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AND 

ACT OF INCORPORATION 

OF THE 

PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY 

FOR PROMOTING THE 

ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, 

AND FOR THE RELIEF OF 

1SWBS& S9S®B©Ii^s> 

UNLAWFULLY HELD IN BONDAGE, 

AND FOR THE 

IMPROVING THE CONDITION 

OF THE 

AFRICAN RACE. 

TO WHICH ARE ADDED 

ABSTRACTS OF THE LAWS OF THE STATES OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, DELAWARE AND MARYLAND, 

AND OF THE ACTS OF CONGRESS, RESPECTING 

SLAVERY AND THE SLAVE TRADE. 

VW W% "W\ VWVW VW 

" All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to 
*« you, do ye even so to them; for this is the Law and the Fro- 
a phets." Mutth. vii. 12. 

PHILADELPHIA: 

PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY, 
JiX HALL k ATKINSON, 53, MARKET STREET. 

1820, 






i 



®®Hs^wirii®si 



PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY 

FOR PROMOTING THE 

ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, &c. 

IT having pleased the Creator of the world, to make of one 
flesh ail the children of men — it becomes them to consult and 
promote each other's happiness, as members of the same fami- 
ly, however diversified they may be- by colour, situation, reli- 
gion; or different states of society. It is more especially the 
duty of those persons, who profess to maintain for themselves 
the rights of human nature, and who acknowledge the obliga- 
tions of Christianity, to use such means as are in their power, 
to extend the blessings of freedom to every part of the human, 
race; and in a more particular manner, to such of their fellow- 
creatures, as tire entitled to freedom by the laws and constitutions 
of any of the United States, and who, notwithstanding, are de- 
tained in bondage, by fraud or violence. — From a full convic- 
tion of the truth and obligation of these principles — from a de- 
sire to diffuse them, wherever the miseries and vices of slavery 
exist, and in humble confidence of the favour and suppou of 
the Father of Mankind, the subscribers have associated them- 
selves, under the title of the " Pennsylvania Society for pro- 
moting the Abolition of Slavery, and the Relief of free Negroes 
unlawfully held in Bondage." 

For effecting these purposes, they have adopted the following 
constitution : 

I. The officers of the society shall consist of a president, two 
vice-presidents, two secretaries, atreasurer, twelve counsellors, 
(viz. six from the city and county of Philadelphia) and one from 
each of the following counties, viz Bucks, Montgomery, Lan- 
caster, York, Northampton and Delaware) an electing commit- 
tee of twelve, aboard of education of thirteen, and .; acting 
committee of six members ; all of whom, except the last nam- 
ed committee, shall be chosen annually by ballot, on the !. 
Fifth-day called Thursday, in the month called Decembi 



II. The president, and in his absence one of the vice-presi- 
dents, shall preside in all the meetings, and subscribe all the 
public acts oi the society. The president, or in his absence, 
either of the vice-presidents, shali moreover have the power of 
calling a special meeting of the society whenever he shall judge 
p.opei'. A special meeting shall likewise be called at anytime, 
when six members of the society shall concur in requesting it. 

III. The secretaries shall keep fair records of the proceed- 
ings of the society, and shall correspond with such persons and 
societies, as may be judged nee essary to promote the views and 
objects of the institution. 

IV. The treasurer shall keep all the monies and securities 
belonging to the society, and shall pay all orders signed by the 
president or one of the vice-presidents — which orders shall be 
his vouchers for his expenditures. He shall, before he enters 
upon his office, give a bo. id of not less than two hundred pounds. 
for the faithful discharge of the duties of it. 

V. The business of the counsellors shall be to explain the 
laws and constitutions of the states, which relate to the eman- 
cipation of slaves, and to urge their claims to freedom, when 
legal, before such persons or courts as are authorised to decide 
upon them. 

VI. The electing committee shall have the sole power of 
admitting new members. Two-thirds of them shall be a quo- 
rum for this purpose — and the concurrence of a majority of 
them by ballot, when met, shall be necessary for the admission 
oi a member. No member shall be admitted, who has not been 
proposed at a general meeting of the society, nor shall an elec- 
tion for a member take place in less than one month after the 
time of his being proposed. Foreigners or persons who do not 
reside in this state, may be elected corresponding members of 
the society, without being subject to an annual payment, and 
shall be admitted to the meetings of the society during their re- 
sidence in tiie state. 

VII. The board of education shall superintend the schools 
established by the society, and manage the funds appropriated 
to their support Seven members shall constitute a quorum 
to transat t the general concerns of the board. Ail orders, drawn 
by tiici chairman, and attested by their secretary, shall be paid 
by the treasurer of the society. They shall keep regular mi- 
liutes of their proceedings) and produce them at every stated 
meeting of the society. 

\ III. The acting committee shall transact such business 

as shall occur in the recess of the society, and report the same 

li quarterly meeting. — They shall have a right, with the 

rrence of the president or one of the vice-presidents, to 

upon the treasurer for such sums of money as shall be 

to carry on the business of their appointment ; and 

sed to employ a clerk to transcribe their minutes into 



u book provided for the purpose. Four of them shall be a quo- 
rum. After the first election, two of their Dumber shall Le re- 
lieved from duty at each quarterly meeting, and two members 
shad be appointed to succeed them. 

IX. Every member upon his admission, shall subscribe the 
constitution of the society, and contribute two dollars annually, 
toward:; defraying its contingent expences : (Provided, that any 
member paying at one time the sum of thirty dollars or up- 
wards, shall be exempt from all future annual contributions.) 
If he neglects to pay the same for more than two years, he shall, 
upon due notice being given him of his delinquency, cease to 
be a member. 

X. The society shall meet on the last Fifth-day called Thurs- 
day in the months called March, June, September and Decem- 
ber, at such place as shall be agreed to by a majority of the so- 
ciety. 

XI. No person holding a slave shall be admitted a member 
of this society. 

XII. No law or regulation shall contradict any part of the 
constitution of the society, nor shall any law or alteration in the 
constitution be made, without being proposed at a previous, 
meeting. All questions shall be decided, wherethere is a divi- 
sion, by a majority of votes. In those cases where the society- 
is eoually divided, the presiding officer shall have a casting vote. 

RESOLUTION, ADOPTED JULY 5th, 1790. 

Resolved, That in case of the death of the president, either 
of the vice-presidents, or of the treasurer, or that either of them 
should refuse or decline to act in their stations respectively, or 
be removed for misconduct, notice shall be given thereof to a 
general meeting of the society, to be convened for that purpose 
within thirty days after such vacancy shall happen ; at which 
meeting the society shall proceed to elect by ballot (in the same 
manner as at the annual election) some other suitable member 
or members of this corpoiation to succeed in the place aid 
stead of such officer so removed by death or otherwise; and 
for the purpose of such election, the secretary's or either of 
them, are hereby authorised and directed to call such generaT 
meeting, by advertising the time and place thereof, st least three 
days before the day appointed for the same, in tvo or more 
of the public newspapers of this city ;and in case the secreta- 
ries shall neglect or refuse to perform this service, the com- 
mittee of correspondence, and on their neglect, the acting com- 
mittee shall have the power and authority, and are hereby di- 
rected to call such general meeting in the manner and for the 
purposes aforesaid. 

Rcsolvid, That in case of the absence of the president and 
vice-presidents from any meeting of the society, the members 
present a;e empowered and authorised to appoint some otbev 
member to act in the station at that time. 



TO INCORPORATE A SOCIETY. 

SY THE NAME OF 

THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY 

FOR 
PROMOTING THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, 

VXD FOR THE RELIEF OF FREE NEGROES 
UNLAWFULLY HELD IN BONDAGE, 

AND FOR 

IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF THE 

AFRICAN RACE. 

Section 1. WHEREAS a voluntary society has fov some 
years subsisted in this state, by the name and title of " The 
Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, 
and the Relief of Free Negroes unlawfully held in Bondage," 
which has evidently co-operated with the views of the legisla- 
ture, expressed in the act of the general assembly of this com- 
monwealth, passed the first day of March, in the year of our 
Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty, entitled " An 
Act for the gradual abolition of slavery," and a supplement 
thereto, passed the twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of 
our Lord, one thousand seven hunched and eight-eight, enti- 
tled " An Act to explain and amend an act, entitled an act for 
the gradual aboliUon of slavery." 

And whereas this said society have lately extended their plan 
so far as to comprehend within their intentions the improving 
the condition as well of those negroes who now are, or here- 
after shall become free, by the operation of the said acts, or 
otherwise, and their posterity; and have, by their petition to 
this house, prayed to be created and erected into a body po- 
litic and corporate, for the purpose of increasing their ability 
to be useful in the several matters aforesaid. 

