vi.

years, and how many years, whether they have been enlisted or
drafted into the military sevice of the United States so far as
is known to said owners or others, and into what regiments they
were placed, and what compensation, if any, has been received
from the State or General Government by such owner or owners for
such slaves so enlisted or drafted into the military service of
the United States.

Reguired to visit each Election District 4c.

Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That the said Commissioners shall
visit each election district in their respective counties of
which full notice shalle be given, both in the public newspapers
and by printed handbills, and in Baltimore city shall open an
office and give notice of the same as aforesaid, and after giving
such notice for at least ten days, shall proceed to take the
evidence of the former ownership of slaves in this State
according to the intent and provisions of the Act, and the
testimony in all cases shall be the sworn statement of the former
owner or owners, or his or her or their legal representatives
confirmed by the testimony on oath of at least two disinterested
witnesses.

Forms when filled up to be copied in alphabetical order.

Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That the original blank forms or
tabular statements when so filled and attested, shall be by said
Commissioners copied in alphabetical order and indexed into
suitable books of record, to be procured and furnished by the
said Commissioners at their own cost and expense, which books of
record together with all the original papers therein copied,
shall be deposited with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in each of
the counties, and with the Clerk of the Superior Court of
Baltimore City, and shall be by them preserved among the public
records of the counties and city respectively aforesaid; and said
books of record and papers when so preserved shall be and they
are hereby declared to be legal evidence upon all questions
concerning the ownership of slaves in this State at the time of
the adoption of the Constitution by which said slaves were
emancipated.

Compensation for sevices.

Sec. 5. And be it enacted, That the said Commissioners for the
performance of the duties prescribed in this Act, shall be
entitled to charge and recieve the sum of twenty-five cents per
capita, for each and every slave by him recorded as so formerly
owned, to be paid in all cases by the former owner or owners, and
no compensation or charge of any kind whatever, under the
provisions of the Act shall be paid out of the State Treasury.