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 A bill to be en 
 Conf Pam #259 
 
[IIousE OF Representatives, Xo. 3G7.] 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 10, 18(35.— Read 
 lirst and second times, referred to a select committee of one from 
 each Stale, and ordered to be printed. 
 
 [By Mr. Babksdale. 
 
 A BILL 
 
 To be entitled An Act to increase the military force of the Confed- 
 erate States. 
 
 1 The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, 
 
 2 That in order to provide additional forces to rep^l invasion, 
 
 3 Hiainiain the rightful possession of the Confederate States, se- 
 
 4 cure ilieir independence and preserve their institutions, the Pre- 
 
 5 sident be and he is hereby authorized to ask for and accept from 
 H the owners of slaves the services of s ich number of able-bodied 
 T negro men as he may deem expedient, for and during the war, 
 
 8 to perform military service in whatever capacity the Ueaeral-in- 
 
 9 Chief may direct. 
 
 1 Sec. 2. That the President be authorized to organize the said 
 
 2 slaves into companies, battalions, regiments and brigades, under 
 
 3 siich rules and regulations as the Secretary of War may pre- 
 
 4 scribe, and to be commanded by such officers as the President 
 
 5 may appoint. 
 
 1 Sec. 3, That while employed in the service the said slaves shall 
 
 2 receive the same rations, clothing and compensation as are allow- 
 
2 
 
 3 ed in the Act approved February 17tli, 1864, and the Acts amen- 
 
 4 datory thereto, ''to increase the efficiency of the army by tlie 
 6 employment of free negroes and slaves in certain capacities," 
 
 6 and tlie compensation so allowed shall be maie to tlie owner or 
 
 7 to the slave as the owner thereof may elect. 
 
 1 Sec. 4. That nothing in this Act shall be construed to author- 
 
 2 ize a change in the relation which the said slaves shall bear to- 
 
 3 wards their owners as property, except hj consent of the States 
 
 4 in which they may reside, and in pursuance of the laws thereof. 
 
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