SECT. 2. Be it then fire enacted, and it is hereby enacted, bij 
of the freemen of the commonwealth of P nnsyl- 
vania, in g neral ataembly met, and by the authority of the sa?ne, 
Thai the pr< b< ni members of the said society, viz. 



Dr. Benjamin Franklin, James Pembcrton, Jonathan Penrose, Thomas 
Harrison James Starr, William Lippincott, John 'l'homas, Benjamin Hor- 
nor, Samuel Richards, .lohn Evans, John Todd, .lames Whitcall, Edward 
Brooks, Thomas Armat, .!ohn Warner, Samuel Davis, Thomas Bartow, Ro- 
bert Evans, Robert Wood, Seymour Hart, Richard Humphreys, Robert I ow- 
ers, Joseph Moore, Joseph Russell, Willia Zane, Israel Whclen Samuel 
Baker, Richard Price, Charles <ervis, Israel Hallowell, Clement Biddle, Amos 
Wickersham, Pattison Hartshorne, Nathan Sellers, David Sellers, Isaac Far- 
rish, Zachariah Jess, Dr. Benjamin Rush, . ohn Field, Richard Joins, Williani 
Poyntell, Andrew Carson, Philip Price, .'ohn Hunt junr. Notris.lones, ohn 
Morton, Thomas Penrose, Thomas Poultney, Thomas Eddy, Isaac Wea- 
ver, junr. Caleb Attmore Joseph Budd, Abraham Sharpless, Isaac Massey, 
James Lewis, Thomas Shoemaker, Robert Morris, Jeremiah Paul, Thomas 
Savery, Franci- Bailey, Thomas Shields, George Eddy, ohn Morrison, John 
Morris, Joseph Clark, Zachariah Poulson, junr. Thomas Parker, William 
Graham, Thomas Rogers, John Poultney, Isaac Bonsall, Joseph Crukshank, 
John acobs, Nathan Boys, William Ashby, Jacob Trasel, William Jackson, 
Charies Crawford, Ellis Yarnall, John Olden, Tench Coxe, Jonathan Pugh, 
Reece John, Jacob Shoemaker, junr. William M'llhenney, Caleb Lownes, 
John Letchworth, William West, Isaac Pearson, Burton Wallace, Francis 
Johnson, . oseph Sharpless, Thomas Wistar, Joseph Lownes, Benjamin Say, 
Joseph Anthony, Caspar W. Haines, Joseph Bacon, George Ruttcr, David 
Lownes, Bartholomew Wistar, George Fox, William T. Franklin, William 
Rawle, ames Trenchard, Conrad Hanse, Samuel Coates, Richard Wells, 
Sharp Delany, Jonathan Willis, junr. Joseph Gibbons, Samuel Pancoast, Kear- 
ney Wharton, Dr. James Hutchinson, Charles Williams, John Claypoolc, John 
Dowers, Hilary Baker, George La'imer, Andrew Geyer, ames Read, Peter 
Woglom, John Kaign, .iohn Todd junr. Philip Benezet, Joseph James. Dr. 
Caspar Wistar, Dr. Samuel P. Griffitts, Thomas Fitzgerald Stephen Max- 
field, Philip Price, junr. Israel Pleasants, Mordecai Churchman, Thomas 
Annesly, Benjamin W. Morris, ohn M'Cree, George Richie, James Olden, 
John Hutchinson, George Wilson, acob Parke, Thomas Lawrence, Dr. John 
Foulke, esse Waterman, James Trimble, Dr. William Rogers, Dr. Nicholas 
Collin Samuel M. Fox, Benjamin Shoemaker, 'oseph P Norris, George 
Roberts, Jeremiah Parker, Abraham Liddon, ohn Bleakley, Joseph Inskeep, 
Robert Wain, Richard Parker, John Starr, Nathan Allen Smith, Thomas Nor- 
ton, Robert Taggart, Samuel Emlen, junr William Kid, Dr. John Andrews, 
Zebulon Potts, Samuel Kinsby, Nathan Field, Daniel Trotter, Benjamin Tay- 
lor, James Smith, junr. Caleb Carmalt, Robert Roberts, William Chancellor. 
Thomas Forrest, Jonathan Jones, Ebenezer Breed, George Aston, Thomas 
Proctor, George Davis, John Smilie, Thomas Palmer, Anthony Felix Wuibert, 
Matthew Hale, Richard Peters, Joseph Thomas Thomas Ross, Isaac Buckbec, 
Joshua Gilpin, Dr. Amos Gregg, Girard Vogels, Richard Riley, Samuel Clap- 
hamson, Zaccheus Collins, enry Hale Grayham, John Ely, Richard H. Mor- 
ris, John Staplir, junr. Daniel May, Andrew ohnston, S. Barnett, William 
"Welsh, Isaiah Ham, Charles Lukins, James Smith, J. Morris, Ambrose Up- 
degraff, Peter Mondirf, Thomas Fisher, Robert Kammersly, John Smith, 
William Webb, John Roberts, John Kittera, William Brisband, Willam 
Gibbons, Samuel Updegraff, Caleb ; ohnson, Robert Verree, Dr 'ohn Chap- 
man, Alexander Addison, Samuel Redwood, Rees Cadwalladcr, Samuel 
Jackson, Dr. John Luther Dr John Story, Benjamin Wright and Eli Lewis, 
all of the state of Pennsylvania; 

And Joseph Shottwell, junr David Cooper, Samuel Allison, Thomas Red- 
man, Thomas Stokes, John Wistar, Thomas Clements, oseph Sloan, Ebe- 
jvzer Howel, Clement Hall, ames 'ess, Benjamin Wright, Richard Wain, 
Stacy Biddle, Hczekiah Hughes, Thomas Githen, all of the state of New- 
Jersey; 

The honourable John Jay, and Matthew Cl?rk:on, of the state of New- 
York; 



■ ■■ Boggs, faith Kirk, and Warner Mifflin, of the state of Delaware; 

Zebulon HollingSWOrrh, John Richardson, Woolman Hickson, ! ohn Fei- 
oseph Wilkinson, and ohn Needles, of the state of Maryland; 

Samuel Hopkins, Benjamin Forster, linos Hitchcock, Benjamin West, 
Moses Brown, William Patton, Samuel Vinsou, Thomas Robinson, and Jo- 
nathan Easton, of the -tate of Rhode-I-land; 

John Saunders, George Tegal, and George Corbyn, of the state of Vir- 
ginia; 

Noah Webster, Thomas Gain, and Benjamin West, of the state of Mas- 
sachusetts; 

Capel Loft, David Barclay, Granville Sharp, Dr. Richard Price, ames 
Philips, Thomas Day, Dr. Thomas Clarkson, the right hon. William Pitt, 
Dr. John Coakley Lettsom, William Dihvyn, Robert Robinson, and Wil- 
liam Hollick, of the Kingdom of Great-Britain. 

L'Abbe Raynal, Le Marquis de la Fayette, J P. Brissot de Warvillc.. 
C'harton de Terriere, and Francis Clery du Pont, cf the kingdom of France; 

And suchothei person ant! persons as snail be hereafter elect- 
ed and chosen in the manner hereinafter mentioned, and their 
successors, be and they are hereby cieated and declared to be 
one body politic and corporate in deed and in law, by the name, 
stile and title of " The Pennsylvania So. iety for Promoting the 
Abolition of Slavery, and for the Relief of Free Negroes un- 
lawfully held in Bondage, and for improving the condition of 
the African Race," and by the same name shall have perpetual 
succession, and shall be able to sue and be sued, implead, «i:d 
be answered unto in all courts of law and equity, and to make, 
have and use one common seal to give authenticity to their acts, 
deeds, records and proceedings, and the same at their pleasure 
to break, alter, change and make anew, and to purchase, take 
and hold by gift, grant, demise, bargain and sale, will and de- 
vise, bequest, testament, legacy, or by any other mode of con- 
veyance, any lands, tenements, goods, chattels, or estate, real, 
personal or mixed, or c hoses in action, not exceeding at any 
one time the yearly value of fifteen hundred pounds lawful mo- 
ney of Pennsylvania in the whole; and the same to give,- grant, 
bargain, sell, demise, convey and assure to others, for the whole 
or any lesser estate than they have in the same, in such man- 
ner and form as the said society at their future meetings herein 
after described shall order and direct; and to apply the rents, is- 
sues, and profits, income and inte.est of such estate, and the 
:n->nics arising from the sales of any parts thereof, to the uses, 
ends, intents and purposes of their institution, according to the 
ru cs, orders, regulations, and constitution of the said society, 
row in (one, or which, according to the provisions herein after 
made, shall from time to time be declared and ordained, touch- 
id concerning the same, as fully and effectually as any na- 
tural person or body politic and corporate within this state, by 
institution and laws of this, commonwealth, can do, and 
perfoi in i!ie like thii 

And !•<■ it futher enacted, and if it hereby evaded by 

That the ofIi( ers of he said society shall 

ident, two vice-presidents, two secretaries-. 



