Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-04-30
AN ACT

w Nub v Nullltu /
act respecting ~fugitives from justice, and
persons escaping from the service Of their mas.
ters," passed by the Senate and House of Rep.
resentatives, September 18th, 1850, and signed
Va the 18th Of the same month by President
FILLMORE.
SECTION l That persons who have been, or may
hereafter be, appointed Commissioner in virtue Of
any act of Congress, by the Circuit Courts Of the
oniied States, and who in consequence Of such
appointments, are authorized to exercise the pow.
ers THAI any justice IF The peace or other magistrate
OF any OF the United States may exercise in re.
spect to offenders for any crime or offence against
the United States, by a%rresting, imprisoning, Of
bailing the same under and by virtue Of The thirty
third section of the act of the twenty fourth Of
September, seventeen hundred and eighty nine
entitled "An act to establish Judicial Courts of the
United States" shall be and are hereby authorized
and reqpiied 10 exercise all TIE pocerS and duties
conferred by This act.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Su.
parior Court of each organized territory of the Uni
ted States shall have the same power to appoint
commissioners to take Acknowledgements Of bail
ass affdavits, and to take dispositions eff witnesses
In civil causes which is row possessed by the Cir.
cult Courts of the United States; and all commiss.
toner's who shall be appointed for such purposes
by the Superior Court of any Organized T~err.tory
Of the United States, shall possess all the powers
and exercise ali the duties conferred by law upon
the con,r !ssioner appointed by the Circuit Courts
Of the United States for similar purposes, and
shall moreover exercise and dischargepll the pow.
es ind duties conferred by this act.
SEC. 3. And be IL further enacted, That tho cir
eui. courts of the United States and tho superior
courts CT each organized territory of the United
States, shall, from time to timo, enlarge the num-
Der Of commissioners, with a ttec TO afford reasona,
Die facilities to reclaim fugittves from labor. and to
the prompt discharge Of the duties imposed by this
oct.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the com.
missioners above named shall have concurrent 10.
risdction with the judges of the circuit and dis.
.rict courts Of she United States, in their respec.
tive circuits and districts within the several states,
and the judges of the superior courts of the terri
tories, severally and collectively, in term time and
vacation ; and shall grant certificates to such clai,
mants, upon satisfactory proof being made with
authority TO take and remOve such .~tugitives, from ser.
cice or labor, under the restrictions herein contain.
ed, to the state or territory frou which such per-
pons may have escaped or fed.
Sec. 5 And be it further enacted, That it shall
be the duty OF all marshals and deputy marshals
to obey and execute all warrants and precepts is
sued under the provisions Of this act, when to
them directed; and should any marshal or depu-
ty marshal refuse to receive such warrant or other
process, when rendered, or to use all proper means
diligently to execute the same, he shall on ccnvic.
fiop thnrenf he fined in The suyn of one fLo,Iern3
dollars 10 the use Of such claimant, on the motion
Of such claimant, by the circuit or district court
for the district Of such marshall; and after arrest Of
such fugitive by such marshal or his deputy, o.
whilst at any time in his custody under the provi
sions Of this act, should such fugitive escape
,ohether Nth or without The assent of such marsha
or his deputy, such marshal shall be liable on hi
official bond to be prosecuted for the benefit @
such claimant, for the full value of the service or ID
bcr of said fugitive in the state, territory or dh
rrict whence he escaped and the better to enabl
the said commissioners when thus appointed t
execute their duties faithfully and efficiently, i
conformity with the requirements of the constitu
ton of the United States and of this act, they ar
hereby authorized and empowered, wihin the,
counties, respectively, to appoint in writing undo
hands any one or more suitable persons from tim
TO time, to execute ell such warrants and othe
process Us may De issued BY them in the lawfr
performance of their respective duties, with at
thority to such commissioners or the persons to b
appointed by .hem to execute process as aforesaid
TO summon and CALL TO THEIR AID THE BYsTANDER
or posse comtatus of the proper county, whe
necessary to insure a faithful observance of th
clause of the constitution referred to, in conform
A., 18th 49, oro,;s;ona Of tb;s 80 md AIT COn
CITIZENS ARE HEREBY coNMANDED TO AID AND A
sIsr IN THE PROMPT AND EFFICIENT EXECUTION
THIS LAW WHENEVER THEIR SERVICES MAY DE- R
oUIRED as aforesaid for that purpose; and sa
warrants shall run and be executed by said office
anywhere in the state. within which they are ex
cuted.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That when
person held to service or labor in any state, or L
ritory Of the United States, has heretofore or sh'
hereafter escape into another state or territory
the United States, the person or persons to who
such services or labor may be due, or his, her,
their agent or attorney, duly authorized, by pow
Of attorney, in writing Acknowledged and certif
under the seal Of some legal officer or court of t
state or territory in which the same may be exec
ted; may pursue and reclaim such fugitive persC
either by procuring q warrant from some one
the courts, judges or commissioners aforesaid,
the proper circuit, district, or county for the
apprehension of suchfugitive from service or lab
or by seizing and arresting such ~fugitive,s where
same can be done without process. and By takir
or causing such person to be taken, forthwith
fore such court, judge or commissioner. whose
ty it shall be to hear and determine the case
such claimant in a summary manner; and up
satiJactory proof being made, by deposition
e4fdarh. in writing, to be taken and certified
such court. judge or commissioner, or by other 6
i~sfaetory testimony, duly taken and certified
some court, magistrate, justice Of the peace, or o
er legal officer authorized to administer an OF
and take dispositions under the laws of the state
10000 L.. -Li.L a..aL aoHsa aur;az aa.uiaa