Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-11-18
EXTRACT

From the Charge of Judge BREWER TO
tie Grand Jury Of Montgomery COM
ty, at the NOrembcr Term, 1859.
The most absorbing subject, at the
present time, seems to be the recent dia-
bohcal attempt to excite the free negroes
and slaves of Maryland and Virginia to
instruction, and to aid them in the at
tempt.
1t admits of no palliation, and those
who are likely to suffer for it, deserve no
pity from us. 1t is impossible to con-
template the remotest probability Of its
success without horror.
The very great excitement on this
subject, in many parts of the State, may
lead to very decided legislation with re-
gard to the free negroes in the State. -
1t is matter difficult to deal with but
whatever may be done hereafter by the
law-making power, it is our duty now, to
see that the laws already enacted, and
which may have an important bearing on
the present, or any future emergency,
be properly executed.
The Act of 1715, oh. Al, sec. 50,
prohibited any negro Or other slave from
carrying a gun or other ofeasioc weopon
FROM off his masters land without his Ii
censc.
Act of 1906, CHI. 81, sec. 1, pro-
hblts any negro OF mulatto from keeping
a gun.
The Act of 1881, CHI. 1898, prohibits
any free negro or mulatto from keeping or
carrying a firelock of any kind, or any
military weapon, or any powder or lead,
without license from the Court of the
county or corporation in which he re-
sides, to be renewed annually, and to be
at any time Withdrawn by an order of
Court.
The penalty for the first offence, is
a forfeiture of the arms seized, and the
payment of the costs of prosecution and
for the second offence, the same forfeit
turc and the infection Of not more than
80 lashes
The result of these laws is, that no
slave has right to keep Or carry a gun
or other offensive weapon, with or with
out license; and that no free negro or
nulatto has right to keep or carry a
gun or offensive weapon Of any kind, Or
any powder Or lead, without an order
from the Circuit Court.
:" 1t vas with view to carry out the
intention Of these laws, that / passed an
order revoking all licenses granted under
the last law, and another directing the
Sheriff and Constabes of the county, to
proceed Immediately TO search for and
seize all the articles prohibited by them.
Il believe it to be the duty of this
Court to call upon the Sheriff and Con
stables to perform their duty, and to see
that they do; and if they neglect it in
this particular, hope and trust it will
he taken cognizanco of by the grand in
quest of the county
:" have no disposition to Cypress the
class Of persons referred to; on the con-
trary, | think that both policy and hu-
mainly should prompt us all, while they
remain among us to treat them with
Misunderstanding them, at the same
time, in proper subordination to the
white population. But it is no oppres-
sion to require them to submit to the
laws ofthe State. These laws, the pur-
poses of which cannot be mistaken, ought
TO be and mnst be enforced and | trust
that all good citizens will aid the officers
of the law in the execution of their duty
under them
The 10th sec. of the Act Of 1881
chap. 1913, prohibits any person from
selling ardent spirits, gun. powder, shot,
or lead, to any free negro, mulatto Oh
slave, without license in the one case
from Justice of the Peace, and in the
other, from the master, owner Or owners
under the penalty of five dollars, to be
recovered before Justice of the Peace. y