The bill providing for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, introduced by Senator Wilson, and referred to the district Committee, was intrusted [sic] to Senator Morrill, who has prepared a bill which provides for the immediate emancipation of all the slaves in the District, and for a limited compensation to Loyal owners, not to exceed $200 a slave on the average. Owners must, within 90 days, file their claims, together with proofs of value, and of loyalty, with Commissioners. These are to report within nine months. They are authorized to examine the slave as well as the master, in order to determine the latter’s right to compensation. It is believed that the bill will recommend itself to a majority of the committee. It is composed of Messrs. Grimes, Dixon, Morrill, Wade, Anthony, Kennedy and Powell. The number of slaves now in the district is about 3,000. Probably more than half belong to masters who will swear that they are loyal. The total cost to the nation of emancipating cannot be over $1,000,000, and may not be more than $500,000.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, February 15, 1862, p. 2
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