9 

one treasurer, who shall also be the keeper of the common seal, 
and so many counsellors as the said so< iety sli.tll from time to 
time think, proper to appoint and elect, all of whom shall be 
chosen annually by ballot of a majority of votes of the \\ hole 
number of members who shall be present at the quartci ly meet- 
ing herein after mentioned, which shall be held on the first se- 
cond day of the week (called Monday) in the first month (called 
January) in every year after the passing of this act, or at such 
other time, and at such place, as the said society shall, by their 
rules and orders, direct and appoint; and of such committees, for 
carrying into execution the designs of the said institution, as 
the said society heretofore have appointed, and hereafter at any 
of their quarterly or special meetings shall agree to, and ap- 
point in the manner and form to be hereafter agreed upon. 

Sect. 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. 
That the said society shall and may hold four quarterly meet- 
ings in every year, at such place and hour of the day as they 
shall agree unto, on every the first second clay of the week 
(called Monday) on every the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth 
months, called January, April, July, and October, in every year 
for ever hereafter, and may adjourn the said quarterly meet- 
ings from time to time; and shall and may hold such other 
special meetings as the society by their rules and orders shall 
direct and appoint, and shall and may hold such other meet- 
ings as the president of the said society shall think necessary 
to call, or one of the vice-presidents of the said society, at the 
request of any six members thereof shall call, of which spe- 
cial meetings notice shall be given in two of the public news- 
papers printed in the city of Philadelphia, at least two days be- 
fore the time of meeting; at any of which quarterly or spe< ial 
meetings, or adjournments thereof, it shall and may be lawful 
for the said society, or so many of them as shall meet, by a 
majority of voices to agree, to ordain and to establish such bye- 
laws, rules, orders, and regulations as they shall judge neces- 
sary, for the well ordering and governing the said society; and 
for the well managing the affairs thereof, and to appoint such 
and so many committees, consisting of such of their members 
as they shall think necessary, to superintend the different de- 
partments of duties already undertaken by the society hereto- 
fore subsisting, or hereafter to be undertaken by the society, 
hereby established, and to receive the reports of such commit- 
tees, and take such order thereon, as to them shall seem pro- 
per : and to fix and ascertain the terms and conditions upon 
which new members shall be admitted in the said society, and 
upon which former members may be removed, and to define 
and ascertain the duties of the several officers and committees 
of the said society, and to enforce the same by such reasoJ 
fines and forfeitures to be imposed on delinquents, as 

n 



10 

'hall think proper, and for want of obedience in any of the 
members, committees, or officers of the said society, to re- 
move and displace: them, and others to appoint, and generally 
U agree to, ordain, apd establish all such bye-laws, rules, or- 
ders and regulations, for the well governing of the said soci- 
ety, for perpetuating a succession of its officers and performing 
the duties they have undertaken, or shall undertake as the said 
society, at any of their said quarterly meetings or special meet- 
ings or adjournments thereof, shall by a majority of voices de- 
termine to be right and proper. Provided akvays nevertheless', 
That no ieal or personal estate above the value of sixty dollars 
si. 11 be disposed of, or the right and estate of the society there- 
in shall be lessened or altered, for the less, nor any bye-law, 
rule, order or regulation of the sad society enacted, repealed 
or al ered, nor any sum of money appropriated to any new use 
not before agreed upon by any of the said meetings or com- 
mittees o be appointed, uniessthe president or one of the vice- 
presidents, and at least twenty members shall be present at 
sin h meeting, and a majority of those present shall agree to 
the same. 

And provided also, That all and every the bye-laws, rules, 
orders and regulations already enacted and made, or hereafter 
to be enacted and made by the said society, be reasonable in 
them selves and not contradictory to the constitution and laws 
of this commonwealth. 

Sect. 5. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. 
That the constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for promot- 
ing he abolition of slavery, and for the relief of free negroes 
unlawfully held in bondage, as enlarged at a meeting of the saici 
society held at Philadelphia, the twenty-third day of April, in 
the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and all 
rules, orders, regulations and proceedings made and had by 
the said society in pursuance thereof, be and they are herein 
declared to be in full force and binding upon the said society, 
by this act, created and incorporated, until the same shall b< 
repealed, altered or annulled at a quarterly or special meeting 
or adjournment thereof, to be held in pursuance of this act, as 
fully and effectually as if the same we're to be originally adopt- 
\ the said society, hereby incorporated and created at one 
of their said meetings. 

Sect. 6. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. 
That until the next election which shall be held by the said so- 
ciety in pursuance of this act, the said Benjamin Franklin shall 
be the president thereof, the said James Pemberton and Jona- 
than Penrose shall be the vice-presidents thereof, the said Ben- 
jamin Rush and Caspar Wistar shall be the secretaries thereof, 
the s >id James Stair shall be the treasurer thereof, and William 
J. cwis, Myers Fisher, William Uawle, and John D. Coxe shall 
be the councillors thereof, and that all and every the committee 



11 

and committees heretofore appointed by the said society for pro- 
moting the abolition of slavery and for the relief of free negroes 
unlawfully held in bondage, shall be and continue to be the offi- 
cers and committees of the society hereby created and incorpo- 
rated, and shall report to, and account with the same, in the 
same manner, as they would have done to the former society in 
case this act had not passed. 

Sect. 7. And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That this 
act shall in all things be construed in the most favourable and 
liberal manner to and for the said society, in order to effectu- 
ate the privileges hereby to them granted; and that no mis- 
nomer of the said corporation in any deed, will, testament, gift, 
grant, demise, or other instrument of contract, or conveyance 
shall vitiate or defeat the same, if the said corporation shall be 
sufficiently described to ascertain the intent of the party or par- 
ties to give, devise, bequeath, convey, or assure to, or contract 
with the said corporation hereby created by the name aforesaid. 
Nor shall any non-uses of the said privileges hereby granted 
create any forfeiture of the same, but the same may be exer- 
cised by the said corporation, and notwithstanding their failure 
to meet at any of the times herein specified, to hoid their an- 
nual elections, the officers elected at any of the said annual 
elections, shall continue to hold and exercise their offices until 
others shall be duly ejected to succeed them, at some future 
meeting of the said corporation. 

Signed by order of the House, 

RICHARD PETERS, Speaker 

Enacted into a Law at Philadelphia, on 
Tuesday, the eighth day of Decem- 
ber, in the year of our Lord, one thou- 
sand seven hundred and eighty -nine. 

Peter Zachary Lloyd, 

Clerk of tue General Assembly. 



12 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 
Article 4£/i, Section 2d. 

NO person, held to service or labour in one state under the 
laws thereof, escaping into another, shall in consequence of 
any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service 
or labour; but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to 
whom such service or labour may be due. 

An Act of Congress, afi/iroved February 12/7/, 1793, 

Empowers the owner, his agent or attorney, to arrest his or 
her slave in any of the United States or territories, and to re- 
move the said slave to the state or territory from which the 
said slave may have escaped ; provided the slave owner, his 
agent or attorney take the said slave before any judge of the 
circuit or district courts of the United States, residing or being 
within the state, or before any magistrate of a county, city or 
town corporate, wherein the said slave was arrested, " and upon 
pi oof to the satisfaction of such judge or magistrate, either by- 
oral testimony or affidavit taken before and certified by a ma- 
gistrate of the state or territory from which the slave may have 
escaped, that the slave doth belong to the person so claiming," 
the judge or magistrate shall give a certificate thereof to such 
claimant, his agent or attorney, which shall be a sufficient war- 
rant for removing the said slave to the state or territory from 
which he or she fled. 

" That anypersonwho shall knowinglyand willingly obstruct" 
a claimant of a slave, his agent or attorney in arresting such 
slave, or shall rescue such slave from the claimant, his agent 
or attorney when arrested by the preceding authority; or shall 
harbour or conceal such slave after notice that he or she was a 
slave* shall, for either of the said offences, forfeit and pay the 
sum of 50 ° dollars. Which penalty may be recovered by and 
for the bexi'fit of the claimant of such slave, by action of debt, 
« saving mou. 'er to the person claiming such slave, his right 
of action for or on account of the said injuries, W either of 
them." 

An Act oj Congress passed March 22c/, \794,for prohibiting the 
Slave Tradey enacts 

That no citizen of the United States, or foreigner coming 
into or residing within the same, shall build or cause any ship 
or vessel to sail from any port or place within the said states, 
for the purpose of carrying on any trade in slaves to any foreign 
country; or for the purpose of piocuring persons from any fo- 
reign kingdom, to be transported to any foreign country, to be 
•;o!rl or disposed of, as slaves: 



13 

And if any ship or vessel shall he so fitted out, as afore* id 
every such ship shall be liable to be seized, and condemned in 
any of the circuit courts, or in the district court for the dis- 
trict, where the said vessel may be found and seized, and shah 
forfeit her tackle, furniture, &c. to the United States. 

