Removal of prosecutions from state courts to the circuit court of the United States. Proviso. Proviso. the suit is pending, and offer good and sufficient surety for his entering in such court, on the first day of its session, copies of said process against him, and also for his there appearing at the court and entering special bail in the cause, if special bail was originally required therein, it shall then be the duty of the state court to accept the surety, and proceed no farther in the cause, and the bail that shall have been originally taken shall be discharged: and such copies being entered as aforesaid in such court of the United States, the cause shall there proceed in the same manner as if it had been brought there by original process, whatever may be the amount of the sum in dispute or damages claimed, or whatever the citizenship of the parties, any former law to the contrary notwithstanding; and any attachment of the goods or estate of the defendant by the original process shall hold the goods or estate so attached to answer the final judgment in the same manner as by the laws of such state they would have been holden to answer final judgment, had it been rendered by the court in which the suit was commenced. And it shall be lawful in any action or prosecution which may be now pending, or hereafter commenced, before any state court whatever, for any thing done, or omitted to be done, by the defendant, as an inspector or other officer of the customs, after final judgment for either party, to remove and transfer, by appeal, such decision, during the session or term of said court at which the same shall have taken place, from such court to the next circuit court of the United States, to be held in the district in which such appeal shall be taken in manner aforesaid; and it shall be the duty of the person taking such appeal, to produce and enter in the said circuit court attested copies of the process, proceedings and judgment, in such cause; and it shall also be competent for either party, within six months of the rendition of a judgment in any such cause, by writ of error, or other process, to remove the same to the circuit court of the United States, of that district in which such judgment shall have been rendered, and the said circuit court shall thereupon proceed to try and determine the facts and the law in such action, in the same manner as if the same had been there originally commenced, the judgment in such case notwithstanding. And any bail which may have been taken, or property attached, shall be holden on the final judgment of the said circuit court in such action, in the same manner as if no such removal and transfer had been made as aforesaid. And the state court from which any such action may be removed and transferred as aforesaid, upon the party's giving good and sufficient security for the prosecution thereof, shall allow the same to be removed and transferred, and proceed no farther in the case: Provided however, That if the party aforesaid shall fail duly to enter the removal and transfer as aforesaid in the circuit court, agreeable to this act, the state court, by which judgment shall have been rendered, and from which the transfer and removal shall have been made as aforesaid, shall be authorized, on motion for that purpose, to issue execution, and to carry into effect any such judgment, the same as if no such removal and transfer had been made: Provided nevertheless, That this act shall not be construed to apply to any prosecution for an offence involving corporal punishment: And provided also, That no such appeal shall be allowed in any criminal action or prosecution, where final judgment shall have been rendered in favour of the defendant or respondent, by the state court; and in any action or prosecution against any person as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for such person to plead the general issue, and give this act and any special matter in evidence. And if in any suit the plaintiff is nonsuit, or judgment pass against him, the defendant shall recover double costs. Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That in any suit or prosecution against any person, for any act or thing done as an officer of the customs, or any person aiding or assisting such officer therein, and judgment shall be given against the defendant, or respondent, if it shall appear to the court, before which such suit or prosecution shall be tried, that there was probable cause for doing such act or thing, such court shall order a proper certificate or entry to be made thereof, and in such case the defendant or respondent shall not be liable for costs, nor shall he be liable to execution, or to any action for damages, or to any other mode of prosecution, for the act done by him as aforesaid: Provided, That such property or articles as may be held in custody by the defendant, if any, be, after judgment, forthwith returned to the claimant or claimants, his, her, or their agent or agents. Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue in force for one year, and no longer: Provided, That all fines, penalties, and forfeitures, which shall have been incurred before the expiration of the act, shall be recovered and distributed, and may be mitigated or remitted, in the same manner as if it had not expired. Approved, March 3, 1815. Officen not to be liable to costs, upon judgments against them, in certain cases. Proviso. Duration of this act. 1817, ch. 109, $1. Statute III. Chap. XCV.—An Act supplementary to an act, entitled "An act for the belter March 3, 1815. organization of the courts of the United States, within the state of New York." Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Act of April States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the 9,J^1t;ch-f9' United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, be, to appoint a" and hereby is authorized to appoint one person as marshal, and one as marshal and district attorney for the northern judicial district of the United States di«*"01 within the state of New York, created by the act to which this act at orneyis a supplement, bearing date the ninth day of April, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen; and that the terms of appointment and service, together with the duties, responsibilities and emoluments of the said marshal and district attorney, respectively, for the Compensation, district aforesaid, be in all respects the same within their said district, as the terms of appointment and service, the duties, responsibilities and emoluments of all other marshals and district attorneys, respectively, within their respective districts, in the United States of America. Approved, March 3, 1815. Statute III. Chap. XCVI. —An Act making an additional appropriation for the service of the March 3, 1815. year one thousand eight hundred and fifteen. . Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Appropriation United States of America, in Congress assembled, That, for defraying for certificates the expense of preparing certificates of registry for ships and vessels, °£; r*B1strv of and for furnishing lists of crews, the sum of five thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated, to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. Approved, March 3, 1815. Chap. XCVII.—in Act further supplementary to an act, entitled "An act providing for the indemnification of certain claimants of public lands in the Mississippi territory." Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the commissioners appointed by virtue of the act entitled "An act supplementary to an act entitled 'An act providing for the indemnification of certain claimants of public lands in the Mississippi territory,'" shall be, and they are hereby Statute III. March 3, 1815. Act of March 31,1814,ch.39. Commissioners authorized to decide upon the quantity of land contained in any deed, without further survey. Act of Jan. 23,1815,ch.24. Instruments executed by the parties or their attorneys shall be considered legal by the commissioners. A further time allowed where releases, &c. are defectively drawn. Commissioners authorized to finally settle all claims. On reports of the commissioners certificates of stock to be issued. Secretary to record releases, &c, and return them to the Secretary of State's office. Terms of recording. On the dissolution of the board of commissioners, the President may grant additional compensation. Proviso. authorized to decide, in a summary way, upon the quantity or boundary of land contained in any grant or deed exhibited before them, by any of the claimants of lands released to the United States, agreeably to said act, according to such maps, surveys, or other evidence, as now exist or which they may be now able to procure, without requiring or permitting any other survey to be made. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said commissioners shall be, and they are hereby authorized to allow, and receive, in all cases, except those where femes coverts are parties, as sufficient legal releases, assignments, and powers, required by said act, and the supplement thereto, and as lawful conveyances, all such instruments as may be executed by the party, or his, her, or their attorney or attorneys, lawfully empowered, and either acknowledged by the party making the same, before some judge, or justice of the peace, notary public, mayor, recorder or alderman of a corporation, or master in chancery, or one of the said commissioners, or proved by other evidence to the satisfaction of the commissioners to have been duly executed by the party. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said commissioners shall be, and they are hereby authorized, in all cases where the releases, assignments, and powers required by the act aforesaid, already presented, or which may be presented on or before the third Monday in March instant, or powers of attorney, by which said releases shall have been, or shall be made, shall be, in the judgment of the commissioners aforesaid, defectively drawn or executed, to allow a further time not exceeding two months, from and after the said third Monday in March instant, to perfect the same. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the said commissioners shall be, and they are hereby authorized to admit and finally settle all such claims as have been, or may be, within the time limited, duly released, assigned, and transferred to the United States, any thing in the said original act, or any supplement thereto, to the contrary notwithstanding; and to administer oaths, or take affirmations, and to compel the attendance of witnesses, in all cases where necessary. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States shall be, and he is hereby authorized, from time to time, to cause to be issued such certificates of stock as are specified in the said original act, and supplement thereto, to such claimant or claimants, whose claim may be decided on and reported by the commissioners, on receiving such report in relation to such claim, from the said commissioners. Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the releases, assignments, and powers, required by the act aforesaid, and the supplement thereto, now received, and which may be hereafter received, shall be recorded by the secretary of the said commissioners, and the said records returned with all other papers and documents in relation to said claims, when the business of the said commissioners shall be closed, to the office of the Secretary of State; and that the said secretary shall be paid by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, out of any money not otherwise appropriated, at the rate of twelve and a half cents for each and every hundred words contained in each instrument so recorded. Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That on the dissolution of the said board of commissioners, and the performance of the duties assigned them, the President of the United States shall be, and he is hereby authorized, if in his judgment he shall consider the said commissioners entitled to any further additional compensation for their sen-ices than is now provided for, to cause them to be paid such other and further sums, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, as he shall think just and reasonable: Provided, That such additional compensation shall not exceed fifty cents to each commissioner, for every deed or evidence of title which shall be submitted to their examination and decision, in pursuance of the provisions of the said original act, and the supplements thereto. Approved, March 3, 1815. Statute III. [Obsolete.] Act of April 29, 1816, ch. 154. Illinois territory to be divided into three circuits. Counties composing each circuit. Allotment of circuits. Two terms to be held annually in each county. Chap. XCVIII.—An Ae t regulating and defining the duties of the United Slates' March 3, 181S. Judges for the territory of Illinois. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the Illinois territory shall be divided into three circuits in the manner and for the purposes hereinafter mentioned. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the counties of Madison and St. Clair shall compose the first circuit, the counties of Randolph and Johnson shall compose the second circuit, and the counties of Gallatin and Edwards shall compose the third circuit. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the judges heretofore appointed, or which may hereafter be appointed for the Illinois territory, under the authority of the government of the United States, shall, previous to the time prescribed by this act for holding the first court in the said territory, proceed to allot amongst themselves the circuit in which they shall respectively preside, which allotment shall continue in force for and during the term of one year thereafter; and such allotment shall be annually renewed, and which allotment, in writing, signed by the said judges, or a majority of them, shall be entered of record in the said courts, respectively, by the clerks thereof, at the commencement of the term next after such allotment shall have been made. