Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1850-12-19
Dec. 8, 1850.

The Legislature of the State Of Ver-
mont have just passed a law. on the Fu-
gitive Slave question, which is beginning
to produce considerable excitement al
Washington and the South. Both the
Union and Republic consider it an act Of
notification. We subjoin the law.
AN ACT relating to the writ Of 1a6ecs
corpus to, persons claimed as fugitive
slaves, and the right Of trial by jury.
1t is eby4enacted by the general as
sembly Of the State Of Vermont Z
Ssa. a The same, power is hereby
given 70, and the same duties imposed
upon, the circuit judges of che several ju-
dicial circuits Of this State which are
given to and imposed upon the judges Of
the supreme court BY the provisions Of
chapter thirty eight Of the revised stat
utes entitled Of tt Haheas Csrpas'
SEC. Q. 1t shall be the duty OF State g.
attorneys within their respective counties.
whenever any inhabitant Of this State is.
arrested Or claimed ~ afHgitive slave, ON
being informed thereof, diligently and
faithfully to use all lawful means to pro-
teet, desend, and procure to BE- discharg-
ed every such PersOR so arrested or claim
ed as fugitive slave.
SEC. 8. The application Of any States
attorney in writing TO- any one of the
judges Of the sUpreHe court, or to any
circuit Judge, signed by said States at
torney in his official capacity, stating in
substance the name OF the prisoner and
the persons detaining him, il known, and
that the person Arrested, claimed, or i'm
prisoned, is arrested, claimed, or inn
prisened as fugitive slave. shall be su&r
ficient authority to authorize the issuing:
Of the writ Of hnbeos eorp~s, as provided
in said chapter thirty. eight Of the revised
statutes and said writ may be signed by
any enc Of said Judges, or the slerk uf
the supreme or county court and saif
writ shall be made EsturGable to the SUI
preme or county court, when in session.
in the county where such application is
made; and in vacation said writ may DO
made returnable forthwith before either
Of the judges aforesaid
SEC. 4. 1t shall be the duty Of ALL
judicial and executive officers in this State
i'm their respective counties, who shall
know, or have good reason TO- believe.
that any inhabi,ant Of this State is about
to be arrested or claimed as fugitive
slave, forthwith to give notice to the
States attorney Of the county in which.
such nerson resides
SEC. S. Whenever the writ of Kd6eas
corpus is granted in vacation, as prosi-
dcd 10 this act. or as provided by exist
ing laws, if, upon the hearing Of the same
before any one Of tie judges aforesaid.
the person imprisoned arrested or claim
eGIas fugitive slave, shall not be dis
charged, such person shall be entitled to-
an appeal to the next stated term of the
county court in the county where SUCH
hearing was had, on furnishing such ball.,
and within such time. as the Judge grant
ing the writ. on hearing the case, shall
adj Judge to be reasonable and proper.
SEC. 8. The court to which such app,
peal is taken, and any other court to
which writ of ha6eas corpus in behalf
of any such person claimed or arrested
as fugitive slave is made retu' nable,.
may and shall. on application Of either
party 10 such proceeding, allow and di>
rect trial by jury on all questions Of
fact in issue between the parties, in the,
matter aforesaid and the taxable costs
of such a trial shall be chargeable to the
State; whenever the same, would be.
Otherwise chargeable to the person ares
ted or claimed as fugitive slave.
Sec. Z. The several circuit judges
shall have the same powers now vested
in the judges Of the supreme court, by
virtue Of an act in amendment Of chapter
one hundred and three Of the revised
| statutes, relating to persons confined IN
close jail on executions Of tort, approved
November Is. A. D. ls4s.
SEC. 8, This act shall take effect
from its passage.
| Approved Nov. Is. 1850.