Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-09-04
SYNOPSIS OF THE
FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.

SECTION Provides, Tint U. s. Com
missoners may and ARE required to exercisl
all the powers q duties conferred 10y this act.
SEC. 2-Provdcs, That the Superior Cour
of each organized Territory may appon
Commissioners, with the ordinary pow ers
and that such Commissioners shall also ex
ercise the powers and duties conferred by
this act.
SEC. 3-Providcs, That the Circuit Courts
of the L. =, and tn Superior Court of each
organized Territory shall, from time To time
increase the number of Commissioners, WIN
u view to afford reasonable facilities for ld
rcclaiming OF fugilives, aud for the prompt
discharge Oi the duties iniposCdby llls aci.
SIC. 4-Provdes, That the Commissioners
| shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the
Judges Of the Circuit aud District Courts ol
| the United States, aud with the Judges OF
| the Superior Courts IN the Territories, and
shall, on satisfactory proof, grant certificates
TO the claimants OF lugiIives irOm labor, with
authority to take such lugitives to the State
or Territory from which they may have
escaped.
SEC. 5-NInkes it the duty of the Marshal
aud Deputy Marshal to execute all warrants
aud precepts issued under this law, with II
w GlOOOs W Dc ltNONtltl WI Nil' 'ir'
of the claimant, in case of refusal or neglect
diligently to execute said process. IL also
makes the Marshal liable To the claimant on
his official bond, for the full value of the labor
aud service OF the fugitive in the State whence
he fed, IN cnse said fugitive shall escape iidin
the Marshal or his Deputy, after his arrest,
whether icuh or icithOm the assent of such
Marshal or deputy; aud also gives the Com
missioner power to appoint suitable persons,
from time TO time, TO execute the process
issued by them, and also gives the Commis-
soncrs and the persons so appointed, power
TO call to their aid the posse oOmiiGiuS, aud
commands all good ciiizens 10 AID and ASSIST
IN The prompt and Efficient erecutiOn Of this law;
aud also provides that the warrants may he
executed in any part of the state where they
are issued.
SEC. 6-Provides, That when any person,
owing service or labor, in any State or Ter
rtory, has heretofore, or shall hereafter,
escape into any other State or Territory, the
person TO whom such labor or service may
be due may pursue such fugitive, and may
arrest him with process issued under this net,
or may seize him WITHOUT PROCESS,
iChere The same can be done and cause him 10
be taken before the Court, Judge or Commits
soner who shall hear aud determine the
cause OF such claimant in n SUMMARY MAN
NER! and upon satisfactory proof being made
by deposition or affidavit in writing, tnken
10y such county Judge or Commissioner. or
by other satisfactory testimony duly taken aud
certified by some Court, Judge, or Magistrate
or other person authorized 10 administer an
oath IN the state whence such fugitive cscnp-
ed, with the seal of The proper court or officer
thereto attached, which seal should make
slaI trnnf fcn nd i,,rtI,ar of
by affidavit of the idenily of the person whose
service or labor is claimed, that the person so
arrested does in fact owe such service or
labor to the claimant, and escaped from him
into another state, IL shall be The duty OF the
Court or Commissioner TO deliver TO the
claimant certificate, setting forth the sub
stantial facts, Ne, with authority to the clal-
Inant to use such reasonable force and re-
slraint as mny be necessary To take and re-
move such fugitive back to the Slnle or Ter
ritory whence he escaped IL also provides
that in no trial or hearing shall The testimony
Of The fugitive be admitted, and that the Ger.
tticates mentioned in this aud the first sec
ton, shall he CONCLUSIVE OF the right
of the person TO whom they ure granted TO
take back such fugitive, AND SHALL PREVENT
ALL MOLEsTATION OF SUCH PERSON OR PER-
SONS by ANY PROCESS ISSUED BY ANY
COURT, JUDGE, MAGISTRATE OR OTHER PER-
SON wHoMsoEvER. This annuls the writ
of Hdbeds corpus.
SEC. 7.-Provides that any person who
shall knowingly hinder or prevent the claim
ant, or any one assisting him, from arresting
or seizing the fugitive, either tcih or icithom
process, or who shall rescue or attempt to
rescue the fugitive after his arrest; or shall
aid, abet or assist him, either directly or in
directly in escaping; or shall harbor or con
ceal him so rs to prevent his discovery or
arrest, after notice or knowledge of his being
fugitive from labor, shall for either of said
offences be subject to a fine, not exceeding
one thousand dollars, and to imprisonment not
exceeding sir months, and shall forfeit to the
claimant one thousand dollars for each fugitive
| so lost
SEC. 8.-Provides for the payment of the
! fees OF the commissioner aud officers. The
! commissioners to have TEN DOLLARS in
case the fugitive is delivered up, and only
FIVE DOLLARS is case he is set free: the
other officers 10 have usual aud reasonable
4 fees, the whole to he paid by the claimant,
his agent or attorney.
Sec. 9.-PrOvides that on affidavit of the
claimant that he fears rescue, the officer
making the arrest shall retain the fugitive in
his custody, aud transport him to the State