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the said judges respectively to hold two terms annually in each county in their respective circuits, in conformity with the preceding sections of this act, which shall commence at the times hereinafter mentioned, that is to say, in the county of Madison on the last Mondays in May and September, in the county of St. Clair on the second Mondays in June and October, in the county of Randolph on the third Mondays in June and October, in the county of Johnson on the fourth Mondays in June and October, in the county of Gallatin on the first Mondays in July and November, and in the county of Edwards on the second Mondays in July and November, in each year, and the said courts shall be styled circuit courts for the counties in which such courts shall be held respectively. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the said courts shall be holden at the respective courthouses of said counties, and the said judges respectively shall in their respective circuits have jurisdiction over all causes, matters or things at common law or in chancery, arising in each of said counties, except in cases where the debt or demand shall be under twenty dollars, in which cases they shall have no jurisdiction. Sec. 6. Anibe it further enacted, That the said judges shall be conservators of the peace, and the said circuit courts, m term time, or the judges thereof in vacation, shall have power to award injunctions, writs of ne exeat, habeas corpus, and all other writs and process that may be necessary to the execution of the power with which they are or may be vested. Sec 7. And be it further enacted, That the said circuit courts respectively shall have power to hear and determine all treasons, felonies, and other crimes, and misdemeanors that' may be committed within the respective counties aforesaid, and that may be brought before them respectively, by any rules or regulations prescribed by law. Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That all suits shall be tried in the counties in which they originate, unless in cases that are or may be specially provided for by law. Where courts are to be hold Extent of jurisdiction. Authority of the judges. Circuit courts empowered to try felonies, he. Suits to be tried in counties where they originate. Circuitjudgea not attending, &c, courts to be adjourned. Undetermined causes may stand continued until next term. Temporary impedimenta after the courts are opened, not to prevent sittings to the end of the term. Term to consist of six days. Clerk to be appointed by the circuit court. Duties. Cases depending in the courts of common pleas to proceed in the usual legal manner. The judges, or a majority of them, to constitute a court. Court of appeals to appoint a clerk. Cases depending in the general court to be decided in the usual manner. Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That if the circuit judge shall not attend on the first day of any court, or if a quorum of the court hereinafler mentioned shall not attend in like manner, such court shall stand adjourned from day to day until a court shall be made, if that shall happen before four o'clock in the afternoon of the third day. Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That if either a circuit court, or the court hereinafter mentioned shall not sit in any term, or shall not continue to sit the whole term, or before the end of the term shall not have heard and determined all matters ready for its decision, all such matters and things depending in court, and undetermined, shall stand continued until the next succeeding term. Sec. 11. And be it further enacted, That if from any cause either of the said courts shall not sit on any day in a term after it shall have been opened, there shall be no discontinuance, but so soon as the cause is removed, the court shall proceed to business until the end of the term, if the business depending before it be not sooner despatched. Sec. 12. And be it further enacted, That the judicial term of the said circuit courts shall consist of six days in each county, during which time the court shall sit, unless the business before it shall be sooner determined. Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, That a clerk shall be appointed by the said circuit courts respectively in each county, whose duty it shall be to issue process in all cases originating in his county, to keep and preserve the records of all the proceedings of the court therein, and to do and perform in the county all the duties which may be enjoined on him by law. Sec 14. And be it further enacted, That in the cases that were on the thirty-first day of December, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, depending in the courts of common pleas in the respective counties, the parties or their attorneys shall be permitted to take all such measures for bringing them to trial that might have been taken if no change'had taken place, and the said circuit courts respectively shall as far as possible proceed to the trial thereof in the same manner that the said courts of common pleas might legally have done, had no other change than a mere alteration of the terms taken place. Sec 15. And be it further enacted, That the said judges appointed as aforesaid, or a majority of them, shall constitute a court, to be styled the court of appeals for Illinois territory, and shall hold two sessions annually at the town of Kaskaskia, which shall commence on the first Mondays in March and August, in every year, and continue in session until the business before them shall be completed, which court shall have appellate jurisdiction only, and to which appeals shall be allowed, and from which writs of error according to the principles of the common law, and conformably to the laws and usages of the said territory, may be prosecuted for the reversal of the judgments and decrees as well of the said circuit courts, as of any inferior courts which now are or may hereafter be established by the laws of the said territory. __ Sec. 16. And be it further enacted, That a clerk shall be appointed by the said court of appeals, whose duty it shall be to issue process in all cases brought before the said court where process ought to issue, and to keep and preserve the records of all the proceedings of the said court therein, and to do and perform all such duties as may be enjoined on him by law. Sec 17. And be it further enacted, That in all cases that were on the said thirty-first day of December, eighteen hundred and fourteen, depending in the general court of said territory, the parties or their attorneys shall be permitted to take all such measures for bringing them to a final decision that might have been taken if no change had taken place, and the said court of appeals shall, as far as practicable, proceed to the final determination thereof in the same manner that the said general court |