DANIEL MARTIN, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

1828

either of them, or any justice of the orphans court of Anne-
Arundel county, be and he or they are hereby authorised
and required, to grant to Walter Cross, of Anne-Arundel
county, the benefit of the several acts of assembly passed for

CHAP. 150.

the relief of insolvent debtors; Provided, that the said
Cross shall comply with the provisions of the said insolvent
laws, in all other respects except that of proving residence;
And provided, he shall satisfy the judge, or justice of the
orphans court, that he did not come into this state with the
intention of obtaining the benefit of the insolvent laws of
this state.

Provisos

CHAP. CLI.

An Act to prevent the assemblage of Persons of Colour
in Prince-George's County.

Passed Mar 11, 1829

WHEREAS it has been represented to this general assem-
bly, by sundry citizens of the fifth election district of Prince-
George's county, that there is in said district a meeting-
house used exclusively by persons of colour, as a place of
public worship, and that said house is a nuisance to the
neighbourhood, and tends to demoralizing the slaves; there-
fore,

Preamble

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Ma-
ryland, That from and after the passage of this act, it shall
not be lawful for persons of colour, whether slaves or free,
to assemble at any house or other place in the fifth election
district, (commonly called Piscataway,) of Prince-George's
county, either under the pretext, or for the purpose of pub-
lic worship, except from seven o'clock in the forenoon to

Prohibited asssem-

bling at certain

houses

five o'clock in the afternoon, on all Sundays, Christmas
day, Easter Monday, and Whit-Monday; Provided, that
nothing herein contained shall ever be construed to prevent
persons of colour, free or slaves, from attending places of
public worship wherever and whenever the same is attended
white citizens.

Proviso

Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That if persons of colour shall
assemble contrary to the provisions of this act, it shall be
the duty of the constables of the county to arrest and take
them before a justice of the peace, who shall adjudge such
moderate punishment to slaves as he in his judgment shall
think proper, and impose such moderate fine on free persons
of colour as he may deem proper and necessary to prevent
a repetition of the offence, which fine, when collected by the
constables, shall be paid over to the managers of the Sun-
day school in said district, and if there shall be no Sunday-
school existing at the time, to the commissioners of the
school fund for Prince-George's county.

Penalty for so do-

ing