LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1809.

571

rant of commitment, upon his or her prayer or petition in open
court the first days of the term or session, to be brought to trial,
shall not be indicted sometime in the next term or session after
such commitment, the judges or justices of the said court shall,
upon motion in open court the last day of the term or session,
set at liberty the prisoner upon bail, unless it shall sufficiently
appear to the said court that the witnesses of the state could not
be produced the same term or session 5 and if such prisoner,
upon his or her prayer or petition as aforesaid, shall not be in-
dicted and tried the second term or session, he or she may, in
the discretion of the court, be discharged from his or her impri-

Persons
committed
for treason
or felony to
be indicted
at first
term, or ad-
mitted to
bail, &c.

sonment ; Provided, that nothing herein shall extend to dis-
charge out of prison any person charged with any other process,
but that after he or she shall be discharged from his or her im-
prisonment for such criminal offence, he or she shall be kept in
custody according to law for such other suit or cause.

CHAPTER 127.

AN ACT more effectually to secure the Collection of the Public Revenues.

Proviso.

WHEREAS it appears from the statements of the treasurers of
the respective shores, that very considerable sums of money are
due to this state under the several denominations of debts
therein specified, and some of said debts appear to have been
long since due, and in a very hazardous situation ; and it being
at all times not only the duty of the legislature to secure and
protect the public revenue, but also to adopt such measures as
may tend more effectually to collect the outstanding debts due
to the state, and to bring the same as speedily and as far as
possible into the treasury ; therefore,

Preamble.

SEC. 2. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That the treasurers of the western and eastern shores respec-
tively, be and they are hereby authorized and required, to order
and direct suit or suits to be brought immediately against such
debtor or debtors for debts due to this state as they may deem
necessary, right and proper, having a reference to the validity
thereof, and also to prosecute, and to continue to final issue and
determination, all such suit or suits already brought and still
depending for debts due to the state, as they may think advisa-
ble and proper.

Treasurers
to direct
suits to be
brought

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That if any clerk, sheriff or col-
lector, of any county of this state, shall hereafter refuse or
neglect to pay unto the treasurer of the shore to whom the
same ought to be paid, any moneys of the said state in the
hands of the said clerk, sheriff or collector, at the time limited
by law for the payment thereof, and to render and settle his
accounts with the said treasurer, it shall be, and it is hereby

To order
suits on
sheriffs,
clerks, and
collectors
bonds, upon
non-pay-
ment of
moneys for
three
months.