A Bill to authorise the people of the District of Colu Columbia to express their desire as to the Continuance of slavery [...?] therein
Be it enacted by the Senate and house of Representatives of the United States ^of America^ in Congress assembled.
That it shall be lawful for the male inhabitants of the District of Columbia over
twenty one years of age who have resided therein for one year next prior to the approval
of this ^act^ bill, to assemble on the first Monday of April next at the Court room in the City-hall
of Washington City:, And at eight oclock A M of said day or so soon thereafter as
twenty five persons of the above description shall have assembled to elect viva voce
three judges and two clerks of said convention
Sect 2 That each of said judges and clerks before entering upon the duties of said
appointment shall take an oath or affirmation to be administered by any person authorised
to administer oaths (if such person be present, or if no such per person be present and willing to administer such oath then said judges are authorised
to administer the same to each other and to said clerks) faithfully and impartially
to discharge the duties assigned him by this act and to prevent so far as able all
fraud deception or abuse in conducting the same
Sect 3. That each person above discribed may then express his desire in favor of Continuing slavery within said district[...?] by handing to one of the judges a ticket on which shall be written or printed the
word “slavery” and those who desire the establishment of freedom in said District may express his
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wish by handing to one of said judges a ticket on which [...?]shall be written or printed the word “Liberty:” And it sha shall be the duty of the judge [receiving?] said ticket to pronounce the name of the person handing it to him audibly before
placing the same in the box, and when said name shall have been thus pronounced each
of said clerks shall record the same in a poll-book to be provided for that purpose,
and the judge shall then deposit said ticket in the box without examining the same.
Sect 4 That said box and books shall be kept open for the purpose of [receiv?]ing the tickets until four oclock PM and of said day, and ^[?]oon eight oclock AM. until four oclock PM of ^ during the same hours of the succeeding day[;?] and said box at the close of each day shall be sealed up in the presence of all of
said judges and shall be in [charge?] of one there during the time said judges shall be separated.
Sect 5 That after said box shall be closed on the second day of said convention the
judges and Clerks shall at the foot of said lists certify the number of ballots, deposited in said
box, which certificate shall be attested by said Clerks.
Sect 6 That said judges and Clerks shall meet at the same place at eight oclock on
the third day of said convention, and when assembled shall open said box and proceed
to count said ticksestickets carefully designating those in favor of slavery and those in favor of Liberty,
and shall ^said^ Clerks shall keep tally in said Poll-books carefully placing each tally in its appropriate
Column
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; and if in the course of unfolding said Tickets it shall be found that two tickets
were folded together and given to the judge by one person, such ticket shall not be
counted, but in either [column?] but the number of such fraudulent tickets shall be noticed and recorded as such by
said Clerks.
Sect 7 That when the whole number of tickets shall have been Counted the Judges shall
make out a1 certificate ^in said Poll books^ showing the number given in favor of slavery and the number in favor of Liberty,
and the number of fraudulent tickets or blanks if and
^any such^ be found, which said certificat shall be signed by such judges and attested by said clerks and one of said Poll books
shall be deposited with the Secretary of the Senate and the other with the Clerk of
the house of Representatives to be reported to said Senate and House at the commencement
of the next session of congress
Sect 8. That for the purpose of deciding upon the right of any person to vote under
this act said ju[dge?] shall have power to administer an oath to the person desiring to vote. And if any
such person shall willfully misrepresent any matter of fact for the purpose of voting
he shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and if any person not entitled to vote under
this shall knowing the same give his vote at said Convention or if any person shall
in any manner fraudulently procure votes to be given, either by bribery or threats,
each person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemenor and on conviction thereof shall be imprisioned in the penitentiary not less than one nor more than three years at the discretion
of the court.
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A Bill to authorise the people of the District of Columbia to express their desire
as to the continuance of slavery therein.
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Giddings 11.
HR.
HR.
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Laid on table.
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HR 666
December 18. 1848
Mr Giddings, on leave, introduced the following bill, which was read twice and on motion laid upon the table.
December 18. 1848
Mr Giddings, on leave, introduced the following bill, which was read twice and on motion laid upon the table.
[ docketing
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A Bill
to authorize the people of the District of Columbia to express their wishes as to the continuance of slavery and the slave trade within said District.
to authorize the people of the District of Columbia to express their wishes as to the continuance of slavery and the slave trade within said District.
Handwritten Document, 6 page(s), RG 233, Entry 362: Records of the United States House of Representatives, Thirtieth Congress, 1847-1849, Records of Legislative Proceedings, Bills and Resolutions Originating in the House, 1847-1849, NAB ,