JAMES THOMAS, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

1832.

after the expiration of said period declaring said slaves free,
which deeds have been either not attested by two witnesses,
or not recorded, prior to the passage of said act, whereby
such slaves are deprived of the benefits intended by said

CHAP. 296.

deeds — Therefore, Be it enacted, That such deeds, if record-
ed prior to the first day of October next, shall be as valid
as if they had been attested according to law, and recorded
prior to the passage of said act.

May be recorded

prior to 1st Octo-

ber next

Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That any deeds of manumis-
sion, executed and recorded before the passage of the act
of December session, eighteen hundred and thirty-one, chap-
ter three hundred and twenty-three, and attested only by
one witness, shall be as good and effectual to all intents

Certain deeds of
manumission ha-
ving but one wit

ness

and purposes, as if they had been attested by two witnesses,
and according to hw; and a copy from the record of any
such deed, shall have the same effect as if said deed had
been duly attested, and recorded within the time prescribed
by law.

Made valid.

Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That if any slave or any per-
son, for or in behalf of such slave, shall, previously to the
passage of the act to which this is a supplement, have en-
tered into an agreement, or understanding, for the purchase
or acquisition of the freedom of the said slave, with the
person or persons entitled to the services of such slave, and
there shall have been paid or performed all or any portion

Case of slave, &c

having contracted

for and partially

paid for freedom

of the stipulated price or consideration for such freedom,
before the passage of this act, and the slave shall have been
or shall hereafter be manumitted, in consideration of the
entire payment or performance of said price, or considera-
tion, it shall be the duty of any orphans' court of this State,
or of the Baltimore city court, when satisfied of the facts
aforesaid, by testimony, to grant a permit to such manu-

Prior to act of last

On fulfilling his

contract

mitted "slave, or to the issue born after such manumission
of such slave, if such slave be a female, to remain as free
in this State, to the same effect, as if the act to which this
is a supplement had not been passed; and it shall be the
duty of the clerks of the county courts, upon the production

Entitled to conti-

nue in the State as

free

grant to the said slave or issue aforesaid, certificates of his,
her, or their freedom.

Record thereof.

Sec. 5. And be it enacted, That every firelock, of every
kind, and every military weapon, [ ]ntece-
dently to the passage of this act, be[ ] any
free negro or mulatto, and shall not [ ] to

act. passed at December session, eighteen hundred and

47

Fire arms, &c in

possession of - not

yet forfeited ,&c