Skct. III. That the owner, master, or factor of each and 
every foreign ship or vessel, clearing out for any of the coasts 
or kingdoms of Africa, or suspected to be intended for the slave 
trade, and the suspicion being declared to the officers of the 
customs, by any citizen, on oath or affirmation, and such infor- 
mation being to the satisfaction of the said officer, shall first givt: 
bond with sufficient sureties, to the treasurer of the United 
States, that none of the natives of Africa, or any other foreign 
country or place, shall be taken on board the same ship or ves- 
sel, to be transported, or sold as slaves, in any other foreign 
port or place whatever, within nine months thereafter. 

Act of 7 th April, 1798. — Vol.xwp. 92.— Sect. 7. 

VII. That from and after the establishment of the aforesaid 
government, it shall not be lawful for any person or persons 
to import or bring into the said Mississippi territory from any 
port or place, without the limits of the United States, or to cause 
or procure to be so imported or brought, or knowingly to aid 
or assist in so importing or bringing any slave or slaves, and 
that every person so offending, and being thereof convicted, 
before any court within the said territory, having competent 
jurisdiction shall forfeit and pay, for each and every slave so 
imported or brought, the sum of three hundred dollars; one 
moiety for the use of the United States, and the other moiety 
for the use of any person or persons who shall sue for the same-, 
and that every slave, so imported or brought, shall thereupon 
become entitled to, and receive his or her freedom. 

Act of Congress prohibiting the Slave Trade; 
passed March 2d, 1807. 
Sect. VII. And be it further enacted, That if any ship or vessel 
shall be found, from and after the first day of January, one thou- 
sand eight hundred and eight, in any river, port, bay, or har 
hour, or on the high seas, within the jurisdictional limits of the 
U. States or hovering on the coast thereof, having on board any 
negro, mulatto, or pvson of colour, for the purpose of selling 
then as slaves, or with intent to land the same in any port o. 
pla e within the jurisdiction of the United States, contrary to the 
p:v<hibition of this act, every such ship or vessel, together vi'.i* 
her tackle, apparel, an<| furniture, and the goods or effects \. hii .. 
shall be found on boa d the same, shall be forfeited to the use 
of the United States, and may be seized, prosecuted, and con- 
demned, in any court of the United States, having jurisdic- 
tion thereof. And it shall be lawful for the president of the 



14 

United States, and he is hereby authorized, should he deem it 
expedient, to cause any of the armed vessels of the United States 
to be manned and employed to cruize on any part of the coast 
of the United States, or territories thereof, where he may judge 
attempts will be made to violate the provisions of this act, and 
to instruct and direct the commanders of armed vessels of the 
United States, to seize, take and bring into any port of the 
United States all such ships or vessels, and moreover to 
seize, take and bring into any port of the United States all 
ships or vessels of the United States, "wheresoever found on 
the high seas, contravening the provisions of this act, to 
be proceeded against according to law, and the captain, master, 
or commander of every such ship or vessel, so found and 
seized as aforesaid, shall be deemed guilty of a high misde- 
meanor, and shall be liable to be prosecuted before any court 
of the United States, having jurisdiction thereof; and being 
thereof convicted, shall be lined not exceeding ten thousand 
dollars, and be imprisoned not less than two years, and not ex- 
ceeding four years. And the proceeds of all ships and vessels, 
their tackle, apparel, and furniture, and the goods and effects, 
on board of them which shall be so seized, prosecuted and con- 
demned, shall be divided equally between the United States 
and the officers and men*who shall make such seizure, take or 
bring the same into port for condemnation, whether such sei- 
zure be made by an armed vessel of the United States or reve- 
nue cutter thereof, and the same shall be distributed in like 
manner, as is provided by law for the distribution of prizes ta- 
ken from an enemy: Provided, that the officers and men, to be 
entitled to one half of the proceeds aforesaid, shall safe keep eve- 
l y negro, mulatto,or person of colour, found on board of any ship 
or vessel so by them seized, taken, or brought into port for con- 
demnation, and shall deliver every such negro, mulatto, or per- 
son of colour, to such person or persons as shad be appointed by 
the rcpective states, to receive the same; and if no such person 
or persons shall be appointed by the respective states, they shall 
deliver every such negro, mulatto, or person of colour to the 
overseers of the poor of the port or place where such ship or 
vessel may be brought or found, and shall immediately trans- 
mit to the governor or chief magistrate of the state an account 
qf their proceedings, together with the number of such ne- 
groes, mulattoes or persons of colour, and a descriptive list of 
:hc same, that he may give directions respecting such negroes, 

Luiattoes, or persons of colour. 
VIII. And; be it further enacted, That no captain, master or 

ommander of any ship or vessel of less burden than forty tons, 
shall from and after the first day of January, one thousand eight 
hundred and eight, take on board and transport any negro, mu- 
latto, or person of colour, to any port or place whatsoever, 
• purpose of selling or disposing of the same as a slave, 



or with intent that the same may be sold or disposed of to be 
held to service or labour, on penalty of forfeiting for every BUCh 
negro, mulatto, or person of colour, so taken on hoard and trans- 
ported, as aforesaid, the sum of eight hundred dollars; one 
moiety thereof to the use of the United States, and the other 
moiety to any person, or persons, who shall sue for and prose- 
cute the same to effect: Provided, however, that nothing in this 
section shall extend to prohibit the taking on board or trans- 
porting on any river or inland bay of the sea, within the juris- 
diction of the United States, any negro, mulatto, or person of 
colour, (not imported contrary to the provisions of this act) in 
any vessel or species of craft whatever. 

IX. And be it further enacted, That the captain, master, or 
commander of any ship or vessel of the burthen of forty tons 
or more, from and after the first day of January, one thousand 
eight hundred and eight, sailing coastwise, from any port in 
the United States, to any port or place within the jurisdiction 
of the same, having on board any negro, mulatto, or person of 
colour, for the purpose of transporting them to be sold or dis- 
posed of as slaves, or to be held to service or labour, shall, pre- 
vious to the departure of such ship or vessel, make out and 
subscribe duplicate manifests of every such negro, mulatto, or 
person of colour, on board such ship or vessel, therein specify- 
ing the name and sex of each person, their age and statin e, as 
near as may be, and the class to which they respectively belong, 
whether negro, mulatto, or person of colour, with the Tiamc 
and place oi residence of every owner, or shipper of the same, 
and shall deliver such manifests to the collector of the port, i! 
there be one, otherwise to the surveyor, before whom tiie cap- 
tain, master, or commander, together with the owner, or ship- 
per, shall severally swear or affirm, to the best of their know- 
ledge and belief, that the persons therein specified were not 
imported or brought into the United States, from and after the 
first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eight, and 
that under the laws of the state, they are held to service or la- 
bour; whereupon the said collector or surveyor shall certify the 
same on the said manifests, one of which he shall return to the 
said captain, master, or commander, with a permit, specifying 
thereon the number, names, and general description of such 
persons, and authorizing him to proceed to the pott of his des- 
tination. And if any ship or vessel, being laden and destined as 
aforesaid, shall depart from the port where she may then be, 
without the captain, master, or commander having first made 
out and subscribed duplicate manifests, of every negro, mu- 
latto, and person of colour, on board such ship or vessel, as 
aforesaid, and without having previously delivered the same to 
the said collector or surveyor, and obtained a permit, in man- 
ner as herein required, or shall previous to her arrival, at the 
port of her destination, take on board any negro, mulatto, or 



16 

yerson of colour, other than those specified in the manifests, as 
aforesaid, every such ship or vessel, together with her tackle, 
ipparel and furniture, shall he forfeited to the use of the United 
Stales, and may he seized, prosecuted and condemned in any 
ourt of the United States having jurisdiction thereof; and the 
captain, master, or commander of every such ship or vessel, 
shall moreover forfeit, for every such negro, mulatto, or per- 
son of colour, so transported, or taken on board, contrary to the 
provisions of this act, the sum of one thousand dollars, one 
moietv thereof to the United States, and the other moiety to the 
use of any person or persons who shall sue for and prosecute the 
aame to effect. 

