and defend the Constitution of the United
States and the Union, and every person who feeds
his rebel son or gives him clothes when he slides
home from the rebel army. violates. his oath, and
creates forfeiture Of his estate &C. The oath
of amnesty does not mean that rebel may take the
same, 60 home fold his arms and sit down under
his own vine and fig tree, and receive theprotecton
of the laws Of the land without doing anything to
put down the rebellion. But it does mean that he
will do all he in the support, protection and de-
fence of the Constitutjbn and Union. Nothingles
than this is csmplysbce with said oath. The oath
does not mean that you may feed and clothe rebel
sons and have rebel daughters spouting rebel doc
trnes upon any and all occasions You have TO
come right square up to the honest and faithful per-
formance of your OATH you forfeit your property,
and when you have been guilty of treason, life it.
self 1t is well then for the agents seizing forfeited
property to watch all violation of the amnesty oath,
and to seize their estate without fail In about two
weeks shall be fully ready to commence my part