LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1809.

573

experience evinces that the surest way of preventing the perpe-
tration of crimes, and of reforming offenders, is by a mild and
justly proportioned scale of punishments; therefore,

SEC. 2. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That the offences herein after mentioned against the govern-
ment and the supremacy of the laws, shall be punished in man-
ner following; that is to say, 1st. Every person duly convicted
of the crime of high treason against the state, shall suffer death
by hanging by the neck, or be sentenced to undergo a confine-
ment in the penitentiary house herein after mentioned for a
period not less than six nor more than twenty years, at the dis-
cretion bf the court, and shall be kept therein at hard labour, or
in solitude, and shall in all things be treated and dealt with as

Punishment
of offences
affecting
govern-
ment.

1. Of trea-
son.

is herein after directed. 2d. Every free negro, mulatto or slave,
who shall be duly convicted of actually raising, and every white
person who shall be duly convicted of actually raising, with any
free negro, mulatto or slave, insurrection or rebellion in this
state, shall suffer death by hanging by the neck ; and every
free negro, mulatto or slave, who shall be duly convicted of
consulting, conspiring, or attempting to raise, and every white
person who shall be duly convicted of consulting, conspiring,
or attempting, with any free negro, mulatto or slave, to raise,
insurrection or rebellion in this state, shall be sentenced to
undergo a confinement in the said penitentiary for a period of

2. Of insur-
rection of
negroes,
&c.

time not less than six or more than twenty years, to be treat-
ed in all respects as herein after directed. 3d. Every person
who shall be duly convicted of the crime of counterfeiting
the great seal of this state for the time being, or the seal of
any court, or any other public seal of this state, and of making
use of the same, or of stealing any of the said true seals, or of
unlawfully, falsely and corruptly, or with evil intent, affixing
any of them to any deed, warrant or writing, or who shall be
convicted of having in his or her possession or custody such
counterfeit instrument, and shall wilfully conceal the same,
knowing it to be falsely made or counterfeited, shall be sentenc-
ed to undergo a confinement in the said penitentiary for a period

3. Of coun-
terfeiting
public seals.

of time not less than five nor more than ten years, to be treated
as herein after directed. 4th. Every person who shall be con-
victed of having forged and counterfeited any gold or silver
coin, which now is or hereafter shall be passing or in circula-
tion within this state, or of having falsely uttered, paid, or ten-
dered in payment, any such counterfeit and forged coin, know-
ing the same to be forged and counterfeited, or of having aided,
abetted or commanded, the perpetration of either of the said
crimes, shall be sentenced to undergo a confinement in the said
penitentiary house not less than four nor more than ten years,
to be treated as herein after directed.

4. Of coun-
terfeiting
coin.