Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-10-03

number of commissioners, with view to afford
reasonable facilities to reclaim fugitives from
labor, and to the prompt discharge of the duties
imposed by this act.
SEc. A. And be Il further ennctsd, That the
commissioners above named shall have concur
rent Jurisdiction with the judges Of the circuit
and district courts of the United States in their
respective circuits and dieiricts within the sew
eral States, and the judges of the superior courts
of the Territories, severally and collectively, in
term-time and vacation and shall grant ceriifi-
Gates to such claimants upon satisfactory proof
being made, with authority to take and remove
such fugi,ises from service or labor, under the
restrictions herein contained, to the State or
Territory from which such persons may have es-
caped or fed.
SIC. S. find be Il further enacied, That it shall
be the duty of all marshals and deputy mar
shals TO obey and execute all warrants and pre-
cepts issued under the provisions Of this act
when 10 them directed and should any marshal
or deputy marshal refuse % receive such war
rant or other process when rendered. or to use
all proper means diligently to execute the same,
he shall, on conviction thereof, be fined N the
sun of one thousand dollars. TO the use OF such
claimant, on the motion Of sucn claimant, by the
circuit or district court for the district OF such
such marshal or his deputy, or whilst at any tune
in his custody under the provisions under this
act, should such fugitive escape, whether with
or without the assent of such marshal or his dep
uiy. such marshal shall be liable on his official
bond to be prosecuted for the benefit of such
claimant for the full value of the service or Ia
Dor of said fugitive, ih the State, territory, or
district whence he escaped; and the better to
enable the said commissioners, when thus APP
pointed to execute their duties TAI hiuly and eff
ficiently, in conformity with the requirements OF
the Constitution of the United States. and OF
this act, they are hereby authorized and empow-
cred, within their counties respectively, to ap-
point, in writing under their hands. any one or
more suitable persons, IRON time 10 time, TO exc
cute all such warrants and oiher process as may
be issued by them in the lawful performance OF
their respective duties; with authority to such
commissioners, or the persons to be appointed
by them, to execute process as Aforesaid, 10 sum-
mon and ii to their aid lie bysIanders, or pos
SC comiaius of the proper county, when neces-
sary 10 ensure faithful observance of The clause
of the Constitution referred to, In conformity
with the PROVISIONS of this act and all good cit
zens are hereby commanded TO aid and assist IN
the prompt and efficient execution of this law,
Whenever their services may be required, as a.
foresaid, for that purpose; aud SAID warrants
shall run, and be executed by said offlcers any
where in the State within which they are Issued.
Sec. 6. find be ii further enacied That when
a person held TO service labor In any State or
Territory OF the United States, his heretofore or
shall hereafter ess ape into another State or Ter
ritory of the United Safes, the person or per-
sons to whom such service or labor Hay be due,
or his, her, their agent or attorney, duly au-
thorized BY power of attorney, IN wri'ing, ac-
knowledged and certified under the seal OF some
lie gal officer or court Of the Stale or Territory
in which the same may be executed, may pursue
and reclaim such fugitive person, eilher oy pro-
curing a warrant from Some one OF the courts,
Judges, or commissioners aforesaid. OF The prop
er circuit district, or county, for the aPPrehen-
sion of ouch fugitive from service or labor, or by
sezing and anestlng such fugitive, where the
same can be done without process, and by ia
king, or causing such person to be taken, iorth-
with before such cour, judge,cr commissioner
whose duty it shall be TO hear and dete. mlae the
case Of such claimant in summary manner ;
and upon satisfactory proof being made, by dep
osition or affidavit in writing, to be taken and
certified by such court, Judge, or commissioner
or by other satisfactory testimony, duly taken
and certified by some court. magistrate, lusiice
of the peace, or o,her legal officer authorized 10
administer an oath and take deposltIons under
the laws of the State or territory from which
such person owing service or labor may have es-
capped, with certificate of such maglsiracy OF
other authority, as aforesaid with the seal OF the
proper court or officer thereto attached, when
seal shall be sufficient TO est bish the conpeten
cy of the proof, and with proof, also by afhdavlt
OF the identity of the person whose service Oh
labor is cliimed TO be due as aforesaid, that the
person SO arrested does in fact owe service Of
IL Il. mr.
Stale or Territory from which such fugitive may
have escaped as aforesaid, and that SAID person
escaped, to make out and deliver 10 such claim
ant. his or her agent or attorney, certificate set
ling forth Inc substantial fdc;s as to the service
or abor due from such fugitive to the Claimant
and of his or her escape from the State or Ter
ritory in which such service or labor was due, t'
the State or Territory in which he or she was ar
rested, with Authority TO such Claimant, OF MS
her agent or attorney, to use such reasohaoi'
force and restraint MS may be necessary, unde
the circumstances Of the case, TO take and re
move such fugi i've person back to the Stale o
Territory whence be or she may have ESCAPED
a. aforesaid. In no trial or bearing, under I'M
act. shall the testimony Of such ailedsed fngl
tive be ad nited in evidence; and The cerlll
Gates in this, and the first section mentioned
/ shall be conclusive of the right OF the person o
petoOuS III WuiioS iosOt S""'N " '~"'Ss -
, fugitive To the State or Territory from which h
escaped, and shall prevent all mo'esta''on OF sue
: person or persons, by any process issued oy an
: court, judge, magistrate or other person, whom
: soever. .a.ls..s. sa.
SEC z. .4nd be Il further enaeted, That an
person who shall knowingly and willingly oh
s,ruct, hinder or prevent suth Claimant, his
gent or attorney, or any person or parsons Jaw
fully assisting him, her, or them, from arresun
e such fugitive from service or labor, either vii
u or without process as aforesaii; or shall rescu
e or attempt 10 rescue such fugitive from servc
|, or labor, from the custody OF such CLAIMANT b
;. or her agent or attorney, or other person or pei
J. sons lawfully assisting as aforesaid, when SO a
u rested, pursuant 10 The authority herein give
e and declared; or shall aid, abet, or assist sue
J. person so owing service or labor as aforesaid,
= rectly or indirectly, to escape from such clam
ant. his agent or attorney, or ohei person or PEI
sons legally authorized as aforesaid; or shn
e haroor or conceal such fugitive, SO as to preveI
d the discovery aud arrest of such person, ate
II uotlce or knowledge Of the fact that such Pc
>, son was fugitive from service or labor as aior'
e SAID, SHALL tor either OF said offences, be sube
n to fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, al
"a Imprisonment not exceeding SIX months, by II
% dictnent and CONVICTION before the district cou
- ,r .bo IIn,,od St.tos for the district WhiC