Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-07

AN ACT,
Passed ut the first SeSsion'oJ The ninth h-
gislaiure of the state Of Louisiana.
AN ACT relative TO the introduction OF slaves
in this State and for other purposes.
Sect. /. Be IL enacted, by the Senate and
House of Representatives ofthe State of Lou
isiana in general assembly convened; that
from and after the first day of April eighteen
hundred twenty nine, it shall not be lawful
for any person or persons, to introduce or
bring into this State any slave or slaves, with
an intention of selling or hiring them, nor
shall they be sold or hired unless the owner
thereof or owners thereof, or the person or
persons so introducing or bringing the said
Slaves, shall also bring with him or them a
certificate for each slave above twelve years of
age, signed by two or more freeholders of the
country from which the said slaves may have
brought, and in which he or she may have
been purchased, designating the name, age,
sex, and as near rs possible the size, marks &
color of said slave, and the place whers he or
she was purchased and from whom purchased,
and the certificate being signed by the said
freeholders, it shall moreover be accompanied
by their declaration on oath, that they have
known the said slave for several years and
that he or she has not, within their knowl-
edge, been guilty nor convicted OF any crimes,
but that he or she has good moral character,
and is not in the habit of running away, pro-
yided however that the certificate Of the ven
dor shall never be received as evidence.
Sect. 2 Bet further enacted, That eve
ry certificate required by the preceding Sec
ton shall be given and signed beforethe clerk
o fsome court ofrecord, in the county in which
said slave may have been purchased; and that
the certificate and declaration on oath OF the
said freeholders shall also be accompanied by
a declaration by the clerk, under the seal OF
the court Of which he is the clerk, that the
certificate was executed before him, and that
the declaration on oath of the freeholders, re-
ouired by the preceding section, was also
made before him, that they are men OF good
character and are not vendors, that the officer
before whom it may have been taken or made
was dulv authorized to administer an oath; &
that he persons so certifying and declaring
are respectable and well known freeholders OF
the county, which declaration OF the clerk
shall be accompanied by the certificate of the
presiding Judge, certifying that the officer
signing said declaration is the clerk Of the
court over which he presides.
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That from
and after the first day Of April eighteen hun
dred and twenty nine, any person introducing
or bringing into this State, any slave or slaves
above twelve years of age, for the purpose OF
with the intention of selling or hiring them
shall execute before a Notary Public or Par
ish Judge, an authentic act of every sale or
contract of hire which he or they may make
of such slave or slaves, and that no other title
shall be considered valid, and that before such
sale or contract shall be executed he or they
shall produce to said Notary or parish Judge
the certificate and declaration on oath Of the
free holders aforesaid S'the said declaration Of
the clerk, as we'll as the certificate OF the Judge
required by the preceding section, in relation
to each slave, above twelve years OF age, which
he or they may be about to convey or hire; OF
all which particular mention shall be made In
the said conveyance or contract, and ne or they
so intending and about to convey or hire, shall
take and subscribe a declaration on oath, be,
fore the said Notary or Parish Judge, that the
said certificate or certificates, and declaration
or declarations on oath of the freeholders, by
whom they have been made together with the
declaration of the clerk under the seal OF the
court aforesaid, as we'll as the certificate OF the
Judge, all by him or them so produced to the
said \ otary or Parish Judge are genuine, and
that the slave or slaves about to be conveyed
or hired are identically the same as those
described in the said certificates, and the said
certificate and declaration or certificates and
declarations shall all be deposited with the
said Notary or Parish Judge, and annexed to
the conveyance or contract.
Sect. a. Be it further enacted, That from
and after the first day Of April eighteen hun