Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-20
FUGITIVE SLAVE Bill.

In SENATE MONDAY, JUNE 4TH, 1850
Mr. WEBSTER Mr.. President at an early period of
the session turned my attention the subject of pre-
parng bill respecting the retaining of fugitive slaves
or OF preparing certain amendments to the existing law
on that subject In pursuance OF this purpose confer
red with some OF the most eminent members of the pro-
esson, and especially with high judicial authority
who has had more to do with questions of this kind
presume, than any other Judge in the United States
After these consultations and conferences as early as r
February | prepared bill amendatory of the act O
1898 intending when proper came to lay it before
the Senate Tor lis consideration. | now wish to present
the bill 10 the Senate unaered and precisely as if WINS
when prepared in February last.
MI. DAYTON. hope that the paper will be printed
The bill was then laid on the table and ordered TO be
printed, as follows:
BILL amendatory of An act respecting fueitives
from justice and persons escaping from the service of
their masters approved February H. 1893
BeA enacted By the Senate and House Of Repre-
Sentatires Of the United States of Iimerica in Con-
gress assembled That the provisions of the said art
shall extend TO the Territories OF the United States
and that the commissioners who now are or who NAV
hereafter be appointed by the Circuit Courts of the
United States, or the District Courts where Circuit
Courts not established by the Territorial courts
OF the United States all Of which courts are authorized
and required to appoint one or more commissioners in
each county to take Acknowledgements of bail and ai-
davts, and also to take dispositions of witnesses in civil
causes, and who shall each, or any Judge of the United
States on complaint being made on oath to him that
fugitive from labor believed to be within the State
or Territory in which he lives issue his warrant to the
shall be willing to it, authorizing an arrest of the
fugitive, it within the State or Territory to be brought
before him other commissioner or Judge of the
United States within the State or Territory that
the right of the person claiming the services of such f-
gitive may be examined. And on the hearing, deposi-
ton, duly authenticated and paro proof shall be heard
10 establish the identity of the fugitive and the right OF
claimant and also to show that slavery is estab-
lshed in the State from which the fugitive absconded.
And II on such hearing the commissioner or Judge shall
lind the claim to the services OF the fugitive, as
asserted sustained by the evidence, he shall make out
certificate OF the material facts proved and of his
Judgment thereon which he shall sgr, and which shall
be conclusive ofthe right OF the claimant or his agent
to take the fugitive back the State from whence he
fled ProUded that if the fugitive shall deny that he
owes service to the claimant under the laws of the
State where he held and after being duly caution
ed as to the soemnues and consequences of an oath
shall swear to the same the commissioner or Judge shall
forthwith summon jury of twelve men to try the right
of the claimant, who shall be sworn to try the cause
according to evidence, and the commissioner or Judge
shall preside at the trial and determine the competency
OF the proof.
Sec. 2 And be ii further enacted, That the commits
soner shall receive ten dollars in each case tried by him
aforesaid the jurors fifty EACH and the marshal
or other person serving the process shall receive five
dollars Tor serving the warrant each fugitive, and
tor mileage and other services the same as are allowed
to the marshal tor similar services be examined and
allowed by The commissioner or Judge, and paid by the
claimant.