Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1855-02-08
An Act to Protect Slave Property in
Missouri.
Introduced By .Nr. Daris, Of Horard.

Slate of Missouri, as follows:
l.--That in each county in this State
which fronts and borders upon the NIissis
sippi river. and above TIE mouth Of the Ohio
river, and in each county, the territory Of
which adioins the State of Iowa, there shall
be a patrol Of active and efficient men, APP
pointed Ivy the county court, TO consist Of
not less than seven nor more than twenty
one.
S2.-That said patrol in each county, A.
Ter being notified by the Sheriff Of their ap
pointment, shall meet and elect their captain
and such oher officers as they may deem
necessary.
53,-It shall be the duty of the said
patrols, and of every member thereof, TO
keep and observe strict watch over the
conduct Of the slaves in the said counties,
to catch opprchend and secure all runa-
ways, to observe carefully the conduct Of all
free negroes and muatloes, to see that no
Illegal traffic is carried on between free per-
sons Of color and slaves, and to apprehend
all such while persons as may be found en-
gage1 in any suspicious manner in traffic or
Illegal intercourse with slaves.
54.-The said patrols shall be appointed
by the said several county coIrts for one
year, and at the expiration Of their terms,
the said courts shall make said appoint
menis, ard SO on, annually, and as often as
vacancies shall happen in the patrol from
death, removal or resignation.
5.-It shall be the duty Of the patrols
in the several counties bordering in part
upon the Mississippi river, to examine care
fully the margin Of the river, and cut loose
and send adrift, or otherwise destroy al
skitTs, canoes, or other small craft, found in
or about the water. or on the river side. not
kept for use at licensed public ferry.
6.-It shall be the duty Of said patrols
in the counties bordering on the Mississippi
river, to sec that the public licensed ferries
are so kept that all skih;, boats and other
craft, kept and used at such public ferries
shall be 50 roorcd and fastened at night that
runaway slaves cannot escape by means OF
such vessels.
7.-If any keeper Of licensed ferry
shall neglect or refuse to so keep and secure
his skiiiS boats or other vessels, when re-
questcd by any of tie patrol, by means Of
log claims, locks and secure mooring>, he
shall forfeit 10 the State of Missouri one
thousand dollars for every such offence, 10
be recovered by indictment in the circuit
court of the proper county, and may also, at
the discretion Of the county court have his
license taken from him.
ES.--That said patrols shall, III addition
to the powers conferred upon them by this
act, have and possess all the powers that
are or may for the time being be conferred
on the patrols of the several townships in
this State by the general law.
E9.-That it shall be the duty of the
said patrols. appointed by virtue of this act,
to keep vigiiant watch at the different cities
on the Mississippi river, that the slaves Of
tine citizens do not sccrete themselves on
board the steamboats, leaving the wharvcs Of
the said several cities, which said duty NAV.
by the respective patrols OF each county, be
delegated to one or more Of their number.
s lot shall be the duty Of said patrols
to devote not less than three months in each
=, year to the performance of the obligations
enioined by this act; and before entering
upon the discharge Of the duties hereby re-
quired, each one Of said patrols shall take
and subscribe an oath to support the Con-
>titutjon Of tie United States and OF the
State Of Missouri, and that he will faithfully
discharge the duties that are or may be en-
joined upon him by laws as such patrol,
which oath may be administered by any
Judge, Justice or Clerk Of a court of rec
, ord or by Justice Of the Peace Of the
county in which he shall lave been appoint
ed, and filed with the clerk Of the county
court Of said county.
s ll.-That when said patrols shall ap-
prehend any miScheyous or suspicious
white person, as provided in the third Sec
ton Of this act. he shall be taken before
some judicial officer of the county for exam
! nation, and it upon examination it appear
that he has been guilty of any offence against
the right Of slave owners, prohibited BY the
laws OF this State, he shall be recognised
to appear at the next term Of the circuit OF
!, criminl! court, or committed TO ioii, as cir.
. cumslanceS may require.
!l2,-That at the end of each year after
the appointment of the patrols under and b,
virtue of this act, said patrols shall max,
a out an account for their services at tie rat,
= OF not more than - dollars per month 70
IS the time each shall have served in the pre-
'oaliva. ,,I 81 al