LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1751.

91

cases herein before mentioned, and to adjudge according to the
directions of this act herein before mentioned.
Enacted into a permanent law by 1798, ch. 71.

MAY, 1751.— CHAPTER 7.

AN ACT continuing an act, entitled, *An act to prevent cutting up
Tobacco Plants, destroying of Tobacco and Tobacco-houses, -and for
ascertaining the punishment of criminals guilty of the said offences.

*1744, ch. 5.

WHEREAS a temporary law, made at a session of assembly
begun and held at the city of Annapolis the first day of May,
auno domini one thousand seven hundred forty and four, en-
titled, an act to prevent cutting up tobacco plants, destroying of
tobacco and tobacco-houses, and for ascertaining the punish-
ment of criminals guilty of the said offences, by experience has
been found useful and beneficial, is near expiring; therefore for
continuing the same,

Preamble.

SEC. 2. Be it enacted, by the right honourable the Lord Pro-
prietary, by and with the advice and consent of his lordship's
Governor, and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, and
the authority of the same, That the said recited act, and every
article, clause and thing therein contained, shall be in full force,
and is hereby made perpetual.

CHAPTER 11.

AN ACT to make the testimony of convicted persons legal against
convicted persons.
By this law, imported convicts were admitted to give testimony against
imported convictis.
As the importation of convicts into this state is made a penitentiary
offence by 1809, ch. 138, sec. 7, it is not deemed expedient to reprint the
same.

CHAPTER 14.

AN ACT for the more effectual punishment of Negroes and other Slaves,
and for taking away the benefit of clergy from certain offenders, and

Act made
perpetual.

a supplementary act to an act, entitled, *An Act to prevent the tumul-
tuous meeting and other irregularities of negroes and other slaves, and
directing the manner of trying slaves.
A supplementary and explanatory act in 1753, ch. 26.

*1723, ch.
15.

WHEREAS the laws in force for the punishment of slaves are
found insufficient to prevent their committing very great crimes
and disorders, and that a further provision is necessary to keep
them in proper bounds and due order, and for a more speedy
method to bring them to justice than is prescribed by the laws
heretofore made ;
SEC. 2, 3. Merged in 1809, ch. 138.

Preamble.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That every slave com-
mitting any of the felonies herein before mentioned, or any

For com-
mitting fe-
lonies,,&c.