The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-04

DECREE.
ART. l. Ahcr the lst day Of January, 1852, all
the slaves existing in the Republic shall be free,
and shall in consequence, from that date ENJOY
the same rights and obligations which the Con
stitutiou ami laws guaranty and impose upon all
other Grenadians.
Arr g. The proof of the liberty Of each slave
shall be the Letter Of Freedom, issued in his IA
vor with reference TO the existing laws, after the
previous valuation made under legal formalities,
and as shall be prescribed by the Executive pow
er
L. No slave under 45 years Of age shall be val
ued az less than 600 reals il male, and 200
reals if female; and no slave over 45 years OF
age shall he valued above 200 reals if a male
and 500 reals if female.
ART The iuntss Of manumisson shall issue
to the hold rs Of such slaves as shall be valued,
and to whom Letters Of Freedom may be granted
in conformity with this law, certificates Of the
presentation, valuation, and liberty of each slave,
80 as to enable them duly to exchange said GER
tiicAt,s for the manumission bonds ordered to be