X. And be it further enacted, That the captain, master, or 
commander of every ship or vessel, of the burthen of forty 
tons or more, from and after the first day of January, one thou' 
sand eight hundred and eight, sailing coastwise, and having 
on board any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, to sell or 
dispose of as slaves, or to be held to service or labour, and ar- 
riving in any port within the jurisdiction of the United States, 
from any other port within the same, shall, previous to the un- 
lading or putting on shore any of the persons aforesaid, or suf- 
fering them to go on shore, deliver to the collector, if there be 
one, or if not, to the surveyor residing at the port of her arrival, 
the manifest certified by the collector or surveyor of the port 
rrom whence she sailed, as is herein before directed, to the \\ uth 
of which, before such officer, he shall swear or affirm, and if the 
collector or surveyor shall be satisfied therewith, he shall there- 
upon grant a permit for unlading or suffering such negro, mu- 
latto, or person of colour, to be put on shore, and if the captain, 
master or commander of any such ship or vessel being laden as 
aforesaid, shall neglect or refuse to deliver the manifest at the 
time and in the manner herein directed, or shall land or put on 
shore any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, for the purpose 
iid, before he shall have delivered his manifest as afore- 
said, and obtained a permit for that purpose, every such captain, 
master, or commander, shall forfeit and pay ten thousand dol- 
lars, one moiety thereof to the United States, the other moiety to 
the use of any person or persons who shall sue for and prosecute 
me to effect. 

7...T- of the United States, passed April 20, 1818. 

Sect. I. Enacts a penalty of iorfeiture of any ship, vessel or 

water craft, employed in bringing any slave or servant into the 

United States, or its territories, one half the value to goto the 

< cutoi*. 

Seel. 2 Enacts a penalty of forfeiture of any ship or vessel 

out for the skive trade. 
Sect. S. Enacts ;> penally of one to five thousand dollars on 
'.m> person concerned in building or fitting out any such ship or 
el. 



17 

Sect. 4. Enacts, a penalty of one to five thousand dollars, and 
imprisonment from three to seven years, on any person who 
shall take on hoard any negro or mulatto to hold as a slave or 
servant at any foreign port or place. The vessel, &c. to be 
forfeited. 

Sect. 6. Enacts, a penalty of one to ten thousand dollars on 
any person, who shall import any negro or mulatto for the pur- 
pose of selling or holding them us slaves or servants. 

Sect. 7. Enacts, a penalty of one thousand dollars for every 
slave or servant imported, and imprisonment of any seller o: 
purchaser of such slave or servant. 

Sect. 8. Enacts, that the importer shall be obliged to prove 
that every negro or mulatto charged as being imported contrary 
to this act, was imported five years previous to the prosecution, 
or was not brought in contrary to this act. 

Sect. 9. Enacts, that any piosecution under this act, may 
be sustained within five years after the offence. 

Sect. 10. Repeals the six first sections of the act passed 
March 2, 1807. 

jict passed March 3, 1819. 

Sect. 1. Enacts, that any armed vessel of , he United States, 
may bring in any vessel, having onboard any person of colour 
as a slave, or which is intended for the purpose of carrying 
slaves, the ship or vessel so brought in to be forfeited, and the 
persons of colour so found on board, to be delivered to the mar- 
shall of the district, or to such persons as shell be lawfully ap- 
pointed by the President of the United States, and transmit 
a list of such persons of coloui to the President, and every per- 
son of the officers or crew, found on board such vessel, to be 
arrested and prosecuted. 

Sect. 2. Provides that the President shall cause all such pei> 
sons of colour brought into the United States, to be removed to 
the coast of Africa, to an agent or agents to be appointed by him 
there. 

Sect. 3. Provides a bounty of twenty-five dollars for every 
person of colour, found on board a vessel brought into the 
United States for offences against this act: to be divided amongst 
the officers and crew of the armed vessel bringing them in. 

Sect. 4. Enacts that when information shall be lodged with 
the attorney for the disti'ict, of any person holding any person of 
colour introduced contrary to the laws of the United States; 
the attorney shall commence a prosecution, and if such per- 
son or persons are convicted, a bounty of fifty dollars for each 
person of coioui shall be paid to the informer in addition to the 
forfeitures in former acts; and the persons of colour held by 
the marshall subject to the orders of the President of the 
United States. 

c 



18 
LAWS OF NEW YORK- 

. let fiassed March 31, 1817. 

t. 4. Enacts, that the children of slaves born after July .&-,. 
L799, shall be Tree, but shall remain as servants until the age. 
of twenty-eight years, if a male, and if a female twenty-five 
years, and that every child born of a slave after the passage of 
this act, shall remain a servant until the age of twenty-one 
years but no longer. 

Sect. 5. Enacts, that children of slaves shall be taught to 
read before they arrive at 18 years of age, and in default the 
jhild to be frfee. 

Sect. 6. Enacts, that all children of slaves, shall be registered 
■within one year after the passage of this act, by the clerk of the 
city or town where they may be, and in default of being regis- 
tered, to be free. 

Sect. 8. Enacts, that all manumissions, of slaves heretofore 
made, though legally defective, shall be valid from the time 
they were made. 

Sect. 9. Enacts, that all slaves which shall be imported or 
brought into this state, unless as excepted in this act, shall be 
bee. 

Sect. '.0. Enacts, that all slaves brought into the state after 
the 8th of April, 1801, who shall be sold or transferred, shall 
be free, unless as hereafter excepted. 

Sect. 1 1. Enacts, that all contracts or indentures for personal 
service made hereafter, or since the 30th March, 1810, by per- 
sons who have been held as slaves in other states shall be void, 
and all persons so bound shall be free. 

Sect. 12. Enacts, that persons owning slaves who have come 
from any other of the United States, to reside in this state, be- 
tween April 5, 1800, and May 1, 1810, may retain their slaves 
for seven years, at the expiration of which term such slaves 
shall be free. 

Sect. 13. Enacts, that all slaves exported, or attempted to be 
exported, or sent to sea, shall be free except as hereafter pro- 
vided, and all persons concerned in exporting them, shall be 
liable to a penalty of five hundred dollars. 

Sect. 1 -1 . Enacts, that persons who have resided for ten years 
in this state, and who shall be removing permanently therefrom, 
shall be at liberty to take all such slaves as have been their pro- 
perty for ten years preceding, upon their making legal proof be- 
fore a magistrate of that fact, and of ownership, and that they 
shall receive a license therefor — persons taking such slave with- 
out a licence out of the state, or for taking a servant bound for a 
term (-1 years, shall be liable to a penalty of live hundred dollars. 

Sect. 15. Enacts, that any inhabitant of another state tra- 
velling through this state, may bring with him any slave and 
return with him, provided he has not kept him nine months in 
' itej and that any inhabitant of this state going on a jonr-. 



19 

uey, may take with him or her any slave or servant, provided 
they bring them back; in default of which they shall forfeit five 
hundred dollars for each slave, unless they make proof within 
one month after their return, of their inability in consequence of 
some unavoidable accident. 

Sect. 16. Enacts, that any persons coming to reside perma- 
nent.}* in this state, may bring any slaves born after the 4th of 
July 1799, belonging to them: provided they register them 
within six months. 

Sect. 29. Enacts, that any person kidnapping, or attempting 
to kidnap a person of colour, may be fined not exceeding one 
thousand dollars, and imprisonment not exceeding fourteen 
years. 

Sect. 32. Enacts, that every negro, mulatto, or mustee, wijthin 
this state, born before the 4th day of July, 1799, shall from and 
after the 4th day of July, 1827, be free. 

Sect. 33. Repeals the acts concerning slaves and servants^ 
passed April 9, 1813, and February 25, 1813. 

LAWS OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

Act passed March 1, 1780. 

Sect. 1. When we contemplate our abhorrence of that condi- 
tion, to which the arms and tyranny of Great Britain were ex- 
erted to reduce us — when we look back on the variety of dan- 
gers to which we have been exposed, and how miraculously our 
wants in many instances have been supplied, and our deliverance-:. 
Wrought, when even hope and human fortitude have become 
unequal to the conflict — we are unavoidably led to a serious and 
grateful sense of the manifold blessings which we have unde- 
servedly received from the hand of that Being, from whem 
every good and perfect gift cometh. Impressed with these 
ideas, we conceive that it is our duty, and we rejoice that it is 
in our power, to extend a portion of that freedom to others, 
which hath been extended to us; and a release from that state 
of thraldom, to which we ourselves were tyrannically doomed, 
and from which we have now every prospect of being delivered. 
It is not for us to enquire why, in the creation of mankind, the 
inhabitants of the several parts of the earth were distinguished 
by a difference in feature or complexion. It is sufficient to 
know that all are the work of an Almighty Hand. We find,, 
in the distribution of the human species, that the most fertile 
as well as the most barren parts of the earth are inhabited by 
men of complexions different from ours, and from each othei ; 
from whence Ave may reasonably, as well as religiously, infer. 
that he who placed them in their various situations, hath ex- 
tended equally his care and protection to all, and that it be. 
cometh not us tn counteract his mercies. We esteem it a 



20 

peculiar blessing granted to us, that we are enabled this day to 
add one more stcpto universal civilization, by lerroving, as much 
as possible] the soirows of those who have lived in undeserved 
bondage, and from which, by the assumed authority of the 
kings of Great Britain, no effectual, legal relief could be ob- 
tained. Weaned by a long course of experience from those 
narrow prejudices and partialities we had imbibed, we find our 
hearts enlarged with kindness and benevolence towards men of 
all conditions and nations; and we conceive ourselves at this 
particular period extraordinarily called upon, by the blessings 
which we have received, to manliest the sincerity of our profes- 
sion, and to give a substantial proof of our gratitude. 

