A. W. BRADFORD, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

of the Clerk of the Superior Court of Baltimore
city, to be there recorded.

135

Sec. 2 And be it enacted , That this act shall
take effect from the day of the passage thereof.

In force.

CHAPTER 128.

AN ACT to amend section thirty-seven of Article
sixty-six of the Code of Public General Laws,
entitled, Negroes, relating to the escape of slaves
by their being transported on railroads, steam-
boats and other vessels.

Passed March
4, 1862.

SECTION 1 . Be it enacted by the General Assembly
of Maryland, That section thirty-seven of Article
sixty-six of the Code of Public General Laws, en-
titled, Negroes, be amended and re-enacted so as
to read as follows:

Amended.

37. If any slave shall escape from his owner by
being transported on any such railroad, steamboat,
towboat or other vessel, the master or owner of
such slave, shall and may recover the value of such
slave from the President, Directors and Company
of such railroad, or the owner and Captain of such
steamboat, towboat or other vessel (as the case
may be), by action of debt in any of the courts of

Escape of
slaves, by way
of railroads,
steamboat, &c.
— their value,
from whom re-
coverable.

law in this State ; provided, that the provisions of
this section and of the next preceding section shall
not be construed to extend to any slave travelling
in company with his master or owner, or the agent
of such master or owner, or as the servant or at-
tendant of any white person to whom such slave
may be bona fide hired by his master or owner, or
by the agent of such master or owner.

Proviso.

Sec. 2. This act shall take effect from the day
of its passage ; but shall not be construed to affect
the liability of the President, Directors and Com-
pany of any railroad, or the owner and Captain of
any steamboat, towboat. or other vessel, for any
penalty for any such offence committed before the

In force.
Construction.