The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-28
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
:
AMENDMENTS AND VOTES
ON THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL.
(CoNTJNUED.)

August IA.
Mr. UNDERWOOD now move to amend
the bill by striking out all after the enacting clause
and inserting what have prepared.
The amendment was read as follows:
That persons who have been, or may hereafter
be, appointed commissioners, in virtue of any act
Of Congress, by the circuit courts of the United
States, and who, in consequence of such appoint
ment, are authorized to exercise the powers that
any justice of the peace or other magistrate of
any Of the United States may exercise in respect to
offenders for any crime offence against the
United States, by arresting, imprsoning, or bail
ing the same under and by virtue Of the thirty
third section of the act of the twenty fourth Of
September, seventeen hundred and eigthy-nine,
entitled San act to establish the judicial courts Of
the United States" shall be, and are hereby, au-
thorized and required to exercise and discharge all
the powers and duties conferred by the third sec
ton of the act Of Congress approved February
twelve, seventeen hundred and ninety -three, enti-
tied "An act respecting fugitiyes from justice, and
persons escaping from the service Of their mas
ters, upon the judges and magistrates in said
third section mentioned.
SEC. 9. find be il further enacted, That the SUI
perior court of each organized territory of the
United States shall have the same power TO APP
point commissioners to take Acknowledgements
Of bail and affidavit, and to take dispositions of
Witnesses in civil causes, which is now possessed
by the circuit courts of the United States and !
commissioners who shall hereafter be appointed
for such purposes by the superior court of any
organized territory Of the United States shall pos
sess all the powers and exercise all the duties con-
ferred by law upon the commissioners appointed
by the circuit courts Of the United States for SIM
liar purposes, and shall moreover exercise and
discharge all the powers and duties conferred by
the third section of the act Of Congress, approved
February twelve, seventeen hundred and ninety
three, in the preceding section of this act mem
toned
ho f,,.fHc frI Int ha cIr-
cult courts of the United States, and the superior
courts of each organized territory of the United
States, shall from time to time enlarge the number
of commissioners, with view to afford reasona-
be facilities to reclaim fugtives from labor, and
to the prompt discharge of the duties imposed by
this act.
Sec. a. find be IL further enacted, That the
commissioners appointed heretofore, or who may
hereafter be appointed, and Who by virtue of this
act are vested with jurisdiction to execute the
powers and duties in reference to fugtives from
labor, given by the third section of the act afore-
said, approved February twelve, seventeen hum
dred and nnety-three, to the Judges and magis-
tra,es in SAID section mentioned shall be- and they
hereby authorized to issue all needful process
for the arrest Of the person claimed as fugitive
from labor, and to compel the attendance of wit
nesses which process may be directed TO any
marshal Of the United States, or to any person
specially designated by the commissioner in the
Of the person to whom the process is directed to
execute the same with all convenient despatch !;
and if any marshal or deputy marshal shall refuse
unreasonably delay the execution OF such pro-
cess, he shall, on that account, be dismissed from
office. Such commissioner when sitting to try
the cause upon the return of the process, shall
have power to punish all persons guilty of disor-
derby conduct and contempt of his authority IN
his presence, by Imprisonment not exceeding
twenty-fou hours for any one offence; and any
person who interrupts or dsturbs any commits
sioner in the discharge OF his duties under this act
shalIsbe guilty of misdemeanor, and, on convic-
ton thereof, before any court OF competent Jurs-
diction shall be fined in sum not less than one
hundred dollars nor more than i've hundred dol
lars ard imprisoned not less than three nor more
than twelve months, at the discretion or the Jury
which tries the preseniment or Indictment. The
marshal, deputy marshal, or person specially de-
signated to execute the process ara Precepts OF
the commissioner, shall attend upon the commits
sioner at the trial, and obey his commands in the
preservation of order and the punishment Of those
guilty Of contempt of the authority of such COM
missioner.
Sec s. find be il further enacted, That when
any person held to service or labor in any State
territory, or in the District Of Columbia, under
the laws thereof shall escape therefrom, the party
10 whom such service or labor shall be due, his,
her. or their agent, attorney, guardian or trustee,
may apply to any court Of record in the county or
parish from which the person so held to service or
labor shall escape, il in session, or to judge Of
said court in vacation, and make satisfactory
proof to such court or Judge Of the escape afore
said, and that the person escaping owed service
or labor to such party. Whereupon the court or
Judge shall cause record to be made Of the mat
ters so proved, and also general description Of
the person so escaping, with such convenient GER