The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-27
AMENDMENTS AND VOTES
ON THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL.
August 10, 1850,

| August ~, 1891.
The Senate, as in Committee of the Whole,
proceeded to the consideration of the bill to pro-
vide for the more efectual execution of the third
clause Of the second section of the fourth article
Of the Constitution of the United States.
| Mr.. MASON. Strike out all after the enacting
clause, and insert the following
| That for the purpose Of enabling the citizens OF
one State or Territory, or Of the District OF
Columbia, to reclaim fugtives from service or
labor, who have already or may hereafter escape
into some other State or Territory of the United
States, provided for by the third clause of the
second section of the fourth article of the Consti-
tuition of the United States, it is hereby made the
duty Of the judges of the several district courts Of
the nted States and Of the judges of the superior
courts of the organized Territories, as may
be convenient after the passage of this act to APP
point, in the exercise of a sound discretion, from
among the several persons who may for the time
being hold Office under the Government of the
United States, any number of commissioners, not
exceeding three, in each county within their re-
spec,ive districts and Territories of the United
States, and to cause such appointments to be made
out and certified, under their hands and the seals
OF their respective courts, authorizing and requir-
ing such commissioners to administer all necessa-
ry oaths, to examine witnesses, and to hear and
determine all causes arising under the said clause
Of the Constitution and the provisions of this act,
concurrent with the jurisdiction hereby conferred
upon the judges of the circuit and district courts
OF the United States, in thsir respective circuits
and districts within the several States, and upon
the Judges Of the superior courts of the Terrific
ries, severally and collectively, in term time and
vacation and to grant certificates to such claim
ants, upon satisfactory proof being made, with
authority TO take and remove such iugitves from
service or labor under the restrictions herein con-
tanned, to the State or Territory from which such
persons may have escaped or fled.
SEC. 2. find be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of all marshas and deputy marshals to
obey and execute all warrants and precepts issued
| under the provisions of this act, when to them
directed and the better to enable the said com
missoners, when thus appointed, to execute their
duties faithfully and efficiently, in conformity with
the requirements of the Constitution Of the United
States, and of this act, they are hereby authorized
and empowered, within their counties respectively
to appoint, in writing under their hands, any one
or more suitable persons, from time TO time, &c
execute all such warrants and other process as
may be issued by them in the lawful performance
Of their respective duties; with authority to sucf
commissioners, or the persons to be appointed by
| them, to execute process aforesaid, to summon
and call to their aud the bysanders, or posse com
n,itatus Of the proper county, when necessary tc
insure faithful observance of the clause of tn,
Constitution referred to, in conformity with tn,
provisions Of this act; and all good citizens ar,
hereby commanded to aid and assist in the promp
and efficient execution of this law, whenever thei
1 sSiNiScS may NC IequnCu, 40 uioicooius Iot ina
purpose; and said warrants shall run and be ex.
ecuted by said officers anywhere in the STATE
within which they shall be issued.
SEC. 3. Ind be il further enacted, That when
person held to service or labor in any State or Ter
ritory Of the United States has heretofore or shall
hereafter escape into another State or Territory o
the United States, the person or persons to whom
such service or labor may be due, or his, her o
their agent or attorney, duly authorized, by pow
. ", nCknOwlpdpPu
titled under the seal of some legal officer or cour
of the State or Territory in which the same may
be executed, may pursue and reclaim such fugi
tive person, either by procuring warrant from
some one Of the courts, judges, commissioners
aforesaid, Of the proper circuit, district, or county
for the apprehension of such fugitive from service
labor, or by Selling and arresting such fugitive
where the same can be done without process
and by taking, or causing such person TO be taken
| forthwith before such court, judge, or commits
sioner, whose duty IL shall be to hear and deter
mine the case of such claimant in a summar,