Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1862-02-06
THE TREASON BILL.

The following is the bill to define and pun
ish treason, which was passed by the House of
Delegates on the 28th ult.:
BILL.
Entitled. an Act to amend section t,co hundred
and t,co of Article thirty of the Code of Public
General Laus, relating to crimes and punish
the punishment Of Treason and other kindred
offences.
Be 1t enacted by the General assembly Of
iMaruland That section two hundred and two
of Article thirty of the Code of Public General
that the following he enacted and inserted in
said Code in lieu thereof, to wit:
/ Section 2O2. Snb-Sec. l. If any person
shall levy war against this State, or shall adhere
to the enemies thereof, whether foreign or do
mestic, giving them aid or comfort within this
State or elsewhere, and shall be thereof convc-
ted on confession in open court or on the testi-
|mony of two witnesses, both of them to the same
overt act, or one of them to one and the other
to another overt act Of the same treason, he shall
suffer death, or be sentenced to confinement in
the Penitentiary, for not less than six nor more
than twenty years, at the discretion of the court
Sub-Sec g If any person shall provide or
procure money, goods, or other property or eff
fects (other than munitions of war; to be used
in the levying of war against this State, or in
giving aid or comfort to the enemies of this State
within this State or elsewhere, and be convicted
thereof, he shall be sentenced to imprisonment
in the county Jail, of the county or city where
ever he may be convicted. for term not exceed
ling six months, or to fine not exceeding five
hundred dollars, at the discretion of the court,
and If the property effects provided or pro-
| cured, consist in part or in the whole of NUM-
tons of war, the person so providing or procur-
ing such munitions of war. shall, on conviction
thereof, be sentenced to confinement in the Peni-
ltentiary for term not exceeding two years, or
to fine not exceeding the value of the said
property or effects, at the discretion of the court
and in any and every case, the money, goods,
property, or effects, so provided or procured,
shall be forfeited to the use of the State.
Sub-Sec. g. And Whereas, experience has
shown that evil-minded persons are disposed to
commit the offences specified in this subsection
for the purpose of promoting rebellion or war
against this State, therefore:
| Be it enacted, That if any person or persons
shall wilfully burn or destroy any bridge, via
duct culvert structure, rails, ferry boat or tt,,er
property belonging to, and being part Of any
Highway or railroad within this State, or engine,
car, vehicle, or property belonging to or used or
femployed upon any railroad within this State,
or shall destroy any dam, lock, abutment, tow
tGng path. wasteweir or feeder of any canal, or
any boat, vessel, or other property belonging to,
or used or employed thereon within this State,
every such person. upon conviction thereof, shall
be sentenced to undergo confinement in the Peni-
ftentiary, for a term not less than two nor more
than six years, or to a fine of not less than five
hundred nor more than two thousand dollars, in
the discretion Of the court
| Sub-Sec. 4. That if any person or persons
within this State, shall hold any secret or pub
lie meeting, or unite with or belong to any Sc
lcret club or association, known by him or them
to be intended to effect, promote or encourage
the separation secession of this State from the
Government or Union of the United States, OF
to effect, promote or encourage the incorporation
Tor union of this State with the so-caled South
fern Confee1eracy, every such person. upon con-
Eviction thereof shall be sentenced to confinement
in the Penitentiary, for term not less than two
nor more than six years, or to fine of not less
than five hundred or more than three thousand
Iriollars, at the discretion of the court.
| Sub-Sec. s: If any person shall conspire. OF
combine with others to levy war against this
State or to give all and comfort to the enemies
thereof, whether foreign or domestic, within this
| State or elsewhere, and be convicted thereof, he
| shall be sentenced to confinement in the Peni-
| Tertiary, for not less than two years nor more
! than six years, or to a fine not exceeding five
thousand dollars at the discretion Of the court.
| Sub-Sec. g. That if with intent to promote
/ rebellion or war against this State, or to give
aid and comfort to the enemies thereof. any per-
son shall attempt to burn or destroy, or any
1 person shall attempt or conspire with others te
burn or destroy any bridge, ferry boat, viaduct
culvert, structure, rails, or other property be.
! longing to, or being part of any highway OF
1 railroad, or any engine, car, vehicle, or Other
property, either belonging to or used or employ.
ed upon any railroad within this State, or if any
/ person or persons shall attempt or conspire with
! ing path, wasteweir, or feeder Of any canal, OF
any boat, vessel, or other property, belonging
! to- or used or employed thereon, within thi:
State, any person so offending, upon conviction
thereof shall be sentenced to confinement in the
Penitentiary, for a term not exceeding three
4 years nor less than one year, or fined in a sun
of not more than two thousand nor less thar
4 five hundred dollars, in the discretion of the
court.
/ Sub-Sec.,7 7. That if any person or person:
l shall wilfully attempt or conspire to betray
yield or deliver to any person or persons in re-
bellion against the Government of this State, Of
to their emissaries, aiders or abettors, any ship
! vessel, or steamboat, within this State, every
q person so offending shall, upon conviction there
4 of, be sentenced to confinement in the Peniten
tiary, for term not exceeding three years no
! less than one year, or fined in sum of not NOR
than two thousand nor less than five hundred
, dollars in the discretion OF the court.
Sub-Sec. 8. If any person within this State
shall seduce, entce, or persuade, any other per
f
4 by the several sub-sectons of this section pro
Inhibited, and such offence be committed, the sail
person who SO seduced, enticed, or persuaded
shall on conviction, be sentenced to suffer sucl
punishment, as the person committing said of
!, fence would be liable to suffer as punishment
for the crime so committed by him.
! Sub-See. 9. If any person within this State
shall attempt to seduce, entice, or persuade
any other person to commit any of the offences
which by the several sub-sections of this section
are prohibited, though such offence has not bee
4 committed and shall he convicted thereof h