ART. 66.] NEGEOES. 461

55. If any free negro sold under the two preceding sections,
shall not within ten days from the end of the term for which he
was sold, leave the State, or hire himself to some respectable
white person to serve as a slave for a year, then he shall be again
sold as therein directed, and in like manner he may be sold in
each and every successive year thereafter.

56. The purchaser of any free negro sold by virtue of the
three last preceding sections, shall pay out of the purchase money
the sum of five dollars to the informer, if there be one, and the
sum of one dollar to the justice, and the cost and charges, in-
cluding ten per centum as commissions to the sheriff or constable,
and the residue of the purchase money he shall secure by bond
with security to the sheriff, for the use of said negro at the end
of the year, which bond shall be then assigned to such negro.

57. The children of any free negro sold under the provisions
of this article, may be bound as apprentices.

TUMULTUOUS ASSEMBLAGES OF NEGROES AND SLAVES.

58. No free negroes or slaves shall assemble at, or attend any
meetings for religious purposes, unless conducted by a white
licensed or ordained preacher, or some respectable white person
of the neighborhood, duly authorized by such licensed or ordained
preacher to be present at the continuance of such meeting.

59. If any such meeting shall be held without being conducted
as aforesaid, it shall be considered as unlawful and tumultuous,
and the nearest constable, or any other civil officer knowing of
such meeting, or being informed thereof, shall repair to such
meeting and disperse the said negroes.

60. If any constable shall fail to comply with the provisions
of the preceding section, he shall be subject to a fine of not less
than five nor more than twenty dollars.

61. All negro camp meetings, and all other out door pro-
tracted negro meetings, are hereby declared to be unlawful and
tumultuous meetings, and shall be suppressed, and the negroes
there assembled punished as hereinbefore directed.

62. The provisions herein contained respecting unlawful and
tumultuous meetings, not to apply where any owner or employer