Page:An Act of April 16, 1862 (For the Release of Certain Persons Held to Service or Labor in the District of Columbia), 04-16-1862.pdf/3

 subpœna and compel the attendance of witnesses, and to receive testimony and enforce its production, as in civil cases before courts of justice, without the exclusion of any witness on account of color; and they may summon before them the persons making claim to service or labor and examine them under oath; and they may also, for purposes of identification and appraisement, call before them the persons so claimed. Said commissioners shall appoint a clerk, who shall keep files and complete record of all proceedings before them, who shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations in said proceedings, and who shall issue all lawful process by them ordered. The Marshall of the District of Columbia shall personally or by deputy attend upon the sessions of said commissioners, and shall execute the process issued by said clerk. . And be it further enacted, That said commissioners shall receive in compensation for their service the sum of two thousand dollars each, to be paid upon the filing of their report; that said clerk shall receive for his services the sum of two hundred dollars per month; that said marshal shall receive such fees as are allowed by law for similar services performed by him in the circuit-court of the District of Columbia; that the Secretary of the treasury shall cause all other reasonable expenses of said commission to be audited and allowed, and that said compensation, fees, and expenses shall be paid from the treasury of the United States. . And be it further enacted, That for the purpose of carrying this act into effect there is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, a sum not exceeding one million of dollars. . And be it further enacted, That any person or persons who shall kidnap, or in any manner transport or procure to be taken out of said District, any person or persons discharged and freed by the provisions of this act, or any free person or persons with intent to re-enslave or sell such person or persons into slavery, or shall re-enslave any of said free persons, the person or persons so offending shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and on convicting thereof in any court of competent