1847.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 309.

dred and seventy-five, and until the expiration of the
session of the General Assembly which shall happen
thereafter, and the State hereby reserves to itself the
power to revoke this charter if at any time said bank
shall refuse or neglect to pay specie for any of its notes,
or bills.

CHAPTER 309.

Passed
Mar. 10, 1848.

Running away
of slaves de-
clared felony.

An act declaring certain felonies , and for the punishment
of the same.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That from and after the passage of this act,
any negro or mulatto slave who shall escape or run
away from the service of his or her master, mistress or
owner, against the will and consent of his or her said
master, mistress or owner, with a view to escape en-
tirely from servitude and thereby to deprive said mas-
ter, mistress or owner entirely of his or her services
shall, upon sufficient evidence of such fact, be guilty of
felony.

What acts are
declared run-
ning away.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That the fact of the escape
of any such negro or mulatto slave into any of the
States or Territories of this Union, without the consent
of his or her master, mistress or owner, shall be deemed
conclusive evidence that such negro or mulatto slave
left the service of his or her master, mistress or owner
with the intention of entirely depriving said master,
mistress or owner of his or her services.

Slaves to be
sold for run-
ning away.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted That upon conviction of
the offence prescribed in the first section of this act, on
an indictment by the grand jury of the county, district
or city from which such slave shall have escaped, the
said slave shall be sold after ten days notice by the
sheriff of such county, district or city to the highest
bidder, and after deducting the necessary expenses for
arrest, detention and conviction of such slave, the
balance shall be delivered to the master, mistress or
owner of such slave.

Governor to
demand, &c.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That upon evidence of
the fact of such escape aforesaid, either by affidavit be-
fore any person authorised to administer the same in
this State, or by indictment by any grand jury of this
State, being furnished to the Governor of this State by