The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-15
Law of 1850.

AN ACT 10 amend and supplementary to the act
entitled An act respecting iugItlves from JUS
tice and persons escaping from the service OF
their Masters approved February twelfth, one
thousand seven hundred and ninety-thfee.
Rsu enaeted bu The Senate and House Of Representa-
tip,s Of the Jntfed States Of mtricd an Congress as
,euabled That the persons who have been or may
hereafter be appointed commissioners, IN virtue
OF any act of Congress, by the circuit courts OF
fhe United States, and who, IN consequence OF
e,ch sopointment, are authorized to exercise the
powers that any justice OF the peace, or other
ms jstrate of any of the United States, may exer
else in respect to 0nendeTs ior any Crinle o' VI
fence against the United States by arrestlng, I'M
,risoning or bailing the under and by virtue
Of the thirty third section OF the act Of the twenty
fourth of September, seventeen hundred ana
eighty nine entitled An act to establish the Juoi-
ca courts OF the United States, shall be, and are
hereby authorized and required TO exercise and
discharge all the powers and duties conferred by
this act.
rior court Of each organized Territory OF the Uni
ted States shall have the same power to appoint
commissioners to take acknow dgments Of bail
and afdayits, and to take dispositions OF witnesses
IN civil causes which Is possessed by the CIR
cult court OF the United States; and ali comfns-
sioners who shall hereafter be appointed Tor such
purposes by the superior court OF any organized
Territory OF the United States, shall possess all the
movers, and exercise all the duties conferred by
law upoa the commissioners appointed by the Uni
ted States for similar purposes, and shall moreover
exercise and discharge all the powers anu ouiieS
conferred by this act. o..
SKc g. Ind 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 90 time enlarge the number OF
commissioner, with view 10 afford reasonable la
ciities 10 reclaim fugiti' from labor, and TO inc
prompt discharge Of the duties imposed by TINS
act
SEC g. And be 40 further eHuciod, That the com
naissioners above named shall have concurrent
Jurisdiction with the iudges OF tho circuit and DIS
trict courts Of the United states IN their respective
circuits and districts within the several siates and
the Judges Of the superior courts Oh the Ierrtore
scverally and collectively, in term-time and vaea-
tiou; and shall grant certificates 70 such claimants
upon satisfactory proof being made, with anthorl-
~ 20 take and remove SUCH lugiuVes from service
or labor under the restrictions herein contained, 10
the State Territory from which such persons may
have escaped or fled.
SIC 8. And BE- Il further enacted, That IL shall
be the duty Of all marshals and deputy fnarsnsls 70
obey and execute all warrants and preoepts Issued
under the prov sons Of this act when 70 them direct
Cd; and should any marshal or deputy marshal
refuse receive such warrant or other process hen
rendered. or 10 use all proper means diligently TO
execute the same be shall, ON conviction thereof,
be fined in the Of enc thousand dollars, 10 the
ofsuch claimant, ON the motion OF such CLAIMANT
by the circuit o. district court Tor TIE dlstlc OF such
marshal: and after arrest Of such fugitive BY such
Iarrha or his deputy. whilst at any time IN hiz
custody under the provisions under tins act should
such fugitive escape, whether win 90 without tc
Of such rEhdi or MS deputy sun
rhall be liable nis official bond 10 be prosccueci
Tor the benefit II such claimant for the full value OF
the service labor Of said fugitive, IN the STATE
Territory. or district whence be escaped and the
better to enable the said commissioners when uus
appointed, 20 execute their duties faithfully and
efficiently, ia conformity with the requirements OF
the Constitution Of the United States, and Of this
act, they hereby authorized and empowered,
within their counties respectively, TO appoint, ia
writing under their hands any ono or more suita-
be pcrsons from time 10 time 90 execute all such
warrants and other process ne may he iasued ny
tbcu In the lawful performance Of their respective
dutics with authority 70 such commissioners or The
persons % be appointed by them, 70 execute process
aforesaid, 20 summon aud call % their aid the by
standerE or posse oOntiGtis OF the proper county,
when necessary % ensure a faithful Observance Of
the clause Of the Constitution referred 60, in
fornity with the provisions of this act; and all
good ciuzcns hereby commanded 70 aid and
hssist n tie prompt and eihcient execution o tnis
law, whenever their services may be required az
aforesaid for that purpose; and said warrants sha
run and be executed by said ofilcors anywhere
in the State within which they are issued.
sEc D. Ind BE- a. |,giho. sn0oi,d, That when a
person held 10 service labor in any State or
Territory Of the United States, has heretofore or
shall hereafter escape into another State or Tern
tory OF the United States the person or persons 70
whom such service or labor may be due, or his
her, or their agent attorney, duly authorized by
power Of attorney, in writing, Acknowledged and
certified under the seal Of legal officer or
court Of the State or Territory in which the same
may be executed, may pursue and reclaim such
fugitive person, either BY procuring warrant
from some one Of the courts, judges, commits.
sioucrs aforesaid, Oi the proper circuit, district,
county Tor The apprehension OF such fugitive from
service Or labor Or by scizng and arresting such
fugitive where tho same can be done without pro-
Gees, and by taking, or causing such person 10 be
taken forthwith before such court, Judge, or com
missioner whose duty il shall be to hear and deter
mine the case Of such claimant in SUMMARY
manner; and upon satisfactory proof beng mace
by deposition or affidavit, in writing to De taker
ad certified by such court. iud &c, or commissioner
or b, other satisfactory testimony, duly taken ano
oertidsa ny come court, magistrate, justice OF th'
peace or other legal officer authorized 70 admins.
Yer an oath an taae dispositions under the laws o.