Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-01-22

MASON, better 10 secure than at present, tile arrcs
and return Of fugitive slaves and fuglivcs from justice
Those in the South who have the misfortune be bordc
States border counties know well tho vcxaons ncdcn
to their position and the almost entire insecurity of the sav
population under existing laws, least the present con
strucion of them by the authorities of the Free States
Some such enactment the Bill proposed by onr worth!
Senator is positively necessary to 10 the most oh
vious demands of justice and for which the South is deter
mined 10 contend of the pancst yet most sacret
rights guaranteed her by the Constitution This bill has
been reported the Senate from the Judiciary Committee
without serious changes and trust that may be adopt
cd On this point, the striking special message ol thai
able statesman and faithful champion of the South Cover
| nor Thomas of Maryland.
Bill provide for the ctlocual execution Of the
third clause of the second section Of the fourth article OF
the Constitution of the United States.
BE IL enacted by the Senate and House Of Representatives
Of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That when person held 10 service labor in State
Territory of the United States under the laws "i such State
Territory, shall escape into of the said States Ter
rioes the person TO whom such service labor nny b. due
his her agent attorney hereby empowered TO seize
arrest such fugitive labor and take him
her before any Judge of circuit district of the
United States before any commissioner, clerk Of such
courts marshal thereof any postmaster of the United
States collector of the customs Of the United States
siding being within such State wherein such seizure
shall be made and upon proof 10 the satisfaction
of such Judge, commissioners clerk marshal, postmaster
collector the may be- either by oral csiimony a
d, taken before and certified by person authorized 10
administer oath under the laws of the United States
of state that the seized arrested under The
laws of The State Territory from which he she fled
service or labor to the person claiming him or ho
shall be the duty o such Judge commissioner clerk mar
sa postmaster collector, give certificate thereof 10
such claimant his or her agent or attorney winch cerl-
shall be sufficient warrant for taking and rcmoN ins
such fugitive from service or labor 10 the State or the cro-
rv from which he or she fled
Sec , That when person held service or labor, as
mentioned in the first section of this act, shall escape from
such service labor therein mentioned the person 10
SlO Sill D.
attorney apply any oi the officers OF The nj
ted States named in said secon other than marshal OF the
United States for seize and arrest such fugitive
and upon affidavit being made before such officer each of
whom for the purposes of this is hereby authorized 10 ad
minis oath amaon by such claimant hls, or her
agent that such person does under The laws OF the SAID
State Territory from which he she He'd owe service or
labor TO such claimant, il shall be, and is hereby made the
duty Of officer, and before whom such application
and aiidav made issue his any marshal
any Of the OF the untod States 10 seize and arrest
such alleged fugitive and TO bring him or her forthwith, or
day be named in such warrant before the officer is
suing such warrant either oi the other officers nention
ed in said first section except The marshal 10 whom the said
warrant is directed which said warrant Or authority the sald
marshal hereby authorized and directed in all things 10
obey.
See B. That any person who shall knowingly and willing
ly obstruct hinder such claimant his agent or attorney or
any person persons assisting him. her hc!n III
wing arresting such fugitive from service or labor,
or shall rescue such fugitive from such claimant,
his agent attorney, when arrested. pursuant 10
the authority herein given declared, shall aid
abe, assist such person owing service or labor 10
escape MS III VI
harbor or conceal such person. notice hat he she
fugitive from labor aforesaid shall iur either Of the
said Offences forfeit and The sum oi one thousand dol
lars which penalty may be recovered by and for c benefit
of such claimant by action oi debt in court proper 10
try the same saving moreover ii the person claiming such
labor service his right Of action o the said
injuries either o them.
Sec t. That when said person is seized arrested under,
and BY virtue, of the said by such marshall and Is
brought before either Of the officers aforesaid other Than said
marshal il shall be the duty such officer proceed in the
Of such person. in the same way Is he Is directed and
10 do when such person seized and arrested
the person claiming him. orly his her agent attorney
and brough, before such officer under the provisions o the
first section of this act.