Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-30
WASHINGTON. ID. C.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE Law.

Be "a enacted BY he Senate md House Q
Representatives. of the United STATES o
-fmerica IN Congress assembled, That Tho
persons who have been or may hereafter
be appointed commissioners in virtue 9
any ACT Of Congress, by the circuit courts
of the United States, and who, in conse,
quence of such appointment, are author
lied 10 exercise the powers that any JUS
tice of the peace or other magistrate Of
any Of the United States, may exercise IN
respect 10 offenders for any crime or OF
fence against the United States, by arrest
ing, imprisoning, or bailng, the same,
under and by virtue Of the thirty-third
section ofth act of the twenty-tourth OF
September, seventeen hundred and eighty
nine, entitled An act 10 establish the
judicial courts Of the United States, shall
be, and are hereby, authorized and requir-
ed to exercise and discharge all the pow.
ers and duties conferred by this act.
SIC. 2. IND be at further enacted, That
the superior court of each organized Ter
ritory of the United States shall have the
same power 10 appoint commissioners to
take acknowledgements of bail and afli-
daviis, and 10 take dispositions 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 supe-
rior court Of any organized Territory Of
the United States, shall possess all the
powers, and exercise all the duties, con-
ferred by law upon commissioners APP
h. Cor 81 ,l,r
purposes, and shall moreover exercise and
discharge all the powers and duties con-
ferred by this act.
+ SEC. 8. find be 1T further enacted, That
the circpit 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 COM
missioners, with view to afford reasona-
BILE facilities to reclaim fugitives from labor,
and to the prompt discharge Of the duties
imposed by this act.
SEC. A. find be 1T further enacted, That
the commissioners above named shall have
concurrent jurisdiction with the Judges OF
the circuit and district courts Of the United
States in their respective circuits and dis
tricts within the several States, and the
Judges Of the superior courts of the Terri
tories, seyerally and collectively, in term
time and vacation; and shall grant certi-
ficates to such claimants, upon satisfactory
proof being made, with authority to take
and remove such fugitives from service OF
labor, under the restrictions herein con-
tanned, to the State or Territory from
which such persons may have escaped o.
fed.
SEC. 5. find be 1t further enacted, Tha
it shall be the duty of all marshals ant
deputy marshals to obey and execute al
warrants and precepts issued under th'
provisions Of this act, when TO them di
rected and should any marshal or deput
marshal refuse to receive such warrant o
other process when rendered, or to use al
proper means diligently TO execute The
same, he shall, of Conviction thereof, b,
fined in the sum Of one thousand dollars
to the use of such claimant, on the motion
of such claimant, by the circuit or distric
court for the district Of such marshal; an,
after arrest of such fugitive by such mar
shall or his deputy, or whilst at any TIM
in his custody under the provisions unde
this act, should such fugitive escape
whether with or without the assent Of sucl
marshal or his deputy, such marshal shall
be liable on his official bond 10 be prose
cuted for the benefit of such claimant 70
the full value Of the service or labor Of sal,
fugitive, in the State, Territory, or District
whence he escaped and the better TO en-
able the said commissioners, when thu
appointed, TO execute their duties faith
fully and efficiently, in conformity witt
the requirements Of the Constitution o
the United States and Of this act, tiiey
are hereby authorized and empowered
within their counties, respectively. Z,
appoint, in writing, under their hands
any one or more suitable persons, from
time 10 time, TO execute all such war
rants and other process as may be issue,
by them in the lawful performance o
their respective duties; with authority Il
such commissioners, or the persons 10 b.
appointed by them, TO execute process al
aforesaid, TO summon and call 10 their ait
the bystanders, or posse comifafus Of th,
proper county, when necessary TO insur,
faithful observance Of the clause Of th,
Constitution referred to, in conformity
with the provisions OF this act and al
good citizens are hereby commanded e
aid and assist in the prompt and efficient
execution Of this law, whenever their ser.
vices may be required, as aforesaid, foI
that purpose and said warrants shall run
and be executed by said officers anywhere
in the State within which they are issued
SEC. 8. find be ii further enacted, Tha
when person held TO service or labor il
any State or Territory Of the United States
has heretofore or shall hereafter escape
into another State or Territory Of the
United States, the person or persons Il
whom such service or labor may be due
or his, her, or their agent or attorney, dul.
authorized by power Of attorney, in wri
ting, acknowledged and certified under tn.
seal Of some legal officer or court Of tn,