Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-10-24
FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL.

SentatiUeS Of the Uaited States Of America IN Con-
greSS assembled That the persons who have been,
or may hereafter be, appointed commissioners, in
virtue Of any of Congress, by the circuit courts
Of the United States, and who, in consequence OF
such appointment, are authorised to exercise the
powers that any justice of the peace or other ma
gstrate of any of the United State may exercise
in respect TO offenders for any crime offence "a
gainst the United Staiess by arrestng, mprson-
Ing, or bailing the same under and by virtue of the
thirty third section of the act of the twentyfourth
of September, seventeen hundred and eighty nine,
entitled An act to establish the judicial courts of
the United States," shall be, and are hereby au-
thorzed and required TO exercise and discharge
all the powers and duties conferred by this act.
SEC 9. And be ii further enacted, That the supe-
ror court Of each organized territory of the United
States shall have the same power to appoint COM
missioners to take Acknowledgements of bail and
affidavit, and to take dispositions of witnesses in
civil causes, which is possessed by the circuit
courts of the United States and all commission
ers who shall hereafter be appointed for such pur-
poses by the superior court of any organized ter
rory OF the United States shall possess all the
powers and exercise all the duties conferred by
] law upon the commissioners appointed by the cir
cult courts of the United States for similar purpor-
es, and shall moreover exercise and discharge. all
the powers and duties conferred by this act.
/ SEC. 8. And be IL further enacted, That the cir
cult courts of the United States, and the superior
courts of each organized territory OF the United
States shall from time 10 time enlarge the number
of commissioners, with a view to afford reasonable
facilities to reclaim fuglves from labor and to the
prompt discharge of the duties imposed by this
act
SEC 4. And be ii further enacted, That the COM
missioners above named shall have concurrent ju-
risdcton with the judges of the circuit and dis
trct courts the United States, in their respective
circuits and districts within the several States, and
the judges Of the superior courts of the Territories,
severally and collectively, in term time and vaca-
tion and shall grant certificates 10 such claimants,
upon satisfactory proof being made, with authority
to take and remove such fugitives from service or
labor, under the restrictions herein contained, TO
the State or territory from which such person may
have escaped or fed.
! SEC s. And be IT further enacted, That it shall
be the duty Of all marshals and deputy marshas 10
obey and execute all warrants and precepts issued
under the provisions Of this act, when to them d-
rected; and should any marshal or deputy marshal
refuse to receive such warrant or other process,
when rendered, or 10 use all porper means dill
gently to execute the same, he shall, on convic-
tion thereof, be fined in the sum Of one thousand
dollars to the use OF such claimant, on the motion
Of such claimant, by the circuit or district court
for the district of such marshall and after arrest Of
such fugitive by such marshal or his deputy, or
whilst al any time in his custody, under the pro-
visions OF this act should such lugitives escape,
whether with or without the assent Of such mar
shall or his deputy, such marshal shall be liable,
on his official bond to be prosecuted for the ben
eft of such claimant for the foil valre Of The ser
vice or labor of said fugitive in the State, Terrific
ry, or district whence he escaped and the better
10 enable the said commissioners, when thus ap-
pointed TO execute their duties faithfully and eff
GENTLY in conformity with the requirements of the
constitution Of the United States and Of this act,
they are hereby authorized and empowered, with
in their counties respectively, to appoint in writing
under their hands, any suitable per-
sons, from time to time, TO execute all such war
rants and other process as may be issued by them
in the lawful performance Of their respective du-
ties; with an authority TO such commissioners, or
the persons to be appointed by them, to execute
process as aforesaid, to summon ard call to their
aid the bystanders or posse comuatus of the prop
er county, when necessary to insure faithful OBJ
servance of the clause Of the constitution referred
to, in conformity with the provisions Of this act ::
and all good citizens are hereby commanded 10
aid and assist in the prompt and efficient execution
of This law, whenever their services may be re-
quired, as aforesaid, for that purpose; and said
warrants shall run and be executed by said officers
anywhere in the State within which they are is
sued.
1 SEC. 6. And be 1t further enacted, That when a
person held TO service or labor in any State or
Territory Of the United States has heretofore or
shall hereafter escape into another State or Terri
tory of the United States, the person persons to
whom such service or labor may be due, OF his,
her, or their agent attorney, duly authorized, by
power OF attorney, in writing, acknowledged and
certified under the seal of some legal office or
court Of the State or Territory in which the same
may be executed, may pursue and reclaim such
fugitive person, either by procuring warrant from
some one of the courts, Judges or commissi oners
aforesaid of the proper circuit district or county,
for the apprehension of such fugitive from service