Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-06-20
n Webster. q, Fugitive slave

Below ve give = copy fsrnished ~ tbs Nn.
';onal IntelIigescer, Of The bin spoken Of day
or two since a. having been offered in The Sen.
ate BY Mr.. Webster, a. an amendment to the
Compromise Resolutions Of Nj. Clay. In Offer
ing this bill. Nj. Webster remarked that 1t IN
early period Of the session be turned bis stte
ton to the subject Of preparing bill respecting
the reclaiming Of fugitive slaves, or Of preparing
certain amendments to the existing lay on that
subject In pursuance Of this purpose, be con-
ferred with some Of the most eminent members
Of the profession, and especially with high ju-
dicial suihority, who has had more to do with
questions of this kind than any other Judge in
the United States After these consultations
and conferences a. early as in February, Nj
Webster prepared bill amsndatosy to the act
of 1898, intending when proper time came, to
lay ii before the Senate for iss consideration
He now wished to present the bill 10 the Senate
unal;ered, and precisely - it was when prepared
in February last: aai sou fae Aafa
A BILL smeuds,ory Of -"sn act requesting tu-
ei.lves from instlce and persons escaping from
The service Of their MASTERS" approved Feb
ruary IL, l193
BE Il enaeted bg the Senate and House Of Rep
rtseniutires of the Uniied Slaief 81 .4sne1cn, IN
c--s.... -~.s-.ss.k, Thst the provisions uf ssid
Act shall extend to the Territories Of tine United
States; and that the commissioners whb now
are, or who may hereafter be appointed by the
Circuit Court OF the United States, or the Die
trict Courts where Circuit Courts are not estab.
L.. a. s,c
States, all Of which courts are authorized and
required 10 sppont one or more commissioners
in each county TO take Acknowledgements of bail
and aiidaviie, and also to take deposition of wit
nesses in civil causes, and who shall each. OF
any Judge OF the United States, on complaint
being made on oath TO him that fugitive from,
labor is believed to be within the State or Terri
tory in which he lives, issue bis warrant 10 the
Marshal of the United States, or to any other
person who shall be willing to serve It, authori-
zing an arrest Of the fugitive, if within the
Stale or Territory, TO be brought before him or
some other commissioner or Judge of the Uni
led States Court within the State or Territory,
that the right of the person claiming the servi-
ces of such fugitive may be examined. And on
The hearing, dispositions duly authenticated, and
parol proof shall be heard to establish the iden-
tity of the fugitive and the right of the claimant,
ana also 10 snow mat slavery Is estuOiioueQ III
the Stale from which the fugitive absconded.-
And If on such hearing the commissioner or
Judge shall find the claim TO the services of the
fugitive, as asserted, sustained by the evidence,
he shall make out a certificate of the material
facts proved, and of his judgment thereon, which
he shall sign, and which shall be conclusive of
the right of the claimant or his agent to take the
fugitive back 10 the State from whence he fed.
Prouided, That il the fugitive shall deny that he
owes service to the claimant under the laws of
the Stale where he was held, and after being
duly cautioned ss to the solemnitics and conse-
quences of an oath, shall swear tn the same, the
comm missioner or Judge shall forthwith summon
a jury Of twelve men TO try the right of the
claimant, who shall be sworn 10 try The c,use
according TO the evidence, and the commission
er or Judge shall preside at the trial and deter
mine the competency of the proof
SEC. g .and be u further enocted, That the
Commissioner shall receive Ten dollars in each
case tried BY him, as aforesaid, the jurors City
cents each, and the marshal or other person SER
wing the process shall receive five dollars, for
serving the warrant on each fugitive, and for
mileage and other services the same as are al
loved ~ the commissioner Judge, aud paid
by the claimant.