Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1850-06-15
Fugitive Slave Bill.

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Mr.. WEBSTER introduced in the Senate
on the 18th inst, Il bill to carry into eftec1
the provision in tie constitution in relation
to fugitive slaves, preceded with the follow.
ing rstnarks:-
Mr.. President At an early period Of
the session / turned my attention to the
subject Of preparlng d bill respecting the
retaining OF fugitive slaves, on Of pre1rr-
ing certain amendments to the existing
Inv on that subject. In pursuance of this
purpose, | conferred with some Of the most
eminent members of the profession, and
especially with a high judicial authority,
who has Ind more to do with questions Of
this kind, | presume, than any other JUDGE
in the United States. After these c~onsulta-
tons and conferences, rs ear1y as in Feb
ruary ! prepared d bill amendatory of the
act Of 1898, intending when d proper time
came. to lay it before the Senate for its
consideration. I now wish to present the
bill to the Senate, unaltered, and precisely
rs it was when prepared III February
last.
A BILL %amendatory of "An act respect
ing fngitives from justice and persons
escaping from the service Of their mas
ters,0 approved February IL, 1893.
De it enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives Of the United States Of
America in Congress assembled, That the
provisions Of the said act shall extend 10
the Territories Of the United States and
that the commissioners who now are, or
who may hereafter be appointed by the
Circuit Courts of the United States. or the
District Courts where circuit courts are not
established, or by the Territorial Courts
Of the United States, al Of which Courts
are authorized and required to appoint one
or more Commissioners in each county to-
take acknowledgements Of bail and afr
davits, and also to take depositions of
witnesses in civil causes, md who shall
each, or any judge Of the United States, on
complaint being made on oath to him that
q fugitive rom labor is believed to be within
the State or Territory in which lie lives,
his warrant to the marshal Of the
United States, or to any other person who
shall be willing to serve it, authorizing an
arrest Of the fugitive, if within the State
Or Territory, to be brought before him or
some other commissioner or Judge of the
United States court within the State or
Territory, that the right ofthe person clairn-
ing the services Of such fugitive may be
Examined. And on the hearing, dcpositions
luly authenticated and parol proof, shall
)e ,heard to establish the identity Of the
11gitive and the right of the claiment, and
to show that slavery Is established III
he State from which the fugitive has abb
corded. And Il, on such hearing, the COM
missioner or Judge shall find the claim to
he services Of the fugitive, as asserted,
sustained by the evidence, he shall make
mt certificate Of the material facts proved,
Of his judgment thereon, which he
hall sign, and which shall be conclusive
f the right of the claimant o. his agent
o take the fugitive back to the State from
whence he fled. Provided, that If the |
shall deny that he owes service to
he complainant, under the laws OF the :
tate where lie was held, and after being !
uly cautioned as to the ~soiemnities and
o1Iseqnences of an oath, shall swear to the I !,
anne, the commissioner or Judge shall forth !
nth summon q jury Of twelve men to try
ne cause according to evidence, and the
commissioner or Judge shall preside at Che 9
and determine the competency Of the y
roof. i
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