LAWS OF MARYLAND,— 1806.

543

gun, except he be a free negro or mulatto, and in that case he
may be permitted to keep one dog, provided such free negro or
mulatto shall obtain a license from a justice of the peace* for
that purpose, and that the said license shall be in force for one
year, and no longer, and if any dog or bitch owned by any
negro, not possessed of such license, shall be seen going at
large, it shall and may be lawful for any person to kill the
same, and in case of any suit instituted therefor, the person or
persons killing the said dog or bitch may plead the general
issue, and give this act in evidence.
*The license to keep a gun, must, by 1831, ch. 323, sec. 6, he granted
by the court or corporation.
SEC. 2. Consolidated in 1831, ch. 323, sec. 6.

Negroes
prohibited
from keep-
ing dogs or
guns, &c.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That it shall be the duty of the
constable of every hundred to repair once a month, and oftener
if information be given him of tumultuous meetings of mulat-
toes, negroes or slaves, to all suspected places within his hun-
dred, and if he shall find any mulatto or negro, not a slave, at
any such meeting, it shall be the duty of the constable forth-
with to carry such mulatto or negro so offending, before some
magistrate of the county, who shall thereupon commit such
person to the common gaol, unless he or she shall enter into a
recognizance, with such security as said justice shall require,
for his or her good behaviour, and also to appear before the next
county court, to answer for such offence in such manner as is
prescribed by law for the trial of crimes and misdemeanours
within this state, and if such person shall be found guilty of
violating any of the provisions of this act, he shall be fined, or
imprisoned, for such offence, at the discretion of the court; and
if such constable shall find at any such meeting as aforesaid,
any slave besides those belonging to the owner of such place,
not having permission in writing from his owner or overseer, it
shall be lawful for the constable, and he is hereby authorized
and required, to whip every such slave, at his discretion, not
exceeding thirty-nine lashes.

Constable
to visit
suspected
places, &c.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted. That before any constable shall be
entitled to receive the allowance granted by the fourth section
of the act,* entitled, an act to prevent the tumultuous meetings
and other irregularities of negroes and other slaves, he shall
produce a certificate from at least two respectable citizens of his
hundred, of his industry and fidelity in the discharge of his
duty under this act and the act above recited.

Allowance
to consta-
ble, how to
be paid.

* 1723, ch.
15.

. SEC. 5, And, for a further encouragement to take up runa-
ways, Be it enacted, That in lieu of two hundred pounds of
tobacco, allowed by the act, t entitled, an act relating to servants
and slaves, any person seizing and taking up such runaways,
shall have and receive six dollars.
See 1715, ch. 44, sec. 7, ante page 26; 1833, ch. 111 ; and 1834, ch. 161.

Allowance
for taking
up runa-
ways.

t 715, ch.

44