Be it enacted by the people of the state of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That every black or mulatto person being a native of this state and residing within the same may at any time enter his or her name, together with the names of his or her family, with the clerk of the Circuit Court of the County in which he or she may reside, together with the evidence of his or her freedom; which shall be entered on record by the said clerk together with a description of all such persons; and thereafter the Clerk’s certificate of such record shall be sufficient evidence of his or her freedom, afford the holder the same protection and have the same effect in law, as is given to certificates granted in pursuance of the fourth Section of the act, entitled, “An act respecting for negroes, Mulattoes, Servants[,] and [slaves]” approved March 30 1819: Provided nevertheless that nothing herein contained shall be construed to bear the lawful claim of any person or persons to any such negro or mulatto