The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-12-21

persng such unlawful assembage, man
sn1Isct such corporal punishment n OF &C.
ceeda@9 twenty LGsheS, upon such sLaves,
free negroes, DC. as they may judge mec-
eSSGry, for DIFFERING THEM FROM THE
LIKE UNLAWFUL AssBMBLAGE IN FU-
TURE." BreoGrd's Digest 254. And
another section of the same act declares,
" That it shall not be lawful for any num-
Der of free negroes, mulattoes or mesti-
zoes, even of slaves in company wit h
white persons, to meet together for the
purpose of mental instruction either be-
fore the rising of the sun or after the 60
ing down ofthe same" Brevard's d.
gest, 254-5.
Virginia passed the following in 1919 ::
"That all meetings or assemblages of
slaves or free negroes or mulattoes mix
ing and associating with such slaves at
any meeting house, or houses, or any 9th.
err place, SC. in the night, or at any school
or schools for teaching them reading or
s0rlting either IN the day or nigh under
whatsoever pretext, shall be deemed and
considered an @nIawful assembly; and
any justice of county, Sc. wherein such
assemblage shall be, either from his own
knowledge or the information of others,
of such unlawful assemblage, sc. may is
sue his warrant directed to any sworn Of
ficer or officers, authorizing him or them
to enter the house or houses where such
unlawful assemblagcs, sc. may be, for the
purpose of apprehending or dispensing
such slaves and TO anJaict corporal pun
isnment on the offender or offenders, at the
discretion Of any justice of the peace, not
exceeding taoenty lashes." Req. Code,
424-5.
Similar laws exist in most of the slave
states, and in all, mental instruction is
practically discouraged.
Religious aoorship.-The southern stat
ute books are full of laws against the as
sembling of slaves tor religious worship,
excepting under the most difficult and in
quisitorial restrictions. The South Caro-
lima Act of 1900 has the following:
" Il shall not be lawful for any number
of slaves, free negroes mulatoes or mes
tizoes, eren IN company with white per-
sons, to meet together and assemble for
the purpose Of mental instruction or reli-
gious aoOrship, either before the rising of
the sun or after the going down Of the
same. And all magistrates, sherffS, mil
itia officers, &c. &c., are hereby vested
with power, SC. for dispensing such as
sembIes," &C., 2 Brerards Digest, 254
IS.
Georgia has the following
IF any slave shall presume to strike
any a0hite person, such slave upon trial
and conviction before the justice or justi,
ces, according TO the directions ofthis act,
shall for the first offence, suffer such pun
ishment as the said justice or justices shall,
in his or their discretion think fit, not ex.
tending to life or limb; and for the second
offence, suffer DEATH"
The law is similar in south Carolina
in both states the slave is not punished,
however, when he strikes "by the COM
mand, and in the defence of the person or
property of the owner, &C."
The Code of Louisiana gravel lays
down the following principle:
"Free people of color ought never 10
insult or strike white people. nor presume
10 conceive themselves equal to the whites;
but on the contrary, they ought TO yield 10
them on eUery occasion, and never speak
or answer them, but with respect, under
he penalty Of Imprisonment. according to
he nature of the ofence.' l Martins |
Digest, 640-42.
The following are specimens of the
avs by which the whole white commun-
ty have made themselves tyrants over The
slaves;
"lf any slave shall happen to be slain
or refusing TO surrender him or herself,
contrary to law, or in unlawful resisting
my officer or other person, who shall ap-
or endtavor 10 apprehend, such
slave or slaves, &C., such officer or other
person so killing such slaves as aforesaid,
making resistance, shall be, and he is by
his act, indemnifeG from any prosecu-
ion for such killing aforesaid, &c.
Lars, act Of l75l, chap. xiv.
9.
The State of Georgia has the following
)arbarouS enactment:
elf any person or persons shall, after
he passing OF this act (l80l, } set free any
lave or slaves, in any other manner and
orm than the one prescribed herein, H.. e.
" special legislative act,) he shall forfeit
Or every such offence tho hundred dol
arS, to be recovered by action of debt, or
the one half to be applied to
he use Of the county in which the o6ence
nay have been committed, the other half
} the use of The informer, and the said
lave or slaves so manumitted and Sc:
rec, shall be still 10 all iatemts and pur- '
Oses as much IN a stale Of SIavery as be-
ore they we1e mGnumilted and set free i
" the party or parties so ofending."-
Princes Digest, 457.
In 1918 this unrighteous odct was for
led H., H. e. |