county endorsed; " By the senate, December 12, 1796:  Read the first time and ordered to lie on
" the table.
                                                        " By order,                                    A.  VAN-HORN, clk.
" By the senate, December 21, 1796:  Read the second time and will pass with the proposed amendments.
                                                        " By order,                                    A.  VAN-HORN, clk."
    Amendments proposed.  In the last line of the 2d page strike out the words " any constable"
and insert the words " the sheriff."  In the same line strike out the word "five" and insert the word
"twelve."
    Which were read the first and second time, agreed to, and the bill ordered to be engrossed.
And the bill for the destruction of crows in the several counties therein mentioned, endorsed; " By
" the senate, December 21, 1796:  Read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.
                                                        " By order,                                    A.  VAN-HORN, clk.
" By the senate, December 21, 1796:  Read the second time and will pass with the proposed amendments.
                                                        " By order,                                    A.  VAN-HORN, clk."
    Amendments proposed.  In the 5th line of the first page strike out the word "and" and insert
the words " Talbot or."  In the first line of the 2d page, after the word "same" insert " and that it
shall be the duty of each and every justice of the peace, before whom such head or heads may be
brought by virtue of this or any other act now existing for the destruction of crows, to take and receive
the oath or affirmation of the party bringing the same, free and clear from all charge against
the person or persons making such oath or affirmation, any thing to the contrary in any law notwithstanding."
    Which were read.
    On motion, Leave given to bring in a supplement to an act to establish permanent salaries for the
chancellor and the judges.  ORDERED, That Mr. Key, Mr. Robins and Mr. Winchester, be a
committee to prepare and bring in the same.
    Mr. Frazier and Mr. Pattison have leave of absence.
    A petition from Edward Tarbutton, of Queen-Anne's county, praying to be released from a fine
imposed upon him by Queen-Anne's county court, was preferred, read, and referred to Mr. Nicholson,
Mr. Carroll and Mr. Digges, to consider and report thereon.
    On the second reading the bill relating to negroes, and to repeal the acts of assembly therein mentioned,
agreeably to the order of the day, the question was put, That the following words in the
twentieth section of the said bill be struck out?  " And be it enacted, That in all cases of petitions
for freedom hereafter to be instituted in any court of law of this state, where the petition or petitions
shall be dismissed, or upon trial the judgment be against such petitioner or petitioners, the attorney
prosecuting or appearing to the same shall pay all legal costs arising thereon, unless the court before
whom the same may be brought shall be of opinion, under all circumstances, that there was probable
ground to suppose the said petitioner or petitioners had a right to freedom."  The yeas and nays
being required, appeared as follow: