MARCH 13, 1862:
The U.S. Congress approves legislation
forbidding military officers and men from returning Contrabands and other
slaves to their owners. The Act reads:
CHAP. XL.–An Act to
make an additional Article of War.
Be it enacted by the
Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, That hereafter the following shall be promulgated as an additional
article of war for the government of the army of the United States, and shall
be obeyed and observed as such:
Article –. All
officers or persons in the military or naval service of the United States are
prohibited from employing any of the forces under their respective commands for
the purpose of returning fugitives from service or labor, who may have escaped
from any persons to whom such service or labor is claimed to be due, and any
officer who shall be found guilty by a court-martial of violating this article
shall be dismissed from the service.
SEC. 2. And be it
further enacted, That this act shall take effect from and after its passage.
APPROVED, March 13, 1862.
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