136 LAWS OF MARYLAND—1777.
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CHAPTER 20.
An ACT to punish Certain Crimes and Misdemeanors, and to prevent the
growth of toryism. |
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Preamble. |
WHEREAS the clemency of this state towards such of its sub-
jects and inhabitants as are inimical to its freedom and inde-
pendence, has not had the desired effect of reclaiming them
from their evil practices, but still parsuing their dark and crimi-
nal designs of enslaving America, they continue to encourage
and promote the operations of our enemies: And whereas every
hope of uniling to the interest of their country the affections of
these its unnatural and implacable enemies is extinguished, and
great disadvantages have arisen, and still more dangerous con-
sequences may be apprehended, from a delay of effectual mea-
sures to suppress or remove them from the society of a free
people, constrained by oppression to declare their independence,
and determined at all events to maintain the same; |
Certain
persons to
suffer
death, &c. |
SEC. 2. Be it therefore enacted, by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That if any subject or inhabitant of this state shall,
within or without the same, and if any person whatever, being
an inhabitant of any other of the United States, shall, within
this state, levy war against the United States, or any of them,
or shall adhere to any person bearing arms, or employed in the
service of Great Britain, against the United Slates, or any of
them, or shall afford such persons, or any of them, any aid or
comfort, oi. shall give them, or any of them, or any subject of
Great Britain, any intelligence of the warlike preparations or
designs of the United States, or any of them, and shall be there-
of convicted in the general court of this state, or shall stand
mute, or peremptorily challenge above the number of twenty of
the pannel, shall be adjudged guilty of treason against this state,
and shall suffer death without benefit of clergy, and forfeit all
the estate which he had at the time of the commission of the
crime, to the use of this state; and the several crimes aforesaid
shall receive the same constructions that have been given to
such of the said crimes as are enumerated in the statute of
Edward the third, commonly called the statute of treasons.
See October, 1777, ch. 20, sec. 29; 24th article of bill of rights; 1809,
ch. 125; 1809, ch. 138, sec. 2.
The constitution of the United States transfers to the federal government
the power, and defines treason against the Unites States. |
To lose
their estates
&c. |
SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That if any subject or inhabitant
of this state, having knowledge of the actual commission of any
of the crimes aforesaid, above declared to be treason, shall con-
ceal the same, and shall not, as soon as conveniently may be,
disclose and make the same known lo the governor, or some
one of the judges or justices of this state for the time being,
such person, on conviction thereof in the general court, shall be |
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