Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-12-26
FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.

FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW,
Az passed by the Senate and House Of
Representatives, Sep. IL, 1850; and ap-
proved September Is, 1850, by President
Fillmore.
AN ACT to amend, and supplementary 10
the act entitled, Gan act respecting fu.
g''ives from justice, and persons escap-
ing from the service of their masters"
approved February 12, 1893.
Section ]. BE it enacted &c., That per-
sons 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 appointments are authorized TO ex-
erci>e the powers that justice Of the
peace or other magistrate of any of the
United States may exercise in respect TO
offenders for any crime or offence against
the United States, by arrestirg, imprison-
ing, cr bailing the same under and hy vir-
the of the thirty.,hird section of the act of
the twen'y-iour'h of September, seven
teen hundred and eighty nine, entitled"
act 10 establish Judicial Courts Of the
United S,ales," shall be and are hereby
authorized and required TO exercise and
discharge all the powers and duties con-
ferred hv this act
Sec. 2. And he il further enacted, That
the Superior Court Of each organized ter
rilory Of the United States, shall have the
same power TO appoin. commissioners TO
take acknow Judgements of bail and aflida-
Wits, and to take deposition OF witnesses in
civil causes which is now possessed by
the Circuit Courts of the United States ;
all commissioners who shall be appointed
for such purposes by the Superior Cour:
Of any organized Territory of the United
States, shall possess all the powers and
exercise all the duties conferred by law
npon the commissioner appointed 10y the
Circuit Courts Of the United States for
similar purposes, and shall moreover ex-
ercise and discharge all the powers aud
duties conferred by this act.
Sec. 3. And be il further enacted, That
the Circuit 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 CON-
missioners, with view TO afford rcasona-
be facilities to reclaim rugitives from la
Dor, and 10 the discharge Of the duties im.
posed by this act.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That
the commissioners above named shall have
concurrent, jurisdiction with the Judges of
the circuit and district courts Of the United
States, in their respective circuits and dis
'ricts within the several States, and the
Judges Of the Superior Courts Of the ter.
ritories, severaliy and collectively, in term
time and vacation and shall grant cer,ifi-
Gates 10 such claimants, upon satisfactory
proof being made, with authority 10 take
and remove such fugitives from service OF
labor, under the restrictions herein con.
tained, to the State or Territory from
which such persons may have escaped OF
fled.
Sec. S. And be it further enacted, Tha,
it shall be the duty Of all marshals and
deputy marshsls TO obey and execute al
warrants and precepis issued under the
provisions Of this act, when to them di.
rected and should any marshal or deputy
mar shall refuse to receive such warrant OF
other process, when rendered, or use all
proper means diligently 10 execute the
same, he shall, on conviction thereof, be
fined in the sum Of one thous and dollars
TO the use of such claimant on the motion
Of such claimant, by the circuit or di>tric,
court for the district of such marshal and
after arrest Of such fugitive by such mar
>hal or his deputy, or whilst at any time
in his custody under the provisions ofthis
acr, should such fugitive escape, with OF
without the assent of such marshal or his
deputy. such mar shall shall be liable on his
official bond 10 be prosecuted for the ben.
eft of snch claimant, for the full value o
the service or labor Of said fugitive in the
| state, territory, or district whence he
escaped; and the better to enable TIE said
commissioners when thus appointed, tc
execute their duties faithfully and eff.
cien,ly, III conformity with the require,
ments Of the Constitution Of the United
States and of this act, they are hereby a,,.
thorized and empowered, within thei,
counties respectively, 10 appoint in writing
under their hands any one or more suita.
BILE persons, from time 10 time, TO execute
all such warrants and other processes as
may be issued by them in the lawful per.
| iormance of their respective duties, with
| authority to such commissioners or the
persons to be appointed by them 10 exc
cute processes as aforesaid, TO summon
and call to their aid the bys,anders, OF
posse comita,us Of the proper county
| when necessary to ensure faithful ob-
servance Of the clause Of the Constitution
referred to, in conformity with the provis-
IONS Of this &C, and all good citizens are
hereby commanded to aid and assist in the
prompt and efficient execution Of this
whenever their services may he required
as aforesaid for that purpose; and said
warrants shall run and be executed by
said officers anywhere in the State within
which they are executed.
Sec. 6. Aud be it further enacted, That
when a person held to labor or ser, ice in
any State or Territory of the United
States, has heretofore, or may hereafter
escape into another State OF Territory Of
the United States, the person or persons,
to whom such services or labor may be
due, or his. her, or their agent or attorney,
in writing acknowledged and certified un-
der the seal Of some legal officer or court
| Of the State or Territory in which the
same may be executed, may pursue and