WILLIAM GRASON, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

1838.

levy and assess on the assessable property of said
county, a sum of money not exceeding three hundred

dollars, which shall be paid over to the acting com-

missioners appointed under the authority of this act,
or to their authorized agent, to be appropriated to
the expenses incurrred for the erection of said wharf.

CHAP. 63.

SEC. 6. And be it enacted That the said commission-
ers, or a majority of them, before they proceed to exe-

cute the duties herein required, shall take the fol-

lowing oath, before some person authorised to adminis-
ter the same: I. A. B. do swear, that I will well and tru-
ly execute the trust reposed in me by authority of an
act, passed December session eighteen hundred and

thirty-eight, entitled an act to provide for the erection

of an additional wharf in the town of Nottingham, in
Prince George's county, for the shipment of Tobacco,
from the public warehouse in that town.

CHAPTER 63.

Oath prescribed.

An act to provide for the recapture of fugitive Slaves.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That from and after the passage of this act,
any negro slave, who shall escape from this State into
the District of Columbia, or into any of the States of

guilty of felony.

Passed Feb. 16,
1839.

Escape made felo-

ny.

Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That upon conviction of
the offence prescribed in the first section of this act on
an indictment by the Grand Jury of the county or city
from which such slave shall have escaped, the said slave
shall be sold, after ten days' notice, by the sheriff of
such county or city, to the highest bidder, and after de-
ducting the necessary expenses for arrest, detention
and conviction of such slave, the balance shall be de-
livered to the master, mistress, or owner of such slave.

On conviction

thereof.

Sale directed.

Proceeds to be paid

over.

Sec. 5. And be it enacted, That upon evidence of
the fact of such escape afforded either by affidavit, be
fore any person authorized to administer the same to
8

On evidence of

fact of escape.