The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-01
SATURDAY, March 81, 1852.
SENATE.

Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Burton. House papers
referred in concurrence.
REFoRTs OF CoMmrTEEs.-By Mr.. Sewal
from the special committees on the resolutions
Of Delaware, &C., bill for the further protec.
ton Of personal liberty, giving jury trial TO fu-
gtive slaves, as follows:
An Act further 10 project personal liberty:
SIC. 1. The governor, by and with the advice
and consent Of the council, shall appoint in every
county, one or more commissioners learned in
the law, whose duty il shall be in their respec-
tive counties, when any person in this State is
arrested or seized or in danger Of being arrested,
or seized rs afugitiye slave, on being informed
thereof diligently and faithfully TO use all law.
full means 20 protect, defend and procure the
discharge Of every such person.
SEC. q IL shall be the duty Of the clerks Of
courts in their respective counties and OF any
justice OF the peace In any county In which any
person may be arrested or imprisoned as fug :
tive slave, on the petition Of any such commis-
sioners or any other person setting forth that
he II informed and believes that any person,
whose name, II known. shall be given in the
petition, 10 arrested or imprisoned In any plac
within the county as n fugitive slave, by any
person, whose name II known shall be given
which petition ohall be verified by the oath OF
the petitioner, v shall thercupon be The duty Of
The clerk or justice 10 issue writ Of habeas
corpus in favor Of the person claimed M fugitive
slave, under the seal Of the Supreme Judicial
court or the seal OF the said justice in the same
form and manner, az nearly as may be, as is 'di-
rected In the lth chapter Of the revised sta
tutes and said writ shall be returnable forthwith
10 the Supreme Judicial court, IL in session, in
the county In which the person claimed as fu
gitive slave may be when the writ il Issued and
" not ID in session, before any justice Of the
said court.
Sac. 3. Il shall be the duty OF all judicial and
executive officers in this commonwealth in their
respective counties, who shall know or have
good reason 70 believe that any person in the
commonwealth is about 10 be arrested as a fu-
giiive, forthwith 70 give notice thereof to some
commissioner OF The county in which the g.. q
person resides or may be found
Sac. T. IL when The hearing before any Judge
in vacation Of any writ of habeas eorpus. issued
In favor Of any person claimed az fugitive
slave, he shall not be discharged by the isdoe !:
he may appeal from such decision, and claim a
trial BY jury, which shall be had at the next term
Of The court in the same county or at any I'D.
journed session Of said court before the nexI
term---snd the person so claimed as fugitive
may give bail 10 the claimant for bis appearance
10 such sum M the Judge shall deem sufficient
not exceeding ore thousand dollars, with one or
mofe securities 10 the stsfsction Of The Judge
and in default Of such bail, he shall be commit
ted 10 the common jail 10 await the trial.
Sac. 6. The court 10 which such appeal IL
taken and any court 10 which writ Of habeas
corpus is returnsble in any case under this act,
may be and shalt on application Of either party,
grant trial by jury on all questions of fact In
issue between the parties.
Sac. 2. The commissioners shall defray all
expenses Of witnesses, clerks fees, officers fees
and Their expenses, which may be incurred in the
protection and defence Of any person arrested
az a fugitive slave, and the same together with
the reasonable charges Of the commissioner for
his services IS attorney and counsel in the case,
shall be paid by the State treasurer, on a war.
rant TO be issued by the governor.
n. -. ~ ha~ hoo,