Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-13

where Tree person oil color mas come ihto n
lexandria without regisier-eyidence oil freeoom'
proof by affidavit of creditable free person,
| white or black, that such person was born free,
| or has been receixsd and reputed in the place
where he generally resided as free, (such afr
davit) is received ~ sufficient evidence TO enti-
tile. such person OF color 10 the certificate re-
quired By law, and to secure to him ever there
after. all the rights and privileges OF free man
Of color. The.Cler ofsthe county Of Alexan-
dria, also states to The COMMITTEE, thar since
his residence 'in that county, which commenced
in 1892, he has never known man Of color
taken up as runaway, who has not had ample
time afforded him, upon his allegation OF his
right to freedom, to procure, evidence OF the
fact, in air Instances aided in procuring such e.
violence by the officer who had charge Of him,
and in all instances upon Reproduction Of such
evidence such person has been Immediately
discharged without any claim for jail fees.
The conclusions from the foregoing legal
provisions are LIST. That a free man OF color,
can never be arrested or questioned when he
has copy Of the instrument Of his emaneipa.
ton duly certified; 2dly. That he can never be
arrested or questioned, il he should migrate to
the county Of Alexandria, from any part of the
Union where no such register OF emancipation
is provided for by law, or where he derives his
freedom by truth or otherwise; provided he has
with him, or can produce an affidavit that he
was born free, or that he was received and re-
ported as freeman in the place where he gen.
orally resided.
Thirdly, That if no such evidence is in his
possession, or is produced within three months,
that he is to be hired out to pay his Jail fees,
till such evidence is produced.
Fourthly, That upon the production of such
evidence, he is entiiledto immediate discharge
without cost, and is moreover entitled to have
himself registered, and is to be furnished with
a copy Of such register.
Filthy. That such register, annually renew
ed, thereafter protects him as a free man.
Sixthly. That if no such evidence is produc-
ed within twelve months, he may then be ssld
as runaway slave, the law presuming him to
be such.
Seventhly. IF sold as slave, and he can ever
thereafter show that he was free at the time Of
such sale, he is Immediately entitled to resto-
ration of his right.
The Committee do not therefore consider any
alteration Of this law, in the County of Alexan-
dria, in relation to4his subject, necessary.
The laws in force in the County Of Washing
ton relative to the same subject vary in several
important respects from the laws in the Coun-
ty Of Alexandra. These laws are to be found
in Kilty's Laws Of Maryland, Chapter a., Sec
ton 6, u and 9, passed in the year i7l5;
Chapter II, passed in 1919; Chapter -, Sec.
ZION IL, passed in 1892 The uniform and set
tied Legislation of Maryland, in relation to per-
sons OF color, from the year l7l5, is based upon
the presumption that all persons Of color who
are strangers, and who are wandering at large
without any evidence Of title to freedom, and
who canno, procure such evidence, are to be
considered as absconding slaves, and 10 be so
dealt with. In the County of Washington the
laws Of Maryland in fo,ssM the time go. az ~
ing slaves, are now in operation, and the law Of
1896 provides for registering free persons Of
color by Abe Clerks Of the several counties up
on the production Of the evidence OF such per-
sons Of their right 10 freedom, and directs that
they shall be furnished with certificates Of sush
register, which certificate operates as protec-
ton 10 them in all these rights and privileges.
The law further provides, that free person
Of color, il found travelling out Of the county
where he or she resides, without such cer,i6-
cate, such person, if apprehended, and no, be-
Jog sufficiently known, or able TO give good
account Of himself, when apprehended, shall
oC iSN W tuC uiSStStou VI TIC OC"
fore whom such person shall be brought to
Judge thereof, and il such person be deemed
and taken as runaway, shall suffer such fines
and penalties as are provided against runaways.
BY the law entitled ga supplement to the &C.
relating to servants and slaves" it is provided,
thar any sheriff who shall have committed TO.
him any sbseonding slave, shall, after giving
the notice provided for by the same law, sell
such fugitive slave. The same law, after pro.
viding for the paymen, Of certain rewards to
such as may app,ehend runaway slaves found in
Pennsylvania or Virginia, and brought into
this district, has the following extraordinary
clause: "that il the person SO apprehended as
runaway be free man, and shall refuse to
pay the fees and rewards allowed for apprehend-
ing fugitive slaves, that such person shall be
committed to prison till he or she give security
for the payment Of such fees and rewards, or
make satisfaction thereof by servitude or Other
WISE"
The Committee are informed by distinguish
ed counsel, ,hs, under the construction given to
this law, such person or persons are subject to
be sold as slaves. The Committee however be.
leve that This provision Of law is obsolete; no
instance having ever occurred in the District,
Of the sale Of free persons Of color, under this
law. The conclusions from the foregoing legal
provisions are. LIST. That free persons Of color,
h.