Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1856-06-14
rewards for Fugitive Slaves.

Rewards for Fugitive slaves.
One Of the difficulties in the way OF
the ares, of runaway negroes, has been
the small reward fixed by law 10 be paid
to the party making the arrest. The
trouble and expense incurred by the cap
tor, are in many instances not repaid by
the reward prescribed in the code, and 10
this fact, is to be attributed in some meas
ure, the frequency of escapes from our
borders into Maryland and Pennsylvania.
TO obvate this difficulty, and TO leave
the subject free from the contingencies OF
an uncertain private reward, the LeglsIa-
lure at lis las, session, amended the code,
by inserting provisions which We think
will afford some remedy. As they con-
Germ our frontier counties particularly, we
publish sketch of them for the inlorma.
ton Of our readers.
The 4th section Of chapter lO5 OF the
code increases The rewards, as il now
reads, excep, IN reference to arrests MADE
in the interior, or upon the border bound
ed by kentucky, North Carolina and Ten
nessee. Its provisions establish the sche-
duIe of rewards, as follows
"If arrested in the state within 80 miles
of owners residence, So ; if more than
so miles, $40. If in another slavehoId-
ing state within 50 miles, $50 and II
more than so, $40, and 10 cents per mile
additional for distance from place OF ar
rest except that in Allegheny, Was hing
ton and Frederick counties, Maryland. the
reward shall be ID per cent on value OF
slave. If in a non-slaveholdlng state, 20
per cent and if such per centage exceed
800, then $50 additional from the state,
cut of the fund arising from fines, &c,
against abductors, &C., of slaves, or from
sale Of free negroes. II in county on
he Ohio, or on the line between Virginia
md PENNSYLVANIA, or on the Potomac
bove Fairfax and Prince William 10 per
ent. And if The owner refuse TO pay The
anne. the party arrested may file Ms petl-
ion in tbs court of the county where ar
esled, who shall delclm mine the matter IT.
elf, or impannel jury therefor. In case
f disagreement as 10 value Of slave, any
Justice in the county from which the slave
Scaped, or in which he is committed TO
all, may appoint three persons-treehoId-
RS and Shareholders to fix the value
Hhp rewards under this act to be recover
d by motion on 10 days notice in any
ecord court Of The county from which the
lave escaped, or in whlct' he may be.
There are one or two laws affecting the
police Of slave properly, which il is i'm
,ortant should be known. We quote
rom the sketches the following
IAN act to prohibit citizens of Virginia
rom hiring their slaves in the District of
Columbia. If any person holding slave
or life or for a term OF years, in his own
'ight or that of another, hire him il the
,ald District, or permit him TO reside there
except in the service of such holder, and
afterwards to return to Virginia, he shall
,orfeil $50 for each Ohence-one half to
lie informer and the other to the state.
The act does not apply to slaves now
abiding in the district.
An act TO prevent the sale Of poisonous
Irugs 10 free negroes and slaves. Pre-
vents the sale of such drugs TO free ne.
5roes, or TO a slave without his masters
written permission, under penalty Of
$500, and confinement in jail not less Than
one or more than two years. /
An act amending and re-enacting the
Lei section 9Slh chapter of the Code, con-
corning patrol. Provides that any person
may be appointed captain of patrol, whelh-
err he hold commissioned or noncom-
nissioned office or not.