208

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

fraud or that it is in prejudice of creditors and for
the sale of said negroes, for the payment of the debts
of the grantor, it shall not be necessary to issue or
serve the usual subpoena upon the said negro or ne-
groes, mulatto or mulattoes, but in lieu thereof the
courts hall upon application appoint some gentleman
learned in the law as guardian ad litem of said negro
or negroes, mulattoe or mulattoes, whose duty it
shall be to appear, answer and make such defence for
the said negro or negroes, mulatto or mulattoes, as
the said negroes or mulattoes might or could do if
they were free; and the court shall have full power
and authority after a full hearing of the cause to
pass such a decree as might be passed in cases
where all the parties were freemen; and they shall
direct all the costs and charges of the proceedings,
including a fee of twenty or thirty dollars to the
guardian, in its discretion, to be paid by the com-
plainant, and to be taxed and allowed in his general
bill of costs.

In force.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That this act shall
take effect from and after its passage.

CHAPTER 141.

Passed Mar,
8, 1856.

AN ACT authorising the Cumberland Coal and
Iron Company, to reduce the par of its Capital
Stock.

May reduce
the par value
of its capital
stock.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly
of Maryland, That the Cumberland Coal and Iron
company may, at any general meeting of the stock-
holders thereof, or at any special meeting of the
stockholders to be called for the purpose, upon no-
tice given in such form and manner as is required
for the call of special meetings of the stockholders
by the existing by-laws of the company, determine
to reduce and thereupon proceed to reduce the par
of its capital stock, as much as fifty per centum, in
such form and manner as the said company may
deem the most expedient; Provided, the action to