CHAP. XII.

An act to amend an act, intituled, an act for establishing the town of Martinsburg, in the county of Berkeley, and for other purposes.

I. WHEREAS by an act of assembly, passed at the October session, of the year one thousand seven hundred seventy-eight, "Establishing the town of Martinsburg, in the county of Berkeley, and for other purposes," the trustees therein mentioned were empowered and required to convey by good and sufficient deeds, all lots that shall or may be purchased after the passing the said recited act. And whereas it is represented to the present assembly, that general Adam Stephen, on whose land the said town was established, has Martinsburg, proceeded to sell and convey a great number of the lots conveyed by to different purchasers, which said deeds are insufficient to secure the title of the purchasers to the said lots: For remedy whereof,

Title to lots in town of

Adam Ste

phen, the original proprietor, as va lid as if conveyed by the rustees.

II. Be it enacted, That all deeds which the said Adam Stephen hath executed for conveying any of the said lots to the purchasers thereof, shall be, and they are hereby declared as valid and effectual, to all intents and purposes, as if the conveyances had been made by the said trustees.

Preamble.

CHAP. XIII.

An act for imposing an additional duty of one and an half per centum on certain goods, wares, and merchandizes.

I. WHEREAS an act of the last session of assembly authorized and empowered the United States in congress assembled, to impose certain duties on the imports of this state, which act is not to be enforced until all the states in the union shall have passed laws similar

thereto, and in the mean time the revenues of this commonwealth will be considerably increased, by imposing certain duties, in addition to those now in force, on the articles of merchandize imported into the same:

Additional

11. Be it therefore enacted, That from and after the first day of August next, there shall be paid to the collector of duties at the port or ports established or to be established, an additional duty of one and a half per duty laid on centum ad valorem, on all goods, wares, and merchan- certain goods dizes, which are now subject to a duty of one per cent. by virtue of an act of the October session of the general assembly, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, intituled, "An act to amend and reduce the several acts of assembly for ascertaining certain taxes and duties, and for establishing a permanent revenue, into one act;" which said duty of one and an half per cent. shall be paid by the owner or importer of any such goods, wares, and merchandizes, and shall be collected and accounted for under the same regulations and penalties as are provided by the said recited act for the one per cent. aforesaid.

Appropria

III. And be it further enacted, That the monies arising from such additional duty, shall be appropriated in the first place to the payment of the wages of the tion of duty. delegates representing this state in congress, and the remainder thereof towards the quotas which have been or may be required by congress from this state. Provided nevertheless, That the said duty of one and an half per cent. shall cease to be in force, so soon as the impost recommended by congress shall be agreed to by all the states in the union; any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

Further time

CHAP. XIV.

An act to revive and amend in part an act, intituled, An act for giving further time to enter certificates for settlement rights, and for locating warrants upon pre-emption rights, and for other purposes.

I. WHEREAS an act passed in the May session, allowed to re- one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, intituled, turn plats and certificates of "An act for giving further time to enter certificates for survey to the settlement rights, and to locate warrants upon pre-emp

land office.

tion rights, and for other purposes," expired, in part, on the first day of June in the present year, and it is necessary that the same should be revived:

11. Be it enacted, That the further time of six months, from and after the said first day of June, be allowed for returning all plats and certificates of survey which have not been returned to the register's office within the time limited by law.

III. And be it further enacted, That the register of the land office, or his deputy, shall be obliged to receive such plats and certificates of survey; and the lands shall not be liable to forfeiture on account of such failure.

See vol. 10, pa. 506.

CHAP. XV.

An act to suspend the distress for the one per cent. tax on land for a limited time.

I. WHEREAS by an act of assembly, passed in the October session, in the year one thousand seven hunDistress for dred and eighty-one, intituled "An act for ascertainland tax sus- ing certain taxes and duties, and for establishing a perpended. manent revenue," the several sheriffs and collectors of taxes within this commonwealth, are empowered to dis

ad

train for the payment of the tax of one per centum, valorem, on all lands and lots on the first day of July annually, and it hath become necessary to postpone the collection thereof;

II. Be it therefore enacted, That the operation of so much of the said recited act, as empowers the several sheriffs and collectors to distrain for the said one per shall centum on the first day of July in the present year, be, and the same is hereby suspended until the tenth day of October next. And the several sheriffs and collectors of taxes within this commonwealth, shall then collect, and may distrain for the aforesaid tax of one per centum of the valuation of lands and lots, agreeable to the act for equalizing the land tax, and shall account for and pay the same into the treasury, on or And if the before the tenth day of November next. several sheriffs and collectors shall fail to make payment into the treasury, on or before the said tenth day of November, it shall be lawful for the solicitor general, or other officer legally authorized, to obtain judgment, upon motion for the same, at any succeeding court of oyer and terminer or general court, provided the party against whom such motion is made hath ten days previous notice thereof. And in all other cases respecting the collection of the said one per centum, the proceedings shall be the same, and the same penalties, forfeitures, and damages, shall be paid by tlie delinquents as directed by the act, intituled, "An act to amend and reduce the several acts of assembly for ascertaining certain taxes and duties, and for establishing a permanent revenue, into one act."

CHAP. XVÍ.

An act to levy certain taxes in aid of the public revenue, and to apply the same in payment of the debts due foreign creditors.

1. WHEREAS the several taxes heretofore impo- New Taxes. sed, have been found inadequate to the support of gov

VOL. II.

X 2

Tax on lawprocess, appeals, &c.

cial bail.

ments or de

Grees.

ernment and the payment of the public debts, and it hath become necessary to make further provision for those purposes, in a manner least burthensome to the citizens;

11. Be it therefore enacted, That the following taxes shall be paid, viz. On each original writ or subpœna issued from the general court or high court of chancery, the sum of six shillings; on each original citation from the court of admiralty, six shillings; on each original writ or subpoena in chancery issued from any county court or court of hustings, three shillings; on each appeal to the court of appeals, twelve shillings; on each writ of error, supersedeas and certiorari, issued from the general court or high court of chancery, six shillings; on each writ of habeas corpus, cum causa, six shillings; on each appeal from any county court or On recogni- court of hustings, six shillings; on each recognizance zence of spe- of special bail entered, or bail bond or bail piece, returnable into the general court, three shillings; on each recognizance of special bail entered, or bail bond or bail piece, returnable into any county court or court of hustings, one shilling and six pence; on each final On judg- judgment or decree in any court concerning lands, slaves, or vessels, twelve shillings; on each final judgment or decree in any court for a determinate sum of money, at the rate of two shillings and six pence for every hundred pounds; on each final judgment or decree concerning any other property, three shillings; on each deed recorded concerning any improved lot or lots in any city or incorporated town, for each lot twelve shillings; on each deed recorded concerning any unimproved lot or lots in such city or town, for each lot six shillings; on each deed recorded concerning any improved lot or lots in any unincorporated town, for each lot six shillings; on each deed recorded concerning any unimproved lot or lots in any unincorporated town, for each lot three shillings; on each deed recorded concerning other lands, for each hundred acres three shillings; On probats of on each other deed recorded, three shillings; on each wills, or gran ting adminis- probate of wills, or grant of administration, where lands trations. or slaves are concerned, six shillings; on each certifiOn seals of cate under the seal of any county or corporation, six shillings; on each admission of attornies to practice in the superior courts, fifteen pounds; on each licence of attornies to practice in inferior courts, five pounds;

On deeds recorded.

court.

On admission of attornies.