Sect. 2. And whereas, the condition of those persons wh© 
have heretofore been denominated negro and mulatto slaves, 
has been attended with circumstances which not only deprived 
them of the common blessings that they were by nature en- 
titled to, but has cast them into the deepest afflictions by an 
unnatural separation and sale of husband and wife from each 
other and from their children — an injury, the greatness of 
which can only be conceived by supposing that we were in the 
same unhappy case. In justice, therefore, to persons so unhap- 
pily circumstanced, and who, having no prospect before them 
whereon they may rest their sorrows and their hopes, have no 
reasonable inducement to render their service to society, which 
otherwise they might; and also in grateful commemoration of 
our own happy deliverance from the state of unconditional sub- 
mission to which we were doomed by the tyranny of Britain. 

Sect. 3. Enacts, that all persons as well negroes and mulat- 
tocs as others, born after the passage of this act within this 
state shall be free, and that servitude for life in consequence of 
(he slavery of the mother is forever abolished. 

Sect. 4. Enacts, that any negro or mulatto children born after 
the passage of this act, who would otherwise have been slaves, 
shall be servants to the owners until twenty-eight years of age, 
on the same terms as servants bound for four years, and treated 
in every respect the same; and in case the owner abandons his 
claim, the overseers of the poor shall bind out such child as 
apprentice. 

Sect. 5. Enacts, that all holders of slaves and servants shall 
have them recorded on or before Nevember 1, 1780; or in de- 
fault the slaves and servants to be free. 

Sect. 10. Jnd be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That no man or woman of any nation or colour, except the 
negroes or mulattoes who shall be registered as aforesaid, shall 
at any time hereafter be deemed, adjudged or holden within 
the territories of this commonwealth as slaves or servants for 
life, but as free-men and free-women; except the domestic 
slaves attending upon delegates in congress from the other 
American slates, foreign ministers and consuls, and persons 



21 

passing through or sojourning in this state and not becoming 
resident therein, and seamen employed in ships not belonging 
to an inhabitant of this state, nor employed in any ship owned 
by any such inhabitant. Provided such domestic slaves be not 
aliened or sold to any inhabitant, nor (except in the case of 
members of congress, foreign ministers or consuls) retained in 
this state longer than six months. 

Sect. 11. Enacts that this act shall not give relief to any 
absconding slave or servant. 

Sect. 12. And whereas, attempts may be made to evade this 
act, by introducing into this state negroes and mulattoes bound 
by covenant, to serve for long and unreasonable terms of years, 
if the same be not prevented: 

Sect. 13. Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That no covenant of personal servitude or apprenticeship what- 
soever, shall be valid or binding on a negro or mulatto, for a 
longer time than seven years, unless such servant or appren- 
tice were, at the commencement of such servitude or appren- 
ticeship, under the age of twenty-one years: in which case such 
negro or mulatto may be holden as a servant or apprentice 
respectively, according to the covenant, as the case shall be, 
until he or she shall attain the age of twenty-eight years, but 
no longer. 

Sect. 14. Repeals the acts of 1725, 1761, 177S. 

ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

MARCH 8th, 1788. 

The committee, to whom was referred the petition of the 
people called Quakers, in favour of the distressed Africans and 
their descendants, and also that from divers inhabitants of the 
city and county of Philadelphia, on the same subject — 
Report: 

That having paid all the attention to the subject matter of 
said petitions, which its importance seemed to require, it ap- 
pears to your committee, that although the act entitled, " An 
Act for the gradual Abolition of Slavery," has been attended 
with very salutary effects, it is not sufficiently calculated toanswer 
ail the benevolent purposes which the Legislature had in view, 
and which justice and humanity call for. 

The subject, important as it is, was in the science of legis- 
lation in some degree new and unexplored, and experience 
evinces that in such cases the utmost stretch of human wisdom 
is inadequate to the arduous task of guarding against all the 
mischiefs and subtle evasions, which artful and unprincipled 
men are too apt to embrace: Hence it is, that persons of this 
description, unmindful of that rule which commands, that 
" Whatsoever we would that men should do to us, we should 
do even so to them," have, as your committee ave credibly in- 
formed, in a variety of instances, and in contravention of the 



violation of Congress of the 20th October, 1/T4, by whick 
th-u august body did, for themselves and their constituents, 
firmly agree and associate, under the sacred ties of virtue, 
honor, and love of their country, that they should neither im- 
port, nor purchase any slave imported, after the first day of 
December then next; but would wholly discontinue the slave 
trade, and would neither be concerned in it themselves, or hire 
their vessels or sell their commodities or manufactures to those 
who should he concerned it — equipped and fitted out from the 
port of Philadelphia, vessels provided with handcuffs and mili- 
tary implements, in order to stir up the princes of Africa to 
wage war against each other, for the encouragement and sup- 
port of an unrighteous traffic in human flesh; a traffic, by which 
husbands torn from their wives and wives from their husbands, 
parents from their children and children from their parents, 
are sold as captive slaves into a long and cruel bondage. 

That if the declaration contained in our bill of rights, that 
" All men are born equally free and independent," or that in 
the act of Independence, that " All men are created equal—. 
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable 
rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap- 
piness," is founded in truth; and, more especially, if the whole 
race of men are created by one God for the same noble pur- 
poses, and if he will, as we are taught to believe, avenge the 
injuries of his people, it appears to your committee that the 
petitioners speak but the divine will in requesting that this evil 
be done away from the land. 

An Act to exfilain and amend an Act, entitled, an act for the gra- 
dual Abolition of Slavery, fiassed March 3, 1788. 

Sect. 1. Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the Refirc- 
aentdtivea of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 
in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, That 
the exception contained in the tenth section of the aforesaid 
act, relative to domestic slaves, attending upon persons passing 
through or sojourning in this state, and not becoming resident 
therein, shall not be deemed or taken to extend to the slaves of 
such persons as are inhabitants of, or resident in this state, or 
who shall come here with an intention to settle and reside, but 
that all and every slave and slaves, who shall be brought into 
this state, by persons inhabiting or residing therein, or intend- 
ing to inhabit or reside therein, shall be immediately consider- 
ed, deemed and taken to be free to all intents and purposes. 

Sect. 2. Inflicts a penalty of two hundred dollars on all per- 
sons, their aiders, and abettors, who shall remove out of the state 
a slave or servant, other than those excepted in the 10th section 
of the act of 1780, with the design of changing their residence, 
it their consent given under a private examination before 
two justices ol I ie peace, and if under twenty-one years, with- 
out the consent of the parents obtained in like manner, a copy 



of which to he given to the servant, and a record made by the 
magistrate of the reason of removal and the place removed to. 

Sect. 3d. Enacts, that all children of slaves shall be recorded 
"within six months after their birth, and in default to be free. 

Sect. 5th. Enacts that all persons who shall build, fit or equip, 
or are otherwise concerned in sending a vessel out of this state 
to Uade in slaves or to transport them knowingly, shall several- 
ly pay the sum of one thousand pounds and the vessel and her 
apparel shall be forfeited. 

Sect. 7. Enacts, that husbands and wives, parents and children, 
"who are slaves, shall not be separated to a greater distance than 
ten miles, unless their consent is obtained, as before provided; 
and the children be above the age of four yeais, penalty fifty 
pounds. 

Sect. 8. Enacts a penalty, for kidnapping, of one hundred 
pounds and one year imprisonment at hard labour. 

LEGAL DECISIONS. 

Case of Sllva, jiugust, 1810. 

In this case Siiva, a black girl, was brought before the Chief 
Justice on a habeas corpus, claiming to be released from an in- 
denture she had entered into, in consequence of her manumis- 
sion, having been imported into Rhode Island from the island 
of Cuba. 

After full hearing by counsel, Sergeant for master, and Lewis 
for plaintiff, Silva was discharged from the indenture. 

Children of absconding slaves, born in Pennsylvania, are free. 
Case of negress Eliza., Supreme Court. 
Vide Poulson's paper, July 26, 1816. 
In this case, Eliza was claimed by the owner of her mother, 
who was arrested as an absconding slave. The slavery of tiie 
mother was admitted ; but it was contended that Eliza, being 
born in this state, was free. After full hearing by counsel, the 
court decided that all children born in this state after the pas- 
sage of the act of 1780, were absolved from slavery, although 
their mothers should have been absconding slaves. 

