Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-04-13

tended, and govern the said courAs in the
trial and disposition Of such cause, and
if of criminal nature, in the infiction
of punishment on the party found guilty.
SEC. 4. That the District Attorneys,
Marshals and Deputy Marshals of the
United States, the Commissioners ap.
pointed by the Circuit and Territorial
Courts Of the United States, with powers
Of arresting, imprisoning, or bailing
blenders against the laws Of the United
States, the officers and agents of the
Ffeedmen's Bureau, and every other
officer who may be especially empowered
by the President of the United States,
shall be, and they are hereby specially
authorized and required, at the expense
Of the United States, to institute pro-
ceedings against all and every person
who shall violate the provisions of this
act, and cause him or them to be arrested
and Imprisoned, or bailed, as the case
may be, for trial before such of the
United States or Territorial Courts as
by this act have cognizance Of the offence;
and with view to afferding reasonable
projection to all persons in their consti-
tutiOhal rights Of equality before the law,
without distinction of race or color. or
previous condition of slavery or involun-
tary servitudc, except as punishment
for crime, whereof the party shall have
been duly convicted. and the prompt
discharge of the duties of this act, it
shall be the duty of the Circuit Courts
of the United States and the Superior
Courts of the TERRITORIES of the United
States, from time to time to increase the
number of Commissioners, so as to afford
speedy and convenient means for the
arrest and examination Of persons charg-
ed with violation of this act.
SEC. 5. That said Commissioners shall
have concurrent jurisdiction with the
judges of the Circuit and District Courts
of the United States, and the. Judges Of
the Superior Courts of the Territories,
severally and collectively in term time
and vacation, upon satisfactory proof be-
ing made, to issue warrants aud precepts
for arresting and bringing before them
all offenders against the provisions Of
this act, and on examination to discharge,
admit to bail, or commit them to trial,
as the facts may warrant.
SEC. 6. And such Commissioners are
hereby authorized and required to exer-
else and discharge all the powers and du-
ties conferred on them by this act, and
the same duties with regard to offences
created by this act, as they are author
lied by law to exercise with regard to
other offences against the laws of the
United States. That itshall be the duty
Of all Marshas and Deputy Marshals to
obey and execute all warrants and pre-
cepts issued under the provisions Of this
act, when to them directed, and should
any Marshal or Deputy 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 conviction thereof, be fined in
the sum Of one thousand dollars, to the
use of the person upon whom the ac-
cused is alleged to have committed the
offence and the better to enable the said
Commissioners to execute their duties
faithfully and efficiently, in conformity
with the Consultation Of the United
States and the requirements of this act,
they are hereby authorized and empow-
cred, within their counties, respectively.
to appoint, in writing, under their hands,
one or more suitable persons, from time
to time, to execute all such warrants and
other process as may be issued by them
in the lawful performance Of their respec-
tive duties, and the persons so appointed
to execute any warrant or process, as
aforesaid, shall haze authority to sum-
mon and call to their aid the bystaEders
or posse comitatus Of the proper coun-
ty, or such portion Of the land or naval
forces of the United States, or of the
militia, as may be necessary to the per-
formauce Of the duty with which they
are charged, and to insure faithful OBJ
servance Of the claus. of the Constitu-
ton which prohibits slavery, in confor-
nifty with the provisions of this act; and
said warrants shall run and be executed
by said officers any where in the State
or Territory within which they are issued.
SEC T. That any prison who shall
knowingly aud wrongfuly obstruct, him
der or prevent any officer or other person
charged with the execution of any war
rant or process issued under the provis-
ions of this act or any psrsou or persons
lawfully assisting him OF them, from ar
resting any person for whose apprehen-
sion such warrant or process may have
been issued; or shall rescue or attempt
to rescue such person from the custody
of the officer. other person or persons,
or those lawfully assisting, as aforesaid
when so arrested, pursuant to the author
ity herein given or declared or shall
aid, abet or assist any person so arrested,
as aforesaid, directly or indirectly, to
escape from the custody Of the officer or
other persons legally authorized as afore-
said, or shall harbor or conceal any per-
son for whom warrant or process shall
have been issued as aforesaid, so as to
prevent his discovery and arrest. after
notice or knowledge Of the fact that a
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