62

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAPTER 61.

AN ACT to provide for the defence of officers of

Registration and Judges of elections, who are or

may be indicted in the United States Court, for

acts done in the performance of duties imposed by

the Constitution and Laws of this State ; which acts

are alleged to be in violation of the act of Con-

gress, approved May the thirty-first, eighteen hun-

dred and seventy, entitled " an act to enforce the

rights of citizens of the United States to vote in

the several States of this Union and for other pur-

poses."

Preamble

WHEREAS, It is represented to the General Assem-

bly, that indictments or presentments have been or

will be found in the United States Court for the Dis-

trict of Maryland, against sundry persons who served.

as officers of Registration and as Judges of election, for

acts done in the performance of duties imposed by

the Constitution and Laws of this State, in alleged

violation of the act of Congress, entitled "an act to

enforce the rights of the citizens of the United States'

to vote in the several States of this Union, and for

other purposes;" which act is supposed to be in viola-

tion of the rights of the States in regulating elec-

tions held under their Constitution and Laws, and

whereas, it is the duty of the States to protect their

citizens in the performance of duties imposed by

State authority ; therefore —

Attorney Gen-

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of

eral to outer ap-
pearance.

Maryland, That the Governor be, and he is hereby

requested to instruct, the Attorney General to enter

his appearance and defend the said presentments ;

and he is also hereby authorized, in his discretion, to

employ additional pounsel to assist the Attorney Gen-

eral in defending said prosecutions; andthe counsel so

to be employed shall be paid hereafter for his services

such sum as the Legislature may deem, sufficient for

his compensation.

Comptroller to

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That the Comptroller of

pay fine and

costs

the Treasury be, and he is hereby authorized and