Chap. 127.—An ACT for receiving United States Registers of Marriage
between Colored Persons,

Passed April 29, 1867,

Whereas it has been represented to the general assembly
that the United States authorities have collected valuable
statistics, exhibiting the marriages heretofore solemnized be-
tween colored people, which ought to be preserved and be
accessible to parties interested ; and the general assembly
being solicitous to preserve evidences for legitimizing the
offspring of such marriages :
1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That the gov-
ernor of the commonwealth be instructed to obtain from the
proper authorities of the United States the originals, or
copies of such registers of marriages of colored persons as
have been taken by officers of and by direction of the United
States government, and cause the same to be deposited with
the clerks of the several county courts of the state: and the
said clerks shall safely keep the same, aud render copies or
extracts therefrom when requested,

2. This act shall be in force from its passage,