1831.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 323.

nothing herein contained shall be construed to alter or an-

nul any of the acts now in force, in relation to the rights of

Exceptions,

non-residents to remove to or from, or employ their slaves

upon their islands in the Potomac river; and any person or

Any Slave so

persons offending,shall forfeit for every such offence, any ne-

brought is forfeited

gro, mulatto, or other slave, brought into this State contrary

and entitled to

to this act; and such negro, mulatto, or other slave, shall be

freedom.
On condition of

entitled to freedom, upon condition that he consent to be

leaving the state.

sent to Liberia, or to leave the State forthwith; otherwise

such negro, or mulatto, or other slave, shall be seized and

Must be commit-
ted &c.

taken and confined in jail by the sheriff of the county, where

the offence is committed; which sheriff shall receive ten dol-

lars for every negro, mulatto, or other slave so brought into

this State, and forfeited as aforesaid, and seized and taken

by him, to be recovered in an action of debt, in his own

name, before any justice of the peace, as small debts are re-

covered from the person or persons so offending; moreover,

Compensation to
sheriffs.

said sheriff shall receive five dollars for such negro, mulatto,

or other slave, actually confined by him in jail, and the usual

prison fees now allowed by law; and any person or persons

Further penalty

so offending under this act, shall be punished by indictment

for the offence.

in the county court of the county where the offence shall bo

committed, and upon conviction thereof, the said court shall,

by its order, direct said sheriff to sell any negro, mulatto,

or other slaves so seized and taken by him under this act,

Negro to be sold
for five dollars.

to the colonization society, for said five dollars, and the

Conditionally

prison fees of any negro, mulatto, or other slave, to be taken

to Liberia; and if the said colonization society will not re-

ceive such negroes, mulattoes, or other slaves, for said five

dollars each, and the prison fees of each, upon refusing, said

sheriff shall, after three weeks public notice, given by public

advertisements, sell any such negro, mulatto, or other slave,

to some person or persons, with a condition that any such

negro, mulatto, or other slave, shall be removed and taken

Or sold out of the
stale.

forthwith beyond the limits of this State, to settle and re-

side; and said sheriff shall report any sale or sales made by

Report of sales

him to the county court of the county in which he reticles,

required.

and after deducting five dollars and prison fees for each and

every negro, mulatto, or other slave, sold as aforesaid, which

Disposition of pro-
ceeds.

shall be settled by an account current, to be settled in said

court, said sheriff shall pay over the balance of said sales to

the treasurer of the shore where he may reside; Provided,

That this act shall not be so construed as to prevent any

Exception in favor
of border land
holders &c.

person or persons residing in this or any adjoining State,
and who hold in their own right or in right of any other

persons, lands in both States within ten miles of each other,

from removing their slaves to and from said lands, solely for