Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-09-07
2O6
The ssnaiss Slave Catching Bill.


slsve-caiching easy business in the Free \
States. The gst Of it lies in the fnh, sixth,
and seventh sections, which We give entirc,-
The Washington Union, in speaking Of the char
actcr Of the bill, speaks Of It as not only tavora-
- BILE to the rights Of the owners, and calculated
20 conciliatc tho Southern people, but as anoth-
or most gratifying evidence of the liberal dispo-
p sition of tho North to carry out the guarantees
of the constitution,
t. Section LIST decfecs that all Commissioners
+ u in the several States appointed by the Circuit
Court Of the United States, who hold the power
of justice of the peace, arc hereby authorized
{ : and rcquircd TO exercise and discharge all the
powers and duties conferred by this act
Sec. I'd aathorixes the Superior Court Of the
several Territories TO appoint Commissioners to
4 81 take Acknowledgements Of bail and affidavit, &C.
tf who by such appointments arc entitled TO excr-
else the power OF justice of the peace, and arc
charged with the performance Of the duties con-
ferrcd by this act fs. ~ lH 4
Sec. Sd cnacts that the Circuit Courts Of the
United States, and the Supreme Court of each
organized territory Of the United States, shall
from time to time enlarge the number Of Com
missioners, with Wow 70 afford reasonable fp
cilitics to reclaim fugtives from labor, and to
the prompt discharge Of tho duties impose by
f- this act
Sec, ath onactn that these Comu .;ss;ouors
shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the
Judges of the Circuit and District Jourts NJ thc
United states, IN their respective circuits and
districts within the several States and tho
judges of tho Superior CoU', ,ts of tbc torr;,o,os
seyeraliy and collcctrvely. in term time and va
cation and shall grant certificates TO snch claim.
nnts, upon sausiaerory proof being made, with
eu'nol1S 70 'oA' and remove such fugtivcs
trom service or labor under the restrictions
herein contained, TO the State or Territory from
which such persons may have escaped or fed
sec. 9th. And be it further enacted, That II
shall be the duty OF all marshals and deputy
marshals to obey and execute all warrants and
prccepts issued under the provisions of this act,
when to thci.i directed and should any mar
shal or dcr uty marshal refuse TO receive such
warrant ~ othor process, when rendered, or to
use all proper means diligently to execute the
same, he shall, on conviction thereof, be fined
in tao sum Of ono thousand dollars to the use
OF suoh claimant, on the motion of such claim
zAt by the Circuit OF District Court for the dis
. tTiot OF such marshal and after arrest Of such
fugitive by such marshal or his deputy, or
whilst at any time in his custody under the pro-
visions OF this act should such fugitive escape,
whether with without the assent Of such
Inarshsl or his deputy, such marshal shall be
liable on his official bond to DO prosecuted, for
the benefit of such claimant for the full value
of the service or labor of said fugitive in the
State, territory or district whence he escaped ;
and the better TO enable the said Commissioners,
when thus appointed, to execute their duties
faithfully and efficiently, in conformity with the
States and of this act, they hereby author
lied and empowered, within their counties res
pectively, to appoint, in writing under thcil
hands, any ono or moro suitable persons, from
time to tiinc TO execute all such warrants anC
other process as may be issued by them in tn
lawful performance of their respective duties
with authority to such Commissioners, or tn
persons to be appointed by them, to cxccut
process aforesaid, to summon and call to thci
aid, the bystanders, or posse comiat,ls Of the pro
per county, when necessary to ensure faithful
observance Of the clause of the Constitution re
fcrred to, in conformity with the provisions o
this act and all good citizens arc hereby com
manded TO aid and assist in tho prompt and Of
fcicnt execution OF this law, Whenever their ser
vices may be required, as Aforesaid, for that pur
pose; and said warrants shall run and be exc
cutcd by said officers anywhere in tho Stat
within which they arc issued
Sec 9th, And be it further enacted, Thu
when person held to service or labor in an
State or Territory of the United States has here
If toloro or shall hereafter escape into anotht
State or Territory of the United States the pei
son persons TO whom such service or labC
may be due or his, her, their agent atto
Htf ncy, duly authorized, by power Of attorney,
writing, Acknowledged and certified under Il
seal Of somo legal officer or court OF the State
Territory in which the same may be executes
may pursue and reclaim such fugitive perso
:. either by procuring warrant nom some one
the courts, judges, or commissioners aforesai
of the proper circuit district or county, for u
apprehension of such fugitive from service
labor, or by scizing and arresting such tugitiv
where the same can be done without proces
and by taking. causing such persons TO
taken, forthwith before such court, judge,
commissioner, whose duty it shall be to he
and determine the of such claimant in
summary manner; and upon satisfactory pro
being made, by deposition affidavit, in wri
Ing, to be taken and certified by such coui
judge. or commissioner OF by other satsfacto
49, testimony, duly taken and certified by son
=. court, magistrate, justice Of the peace, or 9th
I. legal officer authorized 10 administer oai
- and take dcpositions under the laws of the Sta
- or Territory from which such persons OWN
service or labor may have escaped, with cert
fcate of such magstraoy or othor authority
aforesaid, with the seal OF tho proper court
~. - officer thereto attached which seal shall be su
ficcnt to establish the competency of tho proc
and with proof also by affidavit of the idcnti
~ of tho person whose service or labor is olaim
- ~ 70 be due as aforesaid, that the person SO arrC
80. ted does in fact service or labor 10 the pS
son or persons claiming him or her. in tho Sta
M or Territory from which such fugitive may ha
escaped as aforesaid, ard that said person csca
~ led. 10 make out and deliver TO such clama
~ = his or her agent attorney, certificate setti
esrtW forth the substantial facts the service
liQfN labor duo from such fugitive TO the claim0
and of his or her escape from the State or i
s,tfiA ritory in which such service or labor was d
sFf to tho State or Territory In which he or she
gl arrested with authority 90 such claimant, or
y n or her agent attorney, TO use such reasona
-att force or restraint as may be necessary, un
tisa the circumstances Of tho case TO take ana
y tt move such fugitive person back 10 the State