1852

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

CHAP. 207.

John and

Joseph Die.

the said negroes, John and Joseph Die, until they shall
attain the age of twenty-one years, as apprentices to
one or more white male citizens, of Queen Anne's
county, upon such terms as to the said court shall
seem just and equitable, and that said indentures, when
executed, shall be subject in all respects to the laws
now in force, or which may hereafter be enacted, in re-
lation to indentures of apprenticeship of minors.

Bind to

white male ci-

tizens.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That the said Orphans'
Court shall bind out the aforesaid negroes, to such white
male citizen or citizens as said negroes shall select ;
Provided, that in the judgment, of said court the per-
son or persons selected by them, or either of them, shall
be suitable to have the control and management of them,
or either of them, and shall be willing to comply with
such contract or contracts as said court may prescribe ;
but if in the judgment of said court, the person or per-
sons selected by said negroes, or either of them, shall
not be suitable for the purpose aforesaid, or shall fail or
refuse to comply with the terms prescribed, then said
court is hereby authorised and required to bind out said
negroes, as apprentices, to one or more white male ci-
tizens of the county aforesaid, to be selected by said
court.

One year af-
ter free may

remove be-

yond limits of

this State.

Proviso.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That said negroes shall,
be, and they are hereby granted permission, autho-
rised and empowered, within the period of one year
after they may become respectively free from appren-
ticeship, provided for by this law, to emigrate or remove
beyond the limits of this State; and should said ne-
groes, except the permission hereby granted, they shall
be, and are hereby declared to be free; Provided, they
shall not again return to the State of Maryland for the
purpose of residing therein.

Exempt from
all claims of
State of Ma-
ryland.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That until the expiration
of the said one year alter the expiration of said appren-
ticeship, the said negroes, John and Joseph Die, shall be
free, exempt and discharged from all claim and demand

of the State of Maryland, and of the visitors or trustees

of any free or public school or college in Queen Anne's
county, to which the public aid, by law, has been, or
may be extended, or of the commissioners of tax for
said county; but said exemption shall be without pre-
judice to the claim or claims of any legatee or repre-
sentatives of John or Joseph Die, should there be any
suit on said claim.

Act not to pre-
vent court
from granting
annual permit

SEC. 5. And be it enacted, That nothing in this act
shall be consulted to prevent the Orphan's Court of
Queen Anne's county, from granting the said negroes an