Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-10-26
IN COUNCIL, OCTOBER 10, 1881.
AN ACT concerning Slaves, Free Negroes, and
Mulattoes.

Muattoes.
SECTION I. Be IL enacted BIZ the Common
Council of .9lerandria, That all meetings or as
ssmbiies of slaves or of free negroes, and mulat-
toes, Or of slaves free negroes, and mulattoes. at
anv meeting or other house, either in the day or
night. under the pretence or pretext OF attending
n religious meeting, or for any amusement shall
be, and the same are hereby prohiblted; and any
such meeting or assembly shall be considered an
unlawful assembly. except under the limitations
hereafter stated. Every slave who shall be guilty
of violation of this provision of the law, shall be
punished by receiving on his or her bare back not
less than ten nor more than thirty lashcs, to be
inflicted by constable, who shall be directed by
the Mavcr or Justice before whom the conviction
is had, to iuflict the same, unless the owner or
employer of such slave will pay forthwith the sum
of three dollars and all costs; and any constable
who shall neglect or refuse to execute such SEN
tcnce. shall forfeit and paw fine of five dollars,
to be recovered before the Mayor or any Justice
If the Peace Ever, free negro or mulatto who
,ha i be guilty of a violation of this Law shall. for
each offence, forfeit ard pay fine of not less
dian five dollars, nor more than twenty dollars,
aud the costs Of prosecution. To be recovered be-
fore the Mavor or any Justice OF the Peace; and
On failing to paw the same forthwith. he or she
shall BE- committed to the work-hDlse. Tor not less
than three, nor more than six months and upon
the expiration OF the term Of confinement, such
offender shall not be discharged nn'Il he or she
shall have entered into recogniZance or bond to
the Co,umon Council, before the Mayor or JUS
tice ,f the Peace of the county of Alexandria,
with one ar more sufficient surety or suretes, IN
penalty Of not less than one haae.. :i.!!ara. Tor
hts or her future good behaviour tor twelve months
from the date of such recOgniZance or bond,
hnnI Sh,ll no hXVIth
deposited with the Clerk Of the Common Coun-
ell. 20 be safely kept by him; and, on breach Of
the condition of the same, the Mayor shall, with
out delav communicate the fact To the Attorney
for the Corporation, with the names OF the wit
nesses who can prove forfeiture Of the recogni-
zancc or bond and il shall be the duty of the IT.
rorney for the corporation forthwith to institute
prosecution on the same. II. upon lnquiring into
the facts. he shall be of opinion that there has
bcen a forfeiture: P,oridet, That nothing herein
contained shall prohibit anv slave, free negro, or
mulatto. from attending, either day or night, any
of The usual places of public worship within the
! limits Of the corporation. when AMI where duly
authorized white minister shall ofliciate; but no
separate place OF worship shall be permitted tor
slaves. free negroes, or muiattoes. IS urfher
provilsi. That nothing in this act shall proG'hlt
any slave. or free apprentice negro. or mu'atto.
meeting on any other lawful occasion, by license
in writing from the owner or employer of such
slave or master Or mistress OF such apprentice;
provid.d such meeting be in the day time, or, II
after sunset, the same be not continued longer
,bsu ten O'Clock at night; shall any free negro
or mnlatto attend any meeting without the writ
fen hermit of the Mayor. authorizing such meet
i,g which meeting is to be under the same llmi-
,ation "a relates to slaves and apprentices. Ii
sb,ll he the duty of the police cOnstables 10 cause
tho meetings which may be- held under the autho
r,ty Of this provision to dispense after the hour
herein stated.
SEC. Q. find be II further enacted, That it
shall be the duty of the superintendent OF police.
the poI,ce constables, and every other constable
within the town, and also OF the superintendent
of the watch. aud each of the watchmen. to see
that the provisions of this and every other law In
nrce in the town Of Alexandria, relating to
siayes. free negroes, and mulattoes are duly eX-
lscu,ed. and each of the said officers shall cause
information of the violation Of the same 20 be
mrthwjlh given TO the Mayor or some Justice "i
the Peace for the county of Alexandria; aud II
either of the aforesaid officers, who shall have no
lice, or who shall know Of any violation OF this or
ony other law relating tn slaves, Tree negroes. OF
muiattocs. shall fail to give the necessary intor'
nation thereof. or otherwise omit to execute the
laws aforesaid, he shall forfeit and pay line OF
tcn lo,Iars for each omission or neglect.
SEC. 5. find be II ftrthtr enacted, That all
fines imposed by this act shall be sued for and
recovered in the name ut the Common Council o
Alexandria. for the use of the corporation.
SIC a. BE II further enacted, That if any free
n,gra or muatto person, living in this town. sha
l.. y subscriber to, or receive through the p"s
Office, or in any other mode. or shall. after The
lapse of ten DAYS after the passage OF this law
have in his possessions or circulate, any newspaper
or other publication or any written or printed pa
per or book. of sedtious aud evil character, cal
culated to excite insurrection or INSTRUMENTATION
among the slaves co!ored people, every suci
free negro or muIatto person shall be deemed AIT
adiudged to be a disorderly person. aud dan