American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-01-27

within state, will find their liberty and property put
jeopardy by of the provisions. We shall be disap
pointed the law do not strong feelings Of sappro
ba'icn IN every rejecting citizen.
An act relating to Fugves from Labor.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
SIGNATURES Of the State of Deapare in General us
| senbty met, That when person held to labor Of
service in any Of the United States or either Of thu
Territories thereof, under the laws thereof shall es
cape into this State, the person to whom such labo
or service is due, his or her agent or attorney, il
hereby authorized to apply to any Judge or justice
Of any court of record, TO any justice of the
or to any burgess of borough or town corporate
who, on such application, supported by the oath oil
affirmation OF such claimant agent or attorney, tina
said fugitive hath escaped from his her service
from the service Of the person for whom he Is agen
or attorney, shall grant his warrant under his hano
and seal and directed to any sheriff constable, au
thorizng and empowering said sheriff or constable
to seize and arrest said fugitive who shall be named
in said warrant and TO bring said fugitive before said
officer issuing SAID warrant or before some othcl
Judge justice OF court OF record some justice
oil the peace or burgess of borough or town corpo
rate, which said warrant shall be in the form or u
the effect following, VIE state Of Delaware, -
COUNTY, IS To the sheriff or any constable OF said
county This is 10 authorize and require you to
(or servant as the case may be) of - and him (or
her) to bring forthwith before me or some judge
of said State justice of the peace in aud for said
county Gf in Newcastle county add-or some bur
CESS Of the Borough Of Wilminglon,) to be dea!'
with the law directs ;-by virtue OF which preccpi
the said fugitive therein named may be arrested by
the said officer whom the is directed in any
part OF this state.
SEC. g. .qnd be 1T further enacted, That the said
fugitive when so arrested shall be brought be fore the
officer in that behalf named and upon proof TO the
satisfaction of such officer that the person SO sczec
or arrested, DOTH under the laws oil the state or ter
ritory from which he she hed. owe service or la
Dor to the person claiming him or her, it shall bs
the duty OF such judge other officer aore said to
give a certificate thereof to such claimant, his OF
her agent or attorney, which shall be sufficient
warrant for removing said fugitive TO the state or
territory from Which he or she fed.
SEC. 8. find BE- 1t further enacted, That if any
person or persons shall obstruct or hinder Such
sheriff constable, claimant agent, or attorney, in
so seizing, arresting, or removing such fugitive
from labor shall aid abet in the rescue OF such
fugitive from such sheriff, constable, agent claim
ant, or attorney, shall assemble together with in
tention to interrupt such sheriff constable, CLAIMANT
agent or attorney, in the due execution Of this act
they shall on conviction thereof by indictment for
felt and pay sum not exceeding ive hundred dol
lars and be imprisoned for period not less than
three months nor more than twelve months, and
shall be liable to action at the suit Of the owner
OF said fugitive for damages.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That if any
captain commander of any vessel, or other per-
shall carry transport by water, cause to be
carried transported by water out OF this State
any person held to labor service by any citizen or
inhab,ant Of this State by any citizen or inhabi
r. has &c he TTp.ta thero
The territories thereof, and who shall have escaped
into this State. such captain or commander or
other person shall pay to the owner Of such person
held to labor service. the sum Of Five Hundred
Dollars, 10 be recovered by an action on the case,
or on conviction thereof by indictment be subject to
fine not exceeding FIVE hundred dollars and i'm
pri.onment not less than three more than twelve
months at the discretion Of the party aggrieced ];
and such election shall be determined by his bring.
ing his action the or insttuting his prose-
cuion by Indictment And If any negro or mulatto
shall carry transport by water any person held to
labor or service aforesaid, he shall on conviction
thereof by indictment be punished by hne or i'm
prisonment or by being whipped with thirty nine
stripes, in the discretion OF the court
SEC S. find be it further enacted, That if any
suspicious coored person shall be taken up travel
ling through this Government without having suf
6cient pass signed by some justice or proper officer
of the place whence he or she came, approved and
renewed by some justice of the peace in the parts
through which such person hath travelled or shall
not otherwise be able give good and satisfactory
account OF him or herself 10 the justice before
whom he or she shall be brought, such person shall,
by the said Justice be committed to the jail OF the
county whr,e he or she shall be taken up, and be
deemed to be and dealt with as runaway servant.
SEC. g. .qna be it further enacted, That this
act shall be given in charge to the Grand Jury BY
the Judges of the Court Of Quarter Sessions OF
this State at the several sessions Of said Court.
Ia,aa L. Lat N1oilE