LEVIN WINDER, ESQ, GOVERNOR.

71

is a further supplement, and the supplementary acts
thereto, have been found by experience to be inconve-
nient and oppressive to persons in this State owning
slaves that reside near the lines of other States:

1812.

Therefore,

SEC. 1. BE IT ENACTED by the General As-
sembly of Maryland, That it shall and may be lawful
for any citizen of this State, to hire, remove or work
any of his or her slaves, in any adjoining county of
any other State, and to bring them into this State
again, as often as the owner or proprietor may think
proper, where the laws of the State into which said
slaves may be carried, do not prohibit the same, with-
out being obliged to deliver a list of them to be re-
corded in the clerk's office of the county as heretofore
required, and to retain and enjoy them as slaves:

Slaves may
be hired out in
an adjoining
county of ano-
ther state.

Provided, The said slave or slaves shall not be kept
out of this State longer than twelve months at any
one time.

Proviso.

2. AND BE IT ENACTED, That it shall and
may be lawful for any citizen of any other State, own-
ing slaves in any county adjoining this State, to hire
or work any of his or her slaves in this State, as
often as the owner or proprietor may think proper,
without being obliged to deliver a list of them to be
recorded in the clerk's office as heretofore required,

Slaves in an
adjoining state
may be hired
in this state.

and to hold and enjoy them as slaves: Provided, The
said slave or slaves shall not be kept in this State
longer than twelve months at any one time.

Proviso.

3. AND BE IT ENACTED, That no negro
or slave, that hath been or shall be hired, removed,
or worked out of this State, in any adjoining county
of any other State, shall be entitled to freedom on
account of such removal: Provided, They have not
been or shall not be kept out of this State more than
twelve months at any one time as aforesaid, any
thing in the act to which this is a supplement and the
supplementary acts thereto, to the contrary notwith-
standing.

Slaves so hir-
ed shall not be
entitled to free-
dom in conse-
quence thereof.
Proviso.

4. AND BE IT ENACTED, That nothing here-
in contained shall be construed or taken to affect the
right of any negro or slave, who hath petitioned for
his or her freedom, previous to the passage of this act.

Slaves petiti-
oning for free-
dom.

5. AND BE IT ENACTED, That so much of
the act to which this is a supplement and the supple-
mentary acts thereto, which is inconsistent with the
provisions of this act, shall be and the same are here-
by repealed.

Acts inconsis-
tent with this
repealed.