T. WATKINS LIGON, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR

207

his appointment. But it shall not be inferred from
anything herein contained that it is not competent for
the Judge of the proper Judicial Circuit to appoint
in every such cause, where the parties forbear to ex-
ercise the power of appointment, a special Judge to
sit therein having all the powers of the respective
Court where such cause is pending, to bind and con-
clude all parties thereto by his proceedings and de-
cision; for it is hereby expressly declared, to remove
all doubt upon the subject, that every person appoint-
ed to sit as special Judge in any such cause by the
Judge authorised to make the appointment, is by
virtue thereof vested with all the powers aforesaid.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That it shall not be
necessary for the person appointed to sit as special
Judge in any such cause, to be sworn in open Court;
but that he may be sworn by the Clerk of the Court
in which such cause is pending at any time and place
either in open Court or vacation, before he proceeds
to act, and that previous to his taking the prescribed
oath, if the parties to the suit prefer to supersede him,
they may with their joint consent do so, by appoint-
ing some other person, to sit as special Judge in the
cause; of which appointment they shall give notice
in writing to said Clerk, to be filed and preserved
with the other papers in the cause.

Not necessa-
ry for special
Judge to be
sworn in open
court.

SEC. 5. And be it enacted, That this act shall take
effect from the day on which it may be passed.

CHAPTER 140.

In force.

AN ACT to extend the equitable powers of the
Circuit Courts in the different Judicial Districts,
in this State.

Pasted Mar.
8, 1856.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assem-
bly of Maryland, That in all cases where a bill shall
be filed or proceedings had for the purpose of vaca-
ting or declaring null and void any deed of manu-
mission, to take effect in future, of any negro or
negroes, mulatto or mulattoes, upon the ground of

Not necessar-
ry to serve the
usual subpoe-
na, but court
may appoint
guardian.