The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1850-10-23
FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL.


As passed by the Senate and House of Repre-.
sentatives. September l2th, 1850; and approY-
ed September 18th, 1850, by President FILL
MORE. s
AN ACT to amend, and supplementary to the
act entitled "An oct respecting fugitves from
justice and persons cscaping from the service
1893:
SEeJtoN /. That persons who have been,
or may hereafter 1e, appointed Commission
ers in virtue of any acl of Congress, by'ihe
Circuit Courts of the United States, and who
IN consequence of such appointments, are
authorized 10 exercise the powers hat any
justice Of the Eeace or ether magistrate Of any
.of the United States may exercise in respect
10 offenders for any crime or offence against
the United States, by ar;esling, imp isoning,
or haling the same under aud by virtue of
the thirty third section Of the act Of the
twenty fourth of September, seventeen hun,
dred anG eighty nine, entitled San act to
establish Judicial Courts of the Z States"
shall be and are hereby authorized and re.
quired TO exercise anil discharge all the pop
ers and duties conferred 6ythis act. .1
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That
the Superior Courl Of each organized terrific.
ry of The United States shall have the same
power 10 appoint commissioners TO take ac-
acknowledgements Of bail and allidavilts, and 10
take depositions Of witness 10 civil cases
which is now possessed by the G rcuit Courts
Of the United States; and all commissioners
WHO shall be sppoint9d Tor such purposes by
the Superior Court Of any organized terrific.
ry OF the United States, shall possess all the
powers and exercise all the duties conferred
by law upon the commissioners appointed by
the Circuit Courts Of the United States for
similar purposes and shall moreover exer-
else and discharge all the powers and duties
conferred by this act, .a.a ~ e-n
SEC. |. And be il further enacted, That
the Circuit Courts Of The United States and
the Superior Courts Of each otgnnized Ter
r.toty of the United States, shall, from time
10 time, enlarge the numbtr of commissioners,
NTH piew to afford reasonable facilities to
reclaim fngitiUes from labor, and to the
prompt discharge Of the duties imposed by
this act
SEC. 4. And be il further enacted, That
the commissioners above named shall have
concurrent jurisdiction with the Judges of the
circuit and district courts of the U. States,
in their respective circuits and districts with.
in the several States, and The Judges of the
superior courts Of the territories, severaly
and collectively, in tenn time and vacation; /;
and shall grant certificates 10 such claimants,
upon satisfactory proof being made with an
Mority 10 take and remOre such fugitiueS from
Serpice OF labor, under the restrictions here.
in contained, to the State OF territory from
which such petson may have escaped or fled.
SEQ 5. And be II lnrther enacted, That
il shall be the duty of all marshaIs and depu.
iy marsE.aIs to obey and execute all warrants
and precepts issued under the provisions Of
this act, when to them directed; and should
any marshal or deputy marshal refuse to re-
ceVe snch warrant or other process, when
rendered, or to use all proper means dill
gently TO execute the same, he shall, on con
vicion thereof, be faei in the sum Of one
thousand dollars TO the use of such claimant,
on the motion of such claimant, by the circuit
or district court for The district of such mar
shall; and after arrest Of such fugitive by
such marshal or bis deputy, or whilst at any
time ia his custody under The provisions Of
this act shonld such fugitive escape, lDhether
NTH or w;thout The assent of such marshal OF
Ills deputy, such marshal shall be liable en- bis
oiiiciAl bond TO be prosecuted for the benefit
Of sach claimant, for the full ralae of the ser.
vice or labor Of said fugitive inthe slate, ter.
riory or district whence he escaped: md the
l. In h. l..
thus appointed, TO execute their duties faih-
fully and efficiently; in conformity with the
Requirements Of the constitution of the U
Stales and of this act, they are hereby au-
thorized and empowered, tritIm their c0Hn,
! lies, respectively, to appoint in writing un'
der hands any one or more SuitaJle persons
| from time to time, 10 execute all such war
rants aud other process MS may be issued by
them in the lawful Performance Of their re
spective duties, with authority 10 such COM
missloneTsor the persons 10 be appointed by
! them TO execute process as aforesaid, 10 SUN
mon and CALL TO THEIR AID THE BYsTAND
ERs, or posse comitatus Of the proper county
when necessary to inssre faithful observ'
ance of the clause Of The constitution refer.
red TO, in conformity with the provisions oI
this act; and ALL GOOD CITIZENS ARR
HEREBY COMMANDED TO AID AND Assist n
THE PROMPT AND EFFICIENT EXECUTION oI
THIS LAW WHENEVER THEIR SERVICES MAY
BE REQUIRED as aforesaid for this purpose
and said warrants shall run and he executed
by said officers anywhere in the state, with,
in which they are executed.
SEC. g. And be il further enacted, Thai
when person held 10 service or labor in any
State, or Territory Of the United States ha,
heretofore or shall hereafter escape into a
mother State or Territory Of the u States
tho person OF persons 10 whom such services
or labor may be due, or his, or her, or thei
agent or attorney, duly aulhurizrd, by poweI
of attorney, in writing acknowledged and
certified under the seal Of some legh officer
or court Of the State OF Territory in which
the same may be executed, may pursue auC
reclaim such fugitive person, either by pro.
enf,ng wnrranl from some ole Of the courts
Judges or, commissioners aforesaid, of Iht
proper circuit, district. or comfy, for The ap'
prehension OF such fugitive from service q
labor, or by selzing aud arresIing such lugi'
Tive, where the same can be done without
process, and by taking, or causing such per
son 10 be taken, forthwith before such court
judge or commissioner, whose dOly il shall bi
to hear and determine the case Of such cai
maniia a SUMMARY manner; aud upon salts
factory proof being made, by deposition o
cfddph, in writing, 10 be taken aud ccflilie'
by such court, Judge or commissioner, or b,
other satisfactory testimony, dlly taken am
certified by some court magistrate, justice 0
the peace, or other legal officer, authorized t
adminisIer on oath and take dispositions un
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