254

RESOLUTIONS.

Dec Ses 1817.

Passed Feb. 6
—of James
Eccleston.

No. 38.
Resolved, That all interest that accrued since December the first, eighteen
hundred and eight, on the claim of the state against the estate of John Eccleston,
one of the securities of William Ennalls, late of Dorchester comity, deceased, for
Indian lands purchased August twentieth, seventeen hundred and ninety-nine, be
and the same is hereby released; Provided, and it is hereby expressly understood,
that the said release shall have no effect to discharge or release the estate of the
said William Ennalls, the principal, or Joseph Ennalls, the other security.

Passed Feb 12
—of the clerks

No. 39.
Resolved, That the treasurer of the western shore pay to Louis Gassaway
chief clerk of the house of delegates, to Richard Harwood chief clerk of the senate,
to John Stevens, junior, assistant clerk to the house of delegates, and John N.
Watkins assistant clerk to the senate, the sum of one hundred dollars each, as an
additional compensation for their extraordinary services during the present sessi-
on.

Passed Feb. 12
Relative to the
naval depot.

No. 40.
Whereas, it is in the contemplation of the government of the United State* to
establish a naval depot at some place best fitted to answer the purposes of providing
for the common defence and promoting the general welfare: And whereas the
harbour of Annapolis is in all respects well adapted to answer those important
views, by reason of its central position, and other weighty considerations, if it
should be selected for that purpose, provided the navigation into the Severn river
should be facilitated by the removal of a small and inconsiderable obstruction near
the mouth of said river; Therefore,
Resolved, That the treasurer of the western shore, under the direction of the
governor and council, pay to John Randall, Henry Maynadier, Jeremiah Hughes,
Nicholas Brewer and Francis Hollingsworth, the sum of twenty-five thousand
dollars current money, out of any unappropriated money in the treasury, to be ap-
plied to cutting a channel through an obstruction or bar at or near the mouth of
Severn river, so as to render the ingress into said harbour of vessels of the largest
class perfectly free from all difficulties; Provided however, that before the said sum
of twenty-five thousand dollars, or any part thereof, shall be paid to the said John
Randall, Henry Maynadier, Jeremiah Hughes, Nicholas Brewer and Francis
Hollingsworth, or either of them, they shall give their bond to the state of Mary-
land, in the penalty of fifty thousand dollars current money, with securities to be
approved by the governor and council, binding themselves, and their said securi-
ties, their heirs, executors and administrators, jointly and severally, that the said
sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, and every part thereof, shall be faithfully and
exclusively applied to the purpose aforesaid, which said bond shall be recorded in
the office of the court of appeals for the western shore, and upon the same, or
a certified copy thereof, a suit or suits may he instituted in the name and for the
use of the state, if the said money, or any part thereof, shall be applied to any pur-
pose or use other than that contemplated by this resolution: Provided always, that
no money shall be paid under this resolution unless the governor and council shall
be assured that the city of Annapolis, or some other place in its neighbourhood,
will be the place fixed on for the naval depot.

Passed Feb. 10.
In favour of
clerk of the
council.

No. 41.

Resolved, That the treasurer of the western shore be and he is hereby autho-
rised to pay annually, in quarterly payments, to Ninian Pinkney, five hundred
dollars, as an additional compensation for his services as clerk of the council.

Passed Feb 11
—of John

Leeds Kerr.

No. 42.
Resolved, That the treasurer of the western shore be and he is hereby direct-
ed to pay to the order of John Leeds Kerr, the agent for settling the claims of Ma-
ryland with the general government, the sum of eight hundred and fifty dollars,
from any unappropriated money in the treasury, in part compensation for his ser-
vices.

Passed Feb 13
Relative to
runaway ne-
groes.

No. 43.
Whereas the encouragement given to negroes running away from their own-
ers in this state, and the harbouring the same by sundry persons in the common-
wealth of Pennsylvania and state of Delaware, has long been a serious inconveni-
ence to the owners of slaves, and is a growing evil, injurious in its consequences
even to slaves themselves; Therefore,
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the governor be autho-
rised and required to open a correspondence immediately with the executives of
Pennsylvania and Delaware, stating at large the grievances under which the citi-
zens of this state labour, in consequence of the protection given in those States to
runaway negro slaves, and the difficulty which the owners experience in recover-