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Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

"The Writings of Abraham Lincoln - Volume 2: 1843-1858"


Sec. 5. That the municipal authorities of Washington and Georgetown,
within their respective jurisdictional limits, are hereby empowered and
required to provide active and efficient means to arrest and deliver up
to their owners all fugitive slaves escaping into said District.
Sec. 6. That the election officers within said District of Columbia are
hereby empowered and required to open polls, at all the usual places of
holding elections, on the first Monday of April next, and receive the
vote of every free white male citizen above the age of twenty-one years,
having resided within said District for the period of one year or more
next preceding the time of such voting for or against this act, to
proceed in taking said votes, in all respects not herein specified, as at
elections under the municipal laws, and with as little delay as possible
to transmit correct statements of the votes so cast to the President of
the United States; and it shall be the duty of the President to canvass
said votes immediately, and if a majority of them be found to be for this
act, to forthwith issue his proclamation giving notice of the fact; and
this act shall only be in full force and effect on and after the day of
such proclamation.


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