WHEREAS the Laws in Force for the Punishment of Slaves, are
found insufficient to prevent their committing very great Crimes
and Disorders, and that a further Provision if necessary to keep
them in proper Bounds and due order; and for amore speedy Method to
bring them to Justice than is prescribed by the Laws heretofore made:
II. Be
it therefore Enacted, by the Right Honourable the Lord Proprietary,
by and with the Advice and Consent of his Lordship's Governor, and
the Upper and
Lower Houses of Assembly, and the Authority of the same, That
if any Slave
or Slaves, shall at any Time consult, advise, conspire, or attempt to raise
any
Insurrection within this Province, or to Murder or Poison any Person or
Persons
whatsoever, or to commit a Rape upon any White Woman, or to Burn
any House or Houses, and be thereof convict by Confession or Verdict, or
who shall of Malice stand Mute, or peremptorily Challenge above the Number
of Twenty Jurors, shall suffer Death, as in cases of Felony, without Benefit
of Clergy.
III. And
be it further Enacted, That any Slave who shall attempt to Burn
any Dwelling-house, or Out-house contiguous to, or used with, any Dwelling-house,
or any other House, wherein there shall be any Person or Persons,
or any Goods, Merchandizes, Tobacco, Indian Corn, or other Grain,
or Fodder,
and shall be thereof convict as aforesaid, shall suffer Death as a Felon
without Benefit of Clergy.
IV. And
be it further Enacted, That every Slave committing any of the
Felonies herein before mentioned, or any other Offence, which may by Law
subject such Slave to the Pains of Death, shall be committed to the Sheriff
of
the County where the Offence shall be committed; and that at the next Assizes,
or County Court, which shall first happen, to be held for the County
where the Offence shall be committed, the Justices of Assize, or either
of
them, or County Court, which shall first happen, to be held for the County
where the Offence shall be committed, the Justices of Assize, or either
of
them, or County Court, which shall first happen, shall and may, by virtue |
Preamble.
Punishment
of Slaves convict
of Insurrection,
Murder,
or Poison,
or Ravishing
a
White Woman,
or Burning
Houses, &c.
Attempting
to burn Dwelling
Houses,
or Out Houses
continguous
thereto,
&c.
Slaves committing
Felonies,
punishable
by
Death, to be
tried at the
next Assize or
County
Court. |
