| 1777. |
LAWS of MARYLAND.
CHAP. XIX.
An ACT for holding an election for sheriffs in Somerset county,
and to enable the governor and council to determine
the validity
of elections for sheriffs. |
| Preamble. |
WHEREAS the late election of sheriffs for Somerset
county was unfairly
and unduly made, by reason of a number of armed men attending and
influencing the same, contrary to the constitution of this state and
the
policy of all good government: |
Election for
sheriffs to be
held on May
11. |
II. Be it enacted,
by
the general assembly of Maryland, That on the eleventh
day of May next an election shall be held for a sheriff for Somerset
county, agreeable
to the directions of the form of government; and that Levin Gale, Thomas
Hayward, and Thomas Bruff, Esquires, or any two of them, shall hold
the said
election, and be judges of the qualifications of the voters, and shall
make return
thereof to the governor and the council. |
Governor
may determine
the validity
of elections,
&c. |
III. WHEREAS it is uncertain by our constitution
what body has the power
of determining the validity of the elections for sheriffs, Be
it enacted, That the
governor for the time being, with the advice of the council, is hereby
empowered
to judge of and determine the validity of all elections for sheriffs,
and if it shall
appear that such elections have not been made fairly and freely, and
agreeable to
the constitution of this state, shall issue new writs of election for
sheriffs agreeable
to the directions of the form of government. |
|
CHAP. XX.
An ACT to punish certain crimes and misdemeanors, and to prevent
the growth of toryism. |
| Preamble. |
WHEREAS the clemency of this state, towards such
of its subjects and
inhabitants as are inimical to ts freedom and independence, has not
had the desired effect of reclaiming them from their evil practices,
but
still pursuing their dark and criminal designs of enslaving America,
they continue
to encourage and promote the operations of our enemies: And whereas
every hope
of uniting to the interest of their country the affections of these
its unnatural and
implacable enemies is extinguished, and great disadvantages have arisen,
and still
more dangerous consequences may be apprehended, from a delay of effectual
measures
to suppress or remove them from the society of a free people, constrained
by
oppression to declare their independence, and determined at all events
to maintain
the same: |
Persons levying
war against
the United
States,
&c. to suffer
death, &c. |
II. Be it therefore
enacted, by the general assembly of Maryland, That if any
subject or inhabitant of this state shall, within or without the same,
and if any
person whatever, being an inhabitant of any other of the United States,
shall,
within this state, levy war against the United States, or any of them,
or shall adhere
to any person bearing arms, or employed in the service of Great-Britain,
against the United States, or any of them, or shall afford such persons,
or any of
them, any aid or comfort, or shall give them, or any of them, or any
subject of
Great-Britain, any intelligence of the warlike preparations or designs
of the United
States, or any of them, and shall be thereof convicted in the general
court of
this state, or shall stand mute, or peremptorily challenge above the
number of
twenty of the pannel, shall be adjudged guilty of treason against this
state, and
shall suffer death without benefit of clergy, and forfeit all the estate
which he
had at the time of the commission of the crime, to the use of this
state; and the
several crimes aforesaid shall receive the same constructions that
have been given
to such of the said crimes as are enumerated in the statute of Edward
the third,
commonly called the statute of treasons. |
Persons guilty
of misprison
of treason to
lose their
estates. |
III. And be
it enacted, That if any subject or inhabitant of this state, having
knowledge of the actual commission of any of the crimes aforesaid, above
declared
to be treason, shall conceal the same, and shall not, as soon as conveniently
may |
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