Case of Wood vs. Negro Stephen. 
Vide Sergeant <k Rawle's Reports, page 175. 

Where a negro claims freedom under his mother who was 
manumitted by will, it is not evidence againsi him that the 
petition of his grandmother who claimed to have been manu- 
mitted by the same will, had been dismissed by the judgment 
of the general court of Maryland. 

Commonwealth vs. Craig, — IBid, page 2Z. 

If it does not appear on ihe face of the registry of a negro child 
under die. act ©f March, 1788, whether ef not it was made 



24 

within six months from the birth of the child; the registry 
is not good. 

Refiub&ca vs. Vatnlear, Junuary, 18 15. 

Apprentices not to be transferred without consent of parents 
or guardians. 

Augustus Stephenson, a black boy was bound with consent 
of his father, to Francis Duffee, and his assigns, for seven years; 
the indenture was executed by both lather and son. and trans- 
ferred by Duffee, without the consent of the father. Judge 
Brackenridge and the Chief Justice, decided that the assign- 
men was not good, not having the consent of the father. 1 Ser- 
geant & Raivle, 248. 

Negro Peter vs. Wm. Steel. 
Tried before the Chief Justice at Lancaster. 

An action may be maintained by a free negro for labour and 
service, against a person holding him as a slave. 3d Yates, /i. 250. 

Negroes and mulattoes bound in other states, and brought 
into this, maybe compelled to serve until 28 years of age, ac- 
cording to their indentures. 1 Yates, 368. 

Habeas Corpus, before Chief Justice Tilghman. 
Commonwealth vs. Austin Montgomery, August 12, 1812. 

In this case Thomas Porter, a mulatto man, was held as a 
servant for seven years, by the defendant, by indenture, execu- 
ted in Jamaica, and claimed his freedom under the act of con- 
gress, prohibiting the introduction of slaves. 

After argument of counsel, the Chief Justice gave his opinion 
that no servants could be introduced from foreign countries, bv 
that act, and Thomas was accordingly discharged. 

LAWS OF NEW JERSEY. 

Act passed March 14, 1798. 

Sect. 1. Enacts, that no slave shall be free, unless manumit- 
ted by deed, before two witnesses, and a certificate given by the 
overseers that the slaves are between twenty-one and forty years. 
ufage. 

Sect. 2. Enacts, that no slave shall be a witness, except in a 
criminal matter respecting slaves. 

Sect. 4. Inflicts a penalty of four dollars, for every twenty- 
four hours a slave is harboured or secreted. 

Sect. 5. Enacts, that the person who harbours or secretes a 
slave, shall pay his value if he is lost or dies. 



25 

Sect. 12. Enacts, that no person shall bring a slave into the 
atate for sale, unless he removes into the state for a settled re- 
sidence, under the penalty of one hundred and forty dollars 
for each slave. 

Sect. 15. Inflicts a penalty of forty dollars, for inhumanly 
beating or abusing a slave. 

Sect. 16. Enacts, that all owners of slaves or servants bora 
after November 6, 1788, shall cause them to be taught to read, 
under the penalty of thirty dollars. 

Sect. 17. Enacts, that all vessels fitted out for the slave trade, 
out of any port in the state shall be forfeited, with their cargoes, 
apparel and furniture. 

Sect. 20. Enacts, that owners of slaves may manumit them 
by writing under hand and seal in the presence of at least two 
witnesses, provided they be not under twenty-one years of age 
and capable of obtaining a livelihood, and examined before two 
justices of the peace and two overseers of the poor. 

Sect. 22. Enacts, that slaves may be manumitted by will, if 
under the age of forty years and capable of maintaining them- 
selves. 

Sect. 23. Enacts, that other slaves may be manumitted, by 
giving bonds of five hundred dollars to the state. 

Sect. 24. Enacts, that all slaves manumitted after the pas- 
#» sage of this act shall not be liable after they attain the age of 
forty years for any bond, note, or other contract or indenture 
that shall have been obtained in consequence of such manu- 
mission. 

Sect. 29. Enacts, that a habeas corpus may be brought to bring- 
any negro before the supreme court, the claimant may set forth 
that he has a legal claim, the prosecutor shall then join issue by 
denying his right, the court shall then award a venire facias to 
the sheriff or coroner where the party resides, commanding him. 
to summon a jury to appear at the next circuit court for the trial 
of the issue. 

Sect. 30. Repeals the acts passed in the years 1713-14, 175 1* 
1768, 1769, 1786, and 1788. 

Act fiassed February 15, 1804, for the gradual abolition of 
Slavery. 

Sect. 1. Enacts, that all children of slaves born after the 4th 
of July next shall be free, but shall remain servants, if a male 
till 25, and if a female till 21 years of age. 

Sect. 2. Enacts, that all such children shall be registered 
within nine months after their birth by the clerk of the county, 
under a penalty of five dollars, and one dollar for every rront' '• 
delay. 



26 

Svjifiletnentary Act t passed December 3, 1804. 

Sect. 1. Enacts, that any deed of manumission or certificate 
signed by one overseer of the poor only, where no more are 
elected, and by two justices, shall be valid. 

Sect. 2. That manumissions, heretofore made, may be proved 
by acknowledgment of the parties or witnesses, before a justice, 
and shall be evidence in a court. 

Sect. 3. Enacts, that clerks of the court of common pleas 
shall ' ;ep records of manumissions, to which every person 
shall have access. 

Sect. 4. Enacts, that transcripts given by the clerk from the 
record of manumissions, duly certified, shall be admitted a^ 
evidence in any court. 

Sect. 5. Enacts, that the price of recording any certificate 
shall be five cents each. 

Act passed November 4, 1818, to firohibit the exportation of 
Slaves or Servants. 

Sect. 2 That if any person shall export, or send, or carry out 
of the state, or attempt so to do, any negro slave or servant of 
colour, except as is provided by the eighth section, him, her, or 
their aiders and abettors, shall on conviction be liable to a fine 
of not less than one thousand nor moie than tAvo thousand dol- 
lars, or imprisonment at hard labout for any term not less than 
two nor more than four years, or both at the discretion of the 
court; and every slave so exported or attempted to be, shall be 
fiee. 

Sect. 3. Enacts, that any person who shall sell, transfer, or as- 
sign, any slave or servant to a non-resident, or to any person 
intending to remove or export such servant, shall be liable to 
a penalty of not less than five hundred nor more than one 
thousand dollars, or imprisonment of one to two years, or both., 
at the discretion of the court. 

Sect. 4. Enacts, a penalty of one to two thousand dollars, or 
imprisonment at hard labour from two to four years, or both, 
at the discretion of the court, on any person buying to export 
a slave or servant. 

Sect. 6, 6, 7. Enacts, a forfeiture of the vessel, cargo and 
apparel fitted out for the purpose of exporting slaves and ser- 
vants. 

Sect. 8. Enact:;, that persons removing permanently out of 
the state who have resided five years therein, may take out such 
slaves as they have owned five years preceding, on obtaining a 
licence from the president of the court of common pleas. 

Sect. y. Inflicts a penalty of one to two thousand dollai s, and 
imprisonment, on any master of a vessel who shall take on 
board any slave without the before mentioned licence. 



27 

Sect. 10. Enacts, that any owner of a slave going on a jour- 
ney out of the state, may take the slave with him but rf he 
return without the slave, unless by unavoidable accident, the 
slave shall be free, and the master shall be subject to a penalty 
of not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dol- 
lars, or imprisonment. 

Sect. 12. Enacts, that any non-resident of the state travel- 
ling may bring any slave with him into the slate, and take him 
out again when returning. 

Sect. 13. Repeals all former laws coming within the pur- 
view of this act, but not to affect any indictment or proceeding 
under those acts for offences. 

LAWS OF DELAWARE. 

ADAMS'S EDITION, TUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY. 

Vol. I. p. 3S1, Chap. CLXX. 

A further supplement to the Act for the better regulation of Ser- 
vants and Slaves, passed 1760. 

Sect. 2. Courts of Common Pleas may, upon petition, hear 
complaints of persons unjustly detained as servants or slaves in 
a summary way. 

Sect. 4. The person so freed, may maintain an action of 
trespass and false imprisonment against his or her pretended 
master or mistress. 

Sect. 5. If any person entitled to his or her freedom shall 
be sold by his or her pretended master or mistress, to any non- 
resident of this state, such master or mistress resnectively 
shall forfeit one hundred pounds. 

Page 885, Chap. CXLV. 

An Act to prevent the exportation of Slaves, and J or other pur- 
poses, passed 1787. 

Sect. 1. Persons exporting a slave without a permit, shall 
forfeit one hundred pounds. 

Sect. 2. Exporting a negro or mulatto, who either is or may 
be entitled to freedom, penalty one hundred pounds. 

Also see Supplement, passed February 3, 1789. 

Vol. IT. page 1093, Chap. XXII. 

