Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-09-26
Laws Of the Uaited States.
BY AUTHORITY.
PUBLIC ACTS
Passed dsring the first session of The
Thiry:frst Cngros.
(PuDLIc-No. 3l)
PUBLIC ACTS

Jy 10 the ACT entitled /" All act les
Peciing fugitives from justice and
persons escaping from the service Of
'-sheir masters" approved February
twelfth, one thousand seven hun.
dred and nine,y-,hree.
Be IL enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives Of the United
States Of america in Congress as
sembIed, That the persons who have
been CT may hereafter be appointed
commissioners, in virtue Of any aci of
Congress, by the circuit courts of tie
United States, and who, in const-
quence Of such appointment, are au-
thorized to exercise the powers that
any justice Of The peace, or other mag
istraie Of any of The United States, may
exercise in respect to offenders for
any crime or offence against the Un,-
ted States, by arresting, imprisoning,
or bailing the same under and by vir.
tue Of the thirty.third section Of the
act Of the. twenty-iourth Of September,
seventeen hundred and eigh,y.nine,
entitled An act to establish the iu-
dicial 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.
SEC. 2. And be ii further enacted,
That the superior court Of each or
ganized Territory Of the United States
shall have the same power to appoint
commissioners TO takc5 acknowledge
ments Of bail and affidavits, and to
take depositions Of witnesses in civil
causes, which is now possessed by the
circuit court of the United States and
all commissioners who shall hereafter
be appointed for such purposes by the
superior court of any organized Terri
tory of the United States, shall possess
all the powers, and exercise all the du-
ties conferred by law upon the commits
sioners appointed by the United States
for similar purposes, .and shall more ov-
er exercise and discharge all the pow
ers and duties coniesred 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 commissioners, with a
view TO reasonable facilities to reclaim
fugitives from labor, and to the prompt
discharge OF the duties imposed by
this act.
SEC. 4. And be 1t further enacted,
That tie commissioners above named
shall have concurrent jurisdiction with
the judges Of the circuit and d strict
courts Of the United States in IN er
respective circuits and districts within
the several States, and the j dyes Of
the superior courts Of the Territories,
severaIly and collectively, in trrIn-time
and vacation and shall grant cer,ii-
Gates to such claimants. upon sa,isfac-
.'tory proof being made, with authority
to take and remove such iugltives from
service or labor, under the restrl tions
herein contained, to the State or Ter
ritory from which such persons may
have escaped Or He'd.
Sec. 5. And be IL further enacted,
That it shall be the duty Of al marshals
and deruty marshals to obey and exc.
cute all warrants and precepts issued
under the provisions of this act When
to them directed; and should any mar.
shsl or deputy marshal refuse to re.
ceive such warrant or other process
when rendered, or to use all proper
means diligently to execute the same
he shall, on conviction thereof, be FIN
ed in tie sum of one thousand dollars,
to the use of such claimant, on the
motion Of such claimant, by the cir.
cult or district court for the district oI
such marshal anL after arrest Of such
fugitive by such marshal or his deputy
or whilst at any time in his custody
under the provisions under this act
should such fugitive escape. whether
with or without the assent ofsuch mar
shal or his deputy, such marshal shal
be liable on his official bond to b.
prosecuted for the benefit of such
claimant for the full value of the ser
vice or labor of said fugitive, in the
State, territory, or district whence he
escaped and the better to enable the
said commissioners, when thus appoin
ted, TO execute their duties faithfully
and efficiently. in conformity with the
requirements Of the Constitution o
the United States, and Of this act, they
are hereby authorized and empowered
within their counties respectively, tt
appoint, in writing under their hands
any one Or more suitable persons, from
time to time, to execute all such wal
rants and other process as may be is
sued by them in the lawful perform
ance Of their respective duties will
authority to such commissioners, o.
the persons to lie appointed by them
TO execute process as aforesaid, L
summon and call to their aid the by
SANDERS, or posse romitatuS OF the
proper county, when necessary to ell
sure faithful observance Of the claus,
Of the Constitution referred to, in con
formi,y with the provisions Of this &C,
aud all good citizens are hereby com
manded to aid and assis, in the promp