Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

THIRTIETH CONGRESS—FIRST SESSION.
H. R. 303.
(No Report.)
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
March 9, 1848.
Read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on the
state of the Union.
Mr. Joseph R. Ingersoll, from the Committee on the Judiciary,
reported the following bill:
A BILL
To abolish the use of certain oaths at the custom-houses of
the United States, and for other purposes.

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12 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, That in any case where, by any act or acts made
or to be made, relating to the revenues of customs, or the
entry or exportation of goods and merchandise, any oath,
solemn affirmation, or affidavit might, but for the passing
of this act, be required to be made or taken for any pur-
pose whatsoever, a declaration to the same effect as the
oath, solemn affirmation, or affidavit aforesaid, shall be
substituted; and the person who might, under the act or
acts imposing the same, be required to make or take such
oath solemn affirmation, or affidavit, shall, in the presence

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1 of the officer or other person empowered by such act or
acts to administer such oath, solemn affirmation, or affida-
vit, make and subscribe such declaration; and every such
officer, or other person, is hereby empowered and required
to administer the same accordingly.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That, if any per-
son shall make and subscribe any such declaration as here-
inbefore mentioned, in lieu of any oath, solemn affirmation,
or affidavit, and shall willfully make therein any false state-
ment as to any material particular, the person making the
same shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall
be liable to indictment, and to such punishment and pen-
alty as are, or may be, from time to time, provided for the
crime of perjury.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That nothing in
this act contained shall extend or apply to the oath, or
affirmation, in any case in which the same not is, or here-
after may be required to be taken by any person on being
appointed to any office, or in any judicial proceeding or
proceedings, for or by way of summary conviction; but
all such oaths or affirmations shall continue to be required,
and to be administered, taken, and made, as well and in
the same manner as if this act had not been passed.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the declara

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10 tion required to be taken and subscribed as aforesaid shall
be in the form following:
I, A B, do solemnly and sincerely declare that, &c.,
&c, &c. And I make this solemn declaration, conscien-
tiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the
provisions of an act of the Congress of the United States, en-
titled “An act to abolish the use of certain oaths at the
custom-houses of the United States, and for other pur-
poses.”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in any case where, by any act or acts made or to be made, relating to the revenues of customs, or the entry or exportation of goods and merchandise, any oath, solemn affirmation, or affidavit might, but for the passing of this act, be required to be made or taken for any pur- pose whatsoever, a declaration to the same effect as the oath, solemn affirmation, or affidavit aforesaid, shall be substituted; and the person who might, under the act or acts imposing the same, be required to make or take such oath solemn affirmation, or affidavit, shall, in the presence
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13 14 15 16 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1	of the officer or other person empowered by such act or acts to administer such oath, solemn affirmation, or affida- vit, make and subscribe such declaration; and every such officer, or other person, is hereby empowered and required to administer the same accordingly. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That, if any per- son shall make and subscribe any such declaration as here- inbefore mentioned, in lieu of any oath, solemn affirmation, or affidavit, and shall willfully make therein any false state- ment as to any material particular, the person making the same shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be liable to indictment, and to such punishment and pen- alty as are, or may be, from time to time, provided for the crime of perjury. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act contained shall extend or apply to the oath, or affirmation, in any case in which the same not is, or here- after may be required to be taken by any person on being appointed to any office, or in any judicial proceeding or proceedings, for or by way of summary conviction; but all such oaths or affirmations shall continue to be required, and to be administered, taken, and made, as well and in the same manner as if this act had not been passed. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the declara
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2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10	tion required to be taken and subscribed as aforesaid shall be in the form following: I, A B, do solemnly and sincerely declare that, &c., &c, &c. And I make this solemn declaration, conscien- tiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the provisions of an act of the Congress of the United States, en- titled “An act to abolish the use of certain oaths at the custom-houses of the United States, and for other pur- poses.”