LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1831.

1071

SEC. 6. And be it enacted, That no free negro or mulatto shall
be suffered to keep or carry a firelock of any kind, any military
weapon, or any powder or lead, without first obtaining a license
from the court of the county or corporation in which he resides ;
which license shall be annually renewed, and be at any time

Negroes
forbid to
have fire-
locks, &c.

Without
license.

withdrawn by an order of said court, or any judge thereof; and
any free negro or mulatto who shall disregard this provision,
shall, on conviction thereof before a justice of the peace, for the

License
revokable.

first offence pay the cost of prosecution, and forfeit all such arms
to the use of the informer ; and for the second or any subsequent
offence shall, in addition to such costs and forfeiture, be pun-

Penalty.

ished with stripes, at the discretion of the justice, not exceeding
thirty-nine; or be subject to the penalties of felony.

Stripes.

SEC. 7. And be it enacted, That it shall not be lawful for
any free negro or negroes, slave or slaves, to assemble or attend
any meetings for religious purposes, unless conducted by a
white licensed or ordained preacher or some respectable white
person or persons of the neighbourhood, as may be duly autho-
rized by such licensed or ordained preacher, during the con-
tinuance of such meeting ; and if any such meeting shall be
held without being conducted as aforesaid, they shall be con-

Religious
meetings of
negroes for-
bid without
&c.
Eicept at-
tendance,
&c.

sidered as unlawful and tumultuous meetings, and it shall be
the duty of the nearest constable, or any other civil officer
knowing of such meetings, either from his own knowledge or
the information of others, to repair to such meeting, and disperse
the said negroes or slaves ; and if any such constable shall fail
to comply with the provisions of this act, he shall be subject to
a fine of not less than five nor more than twenty dollars, at the

Such meet-
ings deemed
unlawful.
Duty of
constables,
&c. to dis-
perse them.
Incur
penalty for
neglecting.

discretion of a justice of the peace of the county in which he
resides, whose duty it shall be to impose the fine, on informa-
tion being given of such neglect ; and return the proceedings

Magistrates
duty to in-
flict the
penalty.

and judgment on the same to the clerk of the county, who shall
enter it upon the proper docket to be collected and applied as

Return pro-
ceedings.

other fines and forfeitures now are ; Provided, that this act shall
not interfere with any right of an owner or employer of any
slave or slaves, to allow his own servants or those employed by
him or her, to have prayers or other religious service upon his

Proviso.

own land ; And provided also, that nothing contained in this
act shall be construed to prevent the assemblage, within the
limits of Baltimore city and Annapolis city, of such slaves, or
free negroes and mulattoes for the purpose of religious worship,
if said meetings are held in compliance with the written permis-
sion of a white licensed ordained preacher, and dismissed before
ten o'clock at night.

Farther ex-
ception-
Baltimore
and Anna-
polis.

SEC. 8. And be it enacted, That all free negroes or mulattoes
who shall be found associating, or in any company with slaves,
at any unlawful or tumultuous meeting, either by day or night,

Free ne-
groes found
associating
in such un-