ART. 14.] KENT COUNTY. 673

some justice of the peace, that they will faithfully and diligently
perform and execute all the duties required of them, a certificate
of which oath shall be filed with the clerk of the Circuit Court,
and be recorded among the records of the county, and the re-
cording fees paid by the county.

135. The duties of such police shall be as follows: to guard by
night the various thoroughfares and avenues of escape for ab-
sconding slaves; and for this purpose they shall class themselves,
or be classed by the county commissioners, in such manner that,
on every night during the year for which they may be appointed,
(or as soon thereafter as may be practicable,) the said points and
places or districts of county shall be guarded and diligently
watched by at least three of such force, and that they shall so
continue to alternate that only one-third of such police shall be
on duty during any night, except on occasions of public holidays
and during Christmas week, or other special occasions, when the
whole police force that may be available shall be on duty.

136. And if in the opinion of the county commissioners there
shall be localities or districts requiring the service of a special
police not embraced in the above plan, they may appoint such
additional number, not exceeding three, who shall not be com-
pelled to alternate, unless so directed by the county commis-
sioners, and who shall be governed and directed by said commis-
sioners in reference to such special duties.

137. The whole or part of the police force may be regulated
by the county commissioners, in regard to the times they shall
perform duty, or cease to perform it, if they shall think expe-
dient to exercise such power.

138. They shall arrest and secure in the public jail all abscond-
ing slaves.

139. They may arrest and punish, by a reasonable number of
stripes, all free negroes and slaves who may be found roaming
about after ten o'clock at night, in spring, summer and autumn,
five miles from their homes or places of residence, and nine
O'clock in winter, without a permit or authority, unless they
shall be on proper business and have a reasonable excuse.

140. They shall disperse and punish, as constables do, all
tumultuous or disorderly assemblages of negroes, free or slaves.
Voi. H.-43