Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History & Culture Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva's Black History

Record Detail

Record #11 from Laws and Legislation Related to Slavery and Free Blacks in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (1642-1860)

Date Feb. 27, 1850
Law/Legislation Law
Jurisdiction MD
Title An act entitled, a further additional supplement to the act entitled, an act concerning Crimes and Pun- ishments
Description/Full Text Penalty for en- ticing slaves to run away, if a free person. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assem- bly of Maryland, That from and after the passage of this act, if any person or persons shall entice, persuade, assist or offer any inducement to any slave or servant, knowing him or her to be such, to runaway from his or 48[?] her lawful owner, or possessor, or shall harbor any run- away slave or servant, knowing him or her to be such, then such person or persons shall be liable to indictment in the county court of the county where such offence shall have been committed, or in the city court of the city of Baltimore, or in the district court of Howard district, if such offence shall have been committed in the city of Baltimore, or Howard district, and upon conviction shall be sentenced to undergo a confinement in the penitentiary house for a period of time not less than six, nor more than fifteen years, there to be treat- ed as the law directs. If the offender be a slave. SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That if any slave shall be duly convicted of any offence under the provisions of the first section of this act, such slave may in the discretion of the court before whom such conviction shall be had, be sentenced to undergo a confinement in the penitentiary house, as is hereinbefore provided, or to re- ceive on his or her bare back any number of lashes not exceeding forty. Inconsistent acts repealed SEC. 3. And be it further enacted. That the act of December session eighteen hundred and forty-four, chap- ter eighty, the act of December session, eighteen hundred and twenty-seven, chapter fifteen, the second section of the act of December session, eighteen hundred and eigh- teen, chapter one hundred and fifty-seven,and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with any of the provisions of Proviso this act, be and the same are hereby repealed; provided nevertheless, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed or construed in any manner to hinder or prevent the indictment, conviction and punishment, of any person or persons, who at the time when this act will go into operation, shall have committed any offence punish- able under any of the acts hereby entirely or partially repealed, but such person or persons shall be liable to be indicted, convicted and sentenced, at any time after the passage of this act, in the same manner, and for the same period or periods of confinement, as he, she or they, might or could have been, had the acts hereby repealed continued in full force and operation.
Additional Information
Source https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000613/html/am613--373.html http://slavery.msa.maryland.gov/html/research/histlaw.html
Transcriber Notes

If you are citing this record, please use the following format:

[Author (if known)], Laws and Legislation Related to Slavery and Free Blacks in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (1642-1860), [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.

Pinned records can be viewed at any time by clicking the More menu in the top right corner of the page, then selecting My Pinned Records.