Raynors HCA 2017-12
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2017
A rare war-date Confederate document, 1p. legal size folio, issued by Acting Secretary of State William M. Browne, Confederate States of America, Richmond, [Va.], Oct. 25, 1861 being the Rebel government's response to the Confiscation Act passed by the Federal Government in the proceeding August. The Act allowed for "captured" Southern slaves to be considered contraband and as a result they would be set free. These newly freed slaves became known as "Contraband" and if they chose to were allowed to work on various Union military projects including helping build fortifications for which they were paid twenty-five cents a day. The document is, entitled: "Notice to Judicial officers taking testimony in cases of slaves abducted or harbored by the enemy & of other property seized waisted or destroyed by the enemy." A typical legally worded document which exhaustively outlines the terms under which a slave owner can file a claim for missing slaves and "other property seized waisted or destroyed by the enemy". Interestingly, Secretary Browne even saw fit to add that duplicate affidavits would cost no more than ten cents per every one hundred words. WILLIAM M. BROWNE (1823-1883) English born Secessionist who became known as "Constitution Browne." Appointed acting secretary of state by Jeff Davis in 1861. He later resigned to become Davis' aide-de-camp and before the end of the war was appointed brigade general. Near fine.
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