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LAWS OF MARYLAND.
him to apprehend such person or persons, and bring him, her or
them before some judge or justice of such county or city, and
upon the return of any such warrant, such judge or justice,
before whom the same shall be returned, is hereby authorised
and empowered to inquire by all lawful means whether such
free negro, or mulatto, is an offender under this act, and if it
shall be made appear to the satisfaction of the judge or justice,
that such person is such an offender, then in such case, such
judge or justice is hereby directed, forthwith, to order such free
negro or mulatto to give security for his good behavior in a
penalty not exceeding thirty dollars, or on default of such security,
to order such free negro, or mulatto, to depart the state
within fifteen days; and such free negro or mulatto, refusing to
comply with this act, or after leaving this state, shall again return
within six month, may be again taken up and carried before
some judge or justice of the peace, who may commit the
said free negro, or mulatto, to the common goal of the county;
and in case such person or persons, so committed, shall not
within twenty days thereafter, pay his or her prison charges, it
shall and may be lawful for the sheriff of such county, wherein
such person or persons, to serve for a period of time not exceeding
six calendar months, and the money therefrom arising,
after payment of the charges incurred by such commitment, to
pay over unto the justices of the levy courts of the respective
counties, for the use of said counties: Provided, That
if any
such free negro, or mulatto shall consider himself or herself aggrieved
by the decision of such justice of the peace, the person
so aggrieved thereby shall have the right to appeal thereform,
to the next county court, upon giving reasonable security for
appearing before said court and prosecuting said appeal: And
provided also, that it such negro or mulatto shall within the
said fifteen days, from the date of the said order of the said
judge or justice that such negro or mulatto shall depart this
state, hire him or herself to some responsible citizen of this
state for three months, then and in that case such negro or mulatto
shall not be compelled to depart in compliance with the
said order. |
129
Dec. Ses. 1825.
Proviso. |
