| 1777. |
LAWS of MARYLAND.
CHAP. XX.
An ACT for the better security of the government. |
| Preamble. |
WHEREAS, in every free state, allegiance and protection
are reciprocal,
and no man is entitled to the benefit of the one, who refuses to yield
the other; and as every inhabitant of this state enjoys the protection
and benefit of the government and laws thereof, and it is reasonable that
every
person should give testimony of his attachment and fidelity to this state,
and the
present government thereof, as now established, |
Every free
male person
to take the
oath of fidelity,
&c. |
II. Be it enacted,
by the general assembly of Maryland, That every free male
person within this state, above eighteen years of age, unless a quaker,
menonist or
dunker, shall, on or before the first day of March next, take, repeat and
subscribe,
the oath of fidelity and support to this state, contained in the act, entitled,
An act
to punish certain crimes and misdemeanors, and to prevent the growth of
toryism;
and every free male quaker, menonist or dunker, within this state, above
eighteen
years of age, shall, on or before the first day of March next, solemnly,
sincerely
and truly declare and affirm, in the words of the said oath, and thereto
subscribe
his name. |
Before some
magistrate; |
III. And be
it enacted, That the said oath and affirmation shall be taken within
the time aforesaid, before some magistrate of the county or city where
the person
who takes such oath or affirmation resides. |
Who is to
keep two
books, &c. |
IV. And be it
enacted, That every magistrate aforesaid, shall keep two paper
books, one for all persons who shall take the oath aforesaid, and the other
for all persons
who shall take the affirmation aforesaid, prefixing to one of the said
books the
oath aforesaid, and to the other the affirmation aforesaid. And all
persons required
by this act to take the said oath, or affirmation, shall, after taking
the same,
subscribe his name thereto, in such book as contains the oath, if such
person
takes the said affirmation; and if such person cannot write his name, he
shall enter
his mark, and the magistrate shall thereto set his name. |
Magistrates to
make out copier
of their
books, &c. |
V. And,
for ascertaining such as shall neglect to take the said oath, or affirmation,
and that there may be a record evidence of such neglect, Be
it enacted,
That every magistrate aforesaid shall make out fair copies of his said
books, with
all convenient dispatch, after the aforesaid first day of March, and the
same transmit
to the governor and council of this state, and shall deliver the original
books
to his next county court which shall happen after the said first day of
March next,
there to be recorded. |
And to attend
one day in
every week,
&c. |
VI. And be it
enacted, That every magistrate of the county shall, and he is
hereby enjoined and required, to attend one day in every week, until the
said first
day of March next, at the most convenient places in his neighbourhood,
with his
books aforesaid, for the purpose of administering the oath, or affirmation,
aforesaid,
and for the purpose of having the same subscribed to, in manner and form
aforesaid;
and the said justices shall give public notice, by advertisement, of such
places
and days of meeting as aforesaid. |
Constables to
make out a
list of inhabitants,
&c. |
VII. And be
it enacted, That every constable of every hundred shall, before
the first day of March next, make out a fair alphabetical list of all the
free male
inhabitants, residents in his hundred, and not out of the state, or
hereafter not exempted
from taking the said oath, or affirmation, who shall be of the age of
eighteen years, on or before the aforesaid first day of March, and a copy
of the
said list, with all convenient dispatch, transmit to the governor and council,
and
the original list shall deliver to the next county court of his county
which shall
happen after the aforesaid first day of March next, there to be recorded. |
Allowance to
magistrates,
&c. |
VIII. And be
it enacted, That every magistrate shall be allowed in the county
levy, the same per diem allowance, for every day he shall attend,
in pursuance |
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