Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-10-01
[PuBLIC--No. S.


AN ACT further supplementary to an act
entitled "An act to establish the judicia
courts of the United States" passed the
twenty-fourth of September, seventeen
hundred and eighty-nine.
Be it enacted blythe Senate and House Of
Representatives. Of the United States Of
America, in Congress assembled, That the
commissioners who now are, or hereafter
may be, appointed by the circuit courts OF
the United States to take acknowledge.
ments Of bail and atfidayits, and also to
take dispositions of witnesses in civil causes
shall and may exercise all the powers that
any Justice of the peace or other magistrate
of any of the United States may now ex-
erc,se, in respect to offenders for any crime
or offence against the United States, by
arresting imprisonng, or baiIing the same.
under and by virtue of the thirty third sec
ton of the act Of the twenty fourth of
September, Ammo Domini seventeen hun
dred and eighty-nnc, entitled An act to
establish the judicial courts Of the United
States;' and who shall and may exercise
all the powers that any Judge or justice Of
the peace may exercise under and in virtue
of the sixth section Of the act passed the
twentieth of July, Ammo Domini seventeen
hundred and ninety, entitled IAN act for
the government and regulation of seamen
in the merchant service"
Sec. .. And be 1t further enacted, That
in all hearings before any Justice or Judge
of the United States, or any commissioner
appointed as aforesaid, under and in virtue
of the said thirty-third section of the act
entitled IAN act to establish the judicial
courts of the United States" it shall be law
full for such Justice, Judge, or commissioner,
where the crime or offence is charged to
have been committed on the high seas or
elsewhere within the admiralty aud mari
time jurisdiction of the United States, in
his discretion TO require rCc7gnizanCe Of
any witness produced in behalf Of the &C
cused, with such surety or surcties as he may
Judge necessary, as well rs in behalf Of
the United States, for their appearing and
giving testimony at the trial of the cause,
whose testimony, in his opinion, is import
ant for the purposes of justice at the trial
of the cause, and is in danger of being 9th
erwise lost and such witnesses shall be
entitled 10 receive from the United States
the usual compensation allowed TO Govern
ment witnesses for their detention and al
tendance, if they shall appear and be ready
to give testimony al the trial.
Sc" 8. Ard be u FURTHER en7c'ad, That
the district courts Of the United States
shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the
circuit courts of all crimes and offences
against the United States tie punishment
of which is not capital And in such Of
the districts where the business OF the court
may require it 10 be done for the purposes o
justice and to prevent undue expenses and
DELAYS in the trial of criminal causes, the
said district courts shall hold monthly ad
iournments of the regular terms thereof
for the trial and hearing Of such causes.
Sec. 4. And be il further enacted, That,
in lieu Of the punishment now prescribed
by the section OF he act of Congress en-
titled "An act for the punishment Of Ger
tain crimes against the United States,
passed on the thirtieth day Of April, Annr !,
Domin one thousand seven hundred and |
ninety, for the offences in the said section |
mentioned, the punishment Of the offender
upon conviction thereof shall be by fine .
not exceeding one thousand dollars. or by
Imprisonment not exceeding one year, or
by both, according to the nature and agra
walton of the offence.
Sec. S. And be ii further enacted, That
the district courts as courts of admiralty,
and the circuit courts as courts Of equity,
shall be deemed always open for the pur.
pose of filing libels, bills, petitions, answers,
pleas, and other pleadngs, for issuing and
mesne and final process and
commissions, aud for making and directing
all interIocutory motions, orders, rules, and {
other proceedings whatever, preparatory 4
10 the hearing of all causes pending therein I
upon their merits. And it shall be compe- l
.ent for any Judge Of the court, upon rea-
sonable notice to the parties, in the clerks {
office or at chambers, and in vacation as {
we'll as in term, to make and direct, and G.
award all such processg commissions, and {
orders, rules and other pro-