Year: 1861







There being almost universal desire to see this i'm
portant bill, we give it below, in full


Az ACT for the Seqnestraion Of the Estates Property and
Effects of Alien Enemies and for the indemnity uf citi.
zens of the CHnfederates States and persons aiding the
same in the existing with the United States


WHEREAS, The Government and people of the United
States have departed from the usagCS of civilized warfare
in confscang and destroying the property of the people
of the Confederate States of all kinds whether used for
military purposes not and Whereas urly protection
against such wrongs be found in such measures of re-
taliatinu will ultinatey indemnify citizens for
their lnsses and restrain the wantou exceSseS of
enemies; Therefore,


SEcsox l. Be 1T enacted By tie Congress of the C6uttd
sras tates Of 4asre0, That ali and every, the lands
tenpmcpts and heredamens goods and chattels rights
and credits within these Confederate States, and every
right and interest therein held owned possessed enjoy
ed BY for alien Since the Iwentyr dar of
Nav thousand eight hundred and xty-nne except
such debts due alien enemy may have been paid
into the Treasury Of any uf the Confederate States
prior the passage nf this law be- and the here
by SeoueSraed bv the Confederate States of America and
shall be held for the full indemnity of any and loyal
citizen resident of these Confederate States other
persons aiding said Confederate States in the prosecution
of the present between said Confederate States and the
United States of America, and for which he suffer anv
nss injury under the of the United States which
this act realacry under any uthcr of the United
States of State thereot authorizing the seizure
deanaton cunScltOn of the property of citizens
residents the Confederate States oher person aiding
said COnedt States and the shall be seized and
disposed Of provided for in this ac Provided however,
When the estate property rights to be affected by this
act were within Stale of this CnnfedeTacy,
which become such said first of Nav,
then this shall operate upon, and n such estate,
property rights and all persons claiming the from
and after the day such State became member of this
Cnederacy, and not before: Provided further That the
provisions of this shall the stocks 9TH
er public securities of The Confederate Government
any of the States this Corderacy held or owned bv auv
alien enemy, any debt obligation, due from
the Confederate Government of the States to such
alien enemy: And provided also That the provisions of
this shall not embrace the property of citizens resi-
dents of either of the States of Deawac Maryand Ken
tuckv Missouri of the District of Columbia the
Territories of New Mexico, Arizona or the Indian Terri
tory South of Kansas except such of said citizens resi-
dents shall commit actual hoSeS against the Cunfed-
crate States aid and abe the United States in the exist
ing against the Confederate SIaIes


SEC. AHd be 1t fUrksr enacted That it is and shall
be the duty of each and citizen of these Confederate
States speedily TO give information to the officers charged
with the execution Of this law of any and every lands
tenemeDtS and heredaments, gonds and chateS rights
and credits within this Confederacy and of every right
and interest therein held owned possessed enjoyed by
or for any alien enemy as aforesaid.


SEC 5. Be further ehGcteS That it shall be the duty
of every attorney agent former partner trustee other
person holding contributing any snch lands tenements
hereditaments guOds chattes rights Credits
anv interest therein of for such alien enemy speed
" to inform the Receiver. hereinafter provided be ap
pointed of the same, and render account thereof
and far is practicable to place the in the hands
of such Receiver whereupon such shall be fully
acquitted of all responsibility for property and effects
reported and turned And such person wilfuy
falling give such information and render such
shall be guilty of high misdemeanor and upon ndct-
and conviction shall be fined in a exceeding
five thousand dollars and imprisoned longer than six
months said fine and imprisonment TO be determined by
the court trying the and shall further be liable tn be
sued by said Confederate States and subjected pay
double the value of the estate property effects of the
alien enemy held by him OF subject 10 his control.


SEC 1t shall be the duy Of the several Judges of this
Conederacy to give this specially in charge the
Grand ures ofthese Confederate States and shall be their
duty at each sitting well and truly to inquire and report
all lands, tenemens and heredamens goods and chatels
rights and credits and every interest therein within the
jurisdiction of said Grand jury held by for alien
enemy and it shall be the dnv of the several Receivers
appointed under this act to take copy of
port and TO proceed in obtaining The possession and
rn of all such property and effects reported and TO in
sute proceedings for the seques;raton thereof in the
manner hereinafter provided.


SEC s. Be al furtLer epned That each Judge of this
COuederacy SHALL early practicable appoint Re-
ceiver for each section Of the Se for which be holds
COURT and shall require hun, before entering upon the
duties Of his Office to give bond in such penalty may
be prescribed BY the Judge with good and Sufficient


y to be approved by the Judge conditioned that he will
him by law. And said officer shall hold his office at the
pleasure of the Judge of the district section for which
he is appointed and shall be removed for ncompeency
nefcency, ndety in the discharge of his trust And
should the duties of such Receiver time appear
to the Judge 10 be greater than be efficiently perform
ed by him. then it shall be the duty of the Judge divide
the district section into other Receivers
districts according the necessities of the case and to
appoint Receiver for each of said newly created districts
And such Receiver shall also before entering upon
The duties of his Office make oath in writing before the
Judge of the district section for which he is appointed
diligently and well and truly execute the duties of this
office.


SEC. e. Be fyrther enacted That it shall be the duty
OF the several Receivers aforesaid to take the possesson
control and management of all lands tenements and here
daments goods and chates rights and credits of each
and every alien enemy within the section for which be acts
And this end he empowered and required whenever
necessary for accomplishing the purposes of this Act to
sue for and recover the in the of said COnd
crate States allowing in the recovery of Credits such de-
lays as may have been be prescribed in State
as TO the collection of debts therein during the And
the form and mode Of action, whether the matter be of
court setting FORTH best he can the estate property
right or thing sought TO be recovered with the of
tne person holding exercising supervision over in losses
sion OF or controlling the as the case may be- and
praying sequestraiOn thereof Notice shall thereupOn
be forthwith issued by the clerk of the court by the
Receiver such person. with copy of the petition and
the shall be served by the Marshall his deputy and
returned to the courts other in law cases.
whereupOn the sh be dockeed and stand for trial
IN the court according to the usual business
and the court or Judge SHALL at time make all orders
OF seizure that may necessary the subject
matter of the suit from danger of loss injury destruction
or waste and may pending the cause make orders of sale
IN cases that may to such Judge court necessary
TO preserve any property sued for from pershng waste
Provided That any when the Confederate Judge
shall find to be consistent with the saekepng of The
property squesered to leave the in the hands and
under the control of debtor in whose hands
the real and slaves seized who be in pos
session of the said property credits he shall order the
same to remain in the hands and under the control of said
deoor person in whose hands the real estate and slaves
were sezed requiring in every such case such security for
The safe keeping of the property and credits as ne may deem
nent for the purpose aforesaid and to abide by such
further ders the may make the premises But
hS poviso shall not apply to bank other corporation


o or dividends due which may be due thereon or to
rents or real estates in cities And debtor or other
person shall be entitled to the benefit of this provso unless
ne has first paid into the hands of the Receiver all interests
or net profits which have accrued since the 2lst May
eighteen hundred and sixty-One; and in all coming
under this provso such debtor shall be bound to pay
annually to the Receiver all interest which may
tne same falls due and the person in whose hands any
other property be left shall be bound to account for
ana pay over annually to the Receiver the net income
Pons OF said property and failure of such debtor
oner person 70 pay such interest," net income prof


s as the falls due, the Receiver may demand and


coyer the debt or property And, wherever after ten
OYs notice to any debtor person in whose hands prop