LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1833.

1121

CHAPTER 324.

AN ACT relating to Persons of Colour, who are to be Free after the expira-
tion of a term of years.
See 1796, eh. 67, ante page 334.

SEC. 1. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That it shall and may be lawful, from and after the passage of
this act, for the several county courts in this state to authorize
the master or owner of any slave for a term of years, to sell the
unexpired time of said slave when his or her conduct is notori-
ously vicious and turbulent, to any person who will transport
such servants beyond the limits of the state.

Courts em-
powered to
authorize
sales out of
the state.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That except as to cases of slaves
now imprisoned in consequence of alleged misconduct, the
county courts aforesaid, shall require and be satisfied, with the
testimony of disinterested witnesses, that the party applying for

Exception.

such grant has distinctly and particularly notified such servants
of the existence and effect of this law, and that this information
has failed to correct his or her habits, before they proceed to
issue any such grant of authority.
And whereas, it is represented to this general assembly, that
negroes and mulattoes held to labor for a term of years, fre-
quently abscond, and thus deprive their owners of the service
and labour due them, and who, when by great effort and ex-
pense are reclaimed, it is found by experience that such negroes
or mulattoes have little difficulty in continuing to abscond, until
the authority of the owner is put at complete defiance, and the
value of their service completely lost ; for remedy whereof,

Notification
required.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted. That upon the apprehension of
any such negro or mulatto servant, it shall be lawful for the
county courts of this state, to adjudge and extend the term of
service to a longer term, so as fully to indemnify the master or
mistress for all expenses and loss occasioned by the absconding
of such servants.

Case of ab-
sconding,
&c.
Extend
time of
service.

SEC. 4. And be it enacted, That upon the application of any
master or mistress, or other person, legally authorized by such
master or mistress, to the county courts of the county where
such master or mistress, or their agent, may reside, upon the
apprehension of such absconding servant, it shall be lawful for

On appli-
cation.

such court at its session, to grant an order for the sale of all the
right of the master or mistress, in and to said negro or mulatto
servant, to any person or persons within or without this state ;

May order
sale of time.

Provided, said court shall be of opinion that such absconding
of such slave was not occasioned by improper conduct on the
part of his owner, or owner's agent.

Proviso.

SEC. 6. And be it enacted, That the said order shall express
the term of service of said negro or mulatto servant, and it shall
141

Term ex-
pressed.