By His Excellency Samuel Ogle Esqr Governor and
Commander in Chief in and over the Province of Maryland
Whereas a Wicked and Dangerous Conspiracy hath
been discovered to have been lately entered into by several Negroes in Prince
Georges County to kill and Murder the white people within the said County and
other parts of this province several of which Conspirators are now Actually in
prison and Informations given against many others not yet Apprehended In Order
therefore to Avert so great and Eminent A Danger and as much as in me lies to
secure his Majestys Subjects in their Lives and Propertys and to prevent their
being Sacrificed to the rage and fury of merciless and Barbarous Slaves I have
thought fit with the Advice of his Lordships Council of State to Issue this my
Proclamation Strictly Commanding and requiring all Officers as well Civil as
Military within this province in their Several and respective Stations to be
particularly careful in putting the several Laws in Execution to prevent the
Tumultuous meeting of Slaves and all other Laws for the Safety of the People
and to Apprehend all such Slaves as shall be found wandering who cannot give a
good and Satisfactory Account of themselves and to Secure them that they may be
Amesnable to Justice and dealt with according to Law, And to require all
Persons to be aiding and assisting to the several Officers in the due and
faithful Execution of their duty in the Premises, And also to Exhort all his
Majestys Subjects to be upon their guard and to prepare in the best and most
Expeditious manner they can for the defence of themselves and their Neighbours
and for the better exacting an Obedience from the Civil Officers in the
Execution of their Duty in the Premises I hereby earnestly recommend to the
Magistrates of the several Counties a Careful and strict Observance and notice
of such Civil Officers as may be negligent or remiss in their said Several
Dutys In Order for their Punishment according to Law, And I do hereby Strictly
charge and require the several Sheriffs of this province to make this my
Proclamation publick in their said Counties in the usual manner as they will
Answer the Contrary at their Peril Given at the City of Annapolis this 24th day
of January in the 25th year of his Lordships Dominion Anno Domini 1739
the following Commission being produced by the
Honble Col" Charles Hammond is ordered to be Entered [1}
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