Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-08-30
The Fugitive Slave Bill.

been finally disposed OF, SO Iar as ehe oo'o - oo
cerned Or at least the last one the fugitive slave
BILL has passed its third reading and ordered to be
engrossed, by vote of 81 yeas to II nays A long,
tedious, and difficult task has the Senate had to
work through. They have, however, succeeded,
at the eleventh hour, in accomplishing what we
fervently hope will result in a permanent peace
to the American Union The five great measures
of the day are now before the House, to be decided
on by that body viz: LIST, the Utah bill; "a, the
Texas boundary bill 3d. the California bill; 4th
the bill to establish territorial Government IN New
Mexico; 5th, the Fugitive Slave bill. We have
thought it best to place the last named bill before
our readers in this days paper in order that they
NAV know its whole contents. It contains ten Sec
tions.
The first section authorizes and requires the COM
missoners of the circuit courts of the United States
to exercise and discharge all the powers and duties
of this act.
Sec I'd, provides that all commissioners appointed
by the Superior courts of any organized territory of
the United States shall exercise and discharge all the
duties conferred upon the commissioners appointed
by the circuit courts of the United States, relative
to this act.
Sec. I'd, confers power the u S. circuit courts
to enlarge the number of commissioners with view
to afford reasonable facilities to reclaim gtves from
labor.
Sec 4th, makes it the duty of the commissioners
to confer with the judges of the circuit and district
courts of the U. S., and the judges of the superior
courts of the territories at any tme and grant GER
tfcates to claimants, to reclaim fugtives from labor
to the State territory from which they may have
escaped.
Sec. 5th, makes it the duty of all marshals and
deputy marshals to obey and execute all warrants and
preceps issued under the provisions of this act when
to them directed. 1t imposes a fine of $1,000 upon
conviction thereof any of the above officers for
fusing to receive such warrant, for not using all
proper means diligently to execute the same. For
the escape of such fugitive after arrest whether with
or without the assent of such marshal his deputy
such marshal to be LIABLE his official bond to be
prosecuted for the full value of the fugitive in the
State District, Territory whence he escaped. 1t
also empowers the marshals with power to summon
to their aid the bystanders posse comtatus of the
proper county, to ensure the faithful observance of
the constitution relative to fugtves from labor and
all good citizens commanded to aid and assist in
the prompt execution of this law &c. &c.
Sec 9th, points out the manner in which the own
err or agent may proceed to arrest the fugitive Tes
|
Sec 18th, provides that any person knowingly to
obstruct hinder prevent the claimant or his agent
or any person lawfully assisting him. from arrestng
such slave; for rescuing attempting to rescue
for aiding in the rescue, for harboring con-
ceang such slave to prevent the discovery and
arrest of such slave, after notice knowledge Of
such fact that such person was fugitive from ser
vice or labor, &c. &C., shall be subject to fine no
exceeding one thousand dollars and Imprisonment
not exceeding six months, by Indictment and shall
forfeit and pay by way of civil damages to the par
ty injured by such illegal conduct, the of $1,000
for each fugitive so lost as aforesaid
Sec. 9th: provides for the fees the marshas ant
other officers shall receive for the services they
hg thai est 4 Che d Of HI hs 6 6ceF o S
rests the slave to him to the State or Terri
tory whence he escaped, and there deliver him up t.
the claimant when the claimant shall make afhda
Wit that he has to believe that such fugtiv
will be rescued from him by force before he b.
taken beyond the limits of the State in which the ar
rest is made; the expense of such removal by tn
officer to be paid out of the United States Treasury
Sec. 10th, provides that satisfactory proof mad
before any court of record judge in vacation tina
person held to service or labor has made his es
cape, and owed service Gin the State, Territory, O
District where the affidavit is made the court shall
cause record to be made Of the matter so proved
and transcript of the same, authenticated by tn
clerk, with the seal of said court, being produced il
s any other State, Territory or District where tn
: slave may be found, the judge or other person Iii
the State where the slave is found) having the pow
er is required to grant certificate to the caiman
of his right to arrest any such slave owing service
, apHfr 10 h. g.
g capped.
is In the above analysis, we have not, in every ir
IS stance, followed the words of the bill We have
however, cndeavored to present, in concise forr
as we could, the meaning and substance of it, Fc
t. our part think the bill is fully as strong as
# could we'll be made. Whether if it should pass th
House and become a law, it can be enforced or no
l. will have to be determined hereafter We see n
why it should not be carried out to it's fulle
l. extent The penalties for negligence of duty by tn
a public officers are heavy and We think wit
the Washington Union, that the bill is decidedly lii
eral in its spirit for the benefit of the South ecier
in its provisions and we'll calculated to carry out tn
~ guarantees of the constitution.
g Southern Rights Mass Meeting.
~ A mass meeting of the people of Georgia, CONVEX
" ed at Macon in that State on the 22d inst. Their
are various accounts of the number present On
J. account says that there 5000, another 15O
= another 400. The meeting was, however, held