GEORGE HOWARD, ESQ. GOVERNOR.

1831.

the cultivation and improvement of the same; And Provided

CHAP. 323.

also, The names, ages, and sex, of any slaves so removed,

shall be recorded in the office of the clerk of the county

court of such county in this State, into which the said

negroes shall be so removed within thirty days after their

removal.

Sec. 5. And be it enacted, That it shall be the duty of all

On information of

justices of the peace in the county, upon information being

a slave being in-
troduced.

given them, or any of them, that any negro, mulatto, or other

slaves, hath been brought into this State contrary to this act,

to issue warrant for any person or persons so offending, in

Warrant directed

the name of the State of Maryland, and upon any person or

persons being brought before him on said warrant, charge-

able with the offence aforesaid, to cause any such person or

persons to enter into recognizance for her, his, or their per-

Recognisance

sonal appearance before the judges of the county court to

required.

plead and answer to whatsoever may be there alleged in

that behalf, with such penalty in said recognizance as said

justice of the peace shall approve; and upon refusal to give

such recognizance, such person or persons, so offending,

shall be committed to the said jail of the county by said jus-

Or committal

tice of the peace, to be confined until the next meeting of

the county court of the county in which said offence shall

be committed.

Sec. 6. And be it enacted, That no free negro or mulatto
shall be suffered to keep or carry a firelock of any kind,

Negroes forbid to
have firelocks, &c.

any military weapon, or any powder or lead, without first

obtaining a license from the court of the county or corpo-

Without license,

ration in which he resides; which license shall be annually

renewed, and be at any time withdrawn by an order of said

License revokable.

court, or any judge thereof; and any free negro or mulatto

who shall disregard this provision, shall, on conviction

thereof before a justice of the peace, for the first offence

pay the cost of prosecution, and forfeit all such arms to the

Penalty.

use of the informer; and for the second or any subsequent

offence shall, in addition to such costs and forfeiture, be

punished with stripes, at the discretion of the justice, not

Stripes.

exceeding thirty-nine, or be subject to the penalties of fe-

lony.

Sec. 7. And be it enacted, That it shall not be lawful for

Religious meet-

any free negro or negroes, slave or slaves, to assemble or

ings of negroes-
forbid without.

attend any meetings for religious purposes, unless conducted

by a white licensed or ordained preacher or some respecta-

ble white person or persons of the neighborhood, as may be

Except atten-

duly authorised by such licensed or ordained preacher, du-

dance &c.

itng the continuance of such meeting; and if any such

meeting shall be held without being conducted as aforesaid,