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LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1805,

No prose-
cution to be
removed
unless on
suggestion
supported
by affidavit,
&c. that a
fair trial
cannot be
bad.

indictment being found, the person or persons against whom
said indictment shall be found, shall suggest, in writing, sup-
ported by affidavit, or other proper evidence, that a fair and im-
partial trial cannot be had in such court where such indictment
is found, that then it shall be lawful for the said court, in their
discretion, to order and direct the record of the proceedings in
said prosecution to be transmitted to the judges of the adjoining
county court, before whom the same shall be heard and deter-
mined, in the same manner as if such prosecution had been
originally instituted therein,
gee 1804, ch. 55, sec. 3, and November, 1809, ch. 138, sec. 20.

Commis-
sions to
civil officers
to be re-
corded by
clerk of the
council.

SEC. 50. And be it enacted. That all commissions which
issue to civil officers shall be recorded by the clerk of the coun-
cil, in a book to be furnished and kept by him for that purpose,
and he shall be allowed the same fees for his trouble that have
heretofore been allowed to the clerk of the general court, to be
paid at such times as the governor and council may think pro-
per, by orders drawn on the treasury of the western shore.
SEC. 51. Supplanted by 1806, ch. 41.

CHAPTER 66.

*1796, ch.
67.

AN ACT, entitled, an additional supplement to an Act, entitled, * an Act
relating to Negroes, and to repeal the acts of assembly therein men-
tioned.
See 1804, ch. 90, and the acts there referred to.
See note to the original act, ante page 334.

Preamble.

WHEREAS great mischiefs have arisen from slaves coming
into possession of the certificates of free negroes, by running
away and passing as free, under the faith of such certificates :
And whereas it has been found from experience, that the
manner of granting certificates of freedom is not sufficient to
prevent the evils felt by slaves coming into possession of such
certificates ; for remedy whereof,

Certificates
of freedom
to be
granted
only by the
clerks of
the county
courts and
registers of
wills—the
manner of
granting
them, and t
registry
thereof.

SEC. 2. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That from and after the first day of June next, it shall not be
lawful for any person or persons, except the clerks of the
county courts in the several counties in this state, or register of
wills, where any negro or negroes have been freed by last will
and testament, to grant certificates of freedom to any free negro
or negroes, and the said clerks and registers are hereby enjoin-
ed, when called upon by any negro entitled to freedom, residing
in, or belonging to, their respective counties, for a certificate
thereof, to grant the same under the seal of their respective
offices, and to set forth therein the height, age, complexion, the
time when such negro became free, the place where he or she,
as the case may be, was raised, and such mark or marks as may
'appear to such clerk or register to be notable in such negro, so