Further Supple?ncnt, passed June 14M, 1793. 

Sect. 3. A permit to export a slave is grantablc by the jus- 
tices of the court of general quarter sessions of the peace and 
general gaol delivery, or any two of them. 



as 

Sect. 5. Every slave exported ■without a permit contrary to 
this act, is declared free. 

Vol. II. page 1093. 

An Act to punish the practice of kidnapping free negroes and 

mulattoes, and for other purposes, passed 1793. 

Sect. 1. Provides that persons feloniously kidnapping any 
free negro or mulatto, shall be publicly whipped, stand in the 
pillory one hour, with the ear nailed to the pillory, and cropped. 

Vol. II. page 1321. 
An Act co)icerning negro and mulatto Slaves, passed 1797. 

Sect. 1. Provides, that no slave shall be set free by verbal 
contract. 

Sect. 2 & 3. Directs the manner in which manumissions shall 
be executed, proved and recorded. 

Sect. 5: Any negro or mulatto slave who is or shall be 
brought into this state, contrary to the intent and meaning of 
the act entitled " An act to prevent the exportation of slaves, 
and for other purposes," and any negro or mulatto slave, who 
hath been oi shall be exported, or sold with an intention to ex- 
portation, or carried out for sale from this state, contrary to an 
act entitled " An act to punish the practice of kidnapping free 
negroes, &c." shall be and are hereby declared free. 

Page 942, Chap. CXCIV. 

Additional Supplement to the Act to prevent the exportation of 
Slaves, (jfc. 

Sect. 1. Vessels equipped for the slave trade shall be for- 
feited, and every person fitting out such vessel, forfeits five 
hundred pounds. 

LAWS OF MARYLAND. 

.maxy's EDITION, VOL. II. PAGE 351. 

Chap. LXVII. passed 1796. 

Sect. 1. Negroes not to be imported for sale and if brought 
jnto the state in that manner to be free. 

Sect. 2. Contains an exception in favour of those coming 
with a bona fide intention of settling. 

Sect. 3. No person to sell any slaves imported agreeable to 
the exception in the second section, unless they have resided in 
Hie stale, three years next preceding such sale. 

Sect. 6. No person brought into this state, from any other 
state for a term of years, to be a slave for life, — but shall serve 



29 

the whole term for which he had been bound by the laws of the 
state from which he was brought. 

Sect. 8. Citizens may remove slaves into this state from lands 
which have descended to them in an adjoining state. 

Sect. 9. Citizens of adjoining states may bring slaves into 
this state, on to lands he possesses by inheritance. 

Sect. 13. Declares it lawful for any person capable of making 
a will, to grant freedom to, and effect the manumission of his 
slaves. (Proviso) not to the prejudice of creditors, nor to be 
allowed to such slaves, as are over forty-live years of age. — 
Manumission may be made to take effect at the death of the 
testator. 

Sect. 15. Any person illegally and by fraud or force, carry- 
ing out of the state any free negro or mulatto, shall forfeit and 
pay the sum of eight hundred dollars for every such offence, 
which if not paid in thirty days, to be sentenced to work on the 
roads, not exceeding five years. — The same penalty inflicted for 
transporting out of the state any servant for years, and selling 
him for longer time than he has to serve by law. 

Sect. 16. Any person or persons, that shall import or bring 
into this state any free negro or mulatto, or any person bound to 
serve for a term of years only, and shall sell or dispose of the 
said person so held, as a slave for life, or for a longer term than 
they were bound to serve, (knowing them to be so entitled to 
freedom,) shall forfeit the sum of eight hundred dollars. 

Sect. 21. Directs that petitions of freedom from any slave, 
shall be made to the county court where the said petitioner 
shall reside. 

Sect. 22. Petitioner or defendant may apply to the court for 
a trial by jury. 

Sect. 23. There shall be no appeal, except as to matters of 
law. 

Sect. 24. Master, owner, or petitioner, may challenge to the 
number of twelve jurors. 

Sect. 25. The attorney appearing in the petition, to pay all 
legal costs, when the petition is dismissed, unless the judge be 
of opinion that there was probable cause. 

Sect. 29. Healthy slaves not exceeding forty-five years of 
age, may be manumitted; freedom to be granted by deed at- 
tested by two witnesses, and acknowledged before a justice of 
the peace. The deed to be recorded within six months. 

Sect. 30. A copy of record to be good evidence when pro- 
perly attested. 

Page 360, Chap. CXXXII. 

An Act concerning Crimes and Punishments, fiassed 1796. 

Sect. 4. All persons, theiv aiders, Sec. convicted of kidnap- 
ping or forcibly carrrying out of the state, or of arresting or 
imprisoning any free person, or persons entitled to freedom 



Jitter a certain age, Sec. to be confined in the penitentiary for B 
period not less than two nor more than ten years. 

Page 447, Chap. LXXVI. 

Supplement pasaed 1798. 

Sect. 1 Sc 2. Provides for the benefit of any person owninglands 
by inheritance in his own right or that of his wife in this state 
or one adjoining, and having slaves on such estate, that they 
may be removed at pleasure from one plantation to another, 
either into the state or out of it, as may suit their convenience: 
Provided that a list of such slave or slaves, containing their 
names, sexes and ages, be delivered in writing, signed by the 
owner, overseer or agent, to the clerk of the county, into which 
they may be brought to reside, within three months thereafter, 
which list is to be recoided at the expence of the owner. The 
manner in which the title to the slaves is acquired is also to 
be inserted in the list. 

Page 233, Vol. V. Chap. LXVI. 
Supplement passed 1805. 

Sect. 1 8c 3. No person to grant certificates of freedom ex- 
cept county clerks and registers of wills, under penalty of five 
hundred dollars for each and every offence. 

Sect. 6. Negroes born free to obtain certificates of freedom 
in like manner. 

Vol. III. Page 493, Chap. CLXXI. 

An Act for declaring the condititm of the issue of female Slaves-, 
which may be born during their servitude for years, passed 
1809. 

Sect. 2. Persons may manumit or will their slaves to be free 
at a certain time, or on any particular event, and determine the 
state of the issue that may be born previous to the final libera- 
tion of the said slaves. 

Sect. 3. Declares that unless the person so willing or manu- 
mitting his female slaves, shall fix and determine their state, 
then the said issue shall be considered and held as slaves. 

An Act to prevent the unlawful exportation of Negroes and Mu- 
lattocx, and to alter and amend the laws concerning runaways, 
p.asscd December, 1817. 

Sect. 1 . No servant or slave entitled to freedom after a term 
of years, &c. shall be sold for longer space of time than he was 
bound to serve, or to any person not a bona fide resident of this 
slate, nor to any person employed to purchase servants or 
^ for any persons, not being resident as aforesaid, under 
pen- lty on conviction of being sentenced to serve not exceed- 
ing two years in the penitentiary. 



St 

Sect. 2. Provides that any person purchasing any slave or. 
servant entitled to freedom, or any person purchasing for any 
other person not a bona fide resident as aforesaid, with inten- 
tion to transport such slave or servant out of the state, shall be 
liable on conviction, to undergo confinement in the penitentiary, 
not exceeding two years. 

Sect. 3. No sale of any slave or servant for years, shall be 
valid, unless the same be in writing, under the hand and seal 
of both the seller and purchaser, in which the period and term 
of servitude or slavery, and the interest of the seller, and also 
the residence of the purchaser shad be stated, acknowledged 
before a justice of the peace for the county where the sale is 
made, and enrolled among the records of the said county court 
within twenty days, in defect of compliance with which provi- 
sions, the slave or servant so disposed of shall be free. 

Sect. 4. Any person purchasing any slave or slaves for the 
purpose of transporting them out of the state, shall take a bill 
of sale for each slave, which shall be acknowledged before a 
justice of the peace, and recorded in the office of the clerk of 
the county where the sale is made. 

Sect- 5. Prescribes the duty of judges or magistrates on be- 
ing informed of any slave or slaves, being sold for exportation, 
and that there is reasonable cause to suspect that the provisions 
in such case made and provided, have not been complied with, 
— to proceed to the house where they may be, and examine the 
papers, Sec. and if occasion require, to bind the purchaser in a 
recognizance with two sureties of one thousand dollars for each 
and every slave, to appear at the county court, and answer the 
petition of such slave or slaves for freedom. 

Sect. 6. When any servant or slave is committed to the 
gaol of any county in this state as a runaway, and been legally 
advertised by the sheriff as such, when the notice has expired, 
the sheriff* shall take such slave or servant before some judge 
or magistrate, whose duty it shall be to enquire into the case, 
and if reasonable cause appear to believe that such suspected 
runaway is a slave, then to remand him or her to prison for 
further time, — otherwise to discharge from custody free of ex 
pences, which shall be paid by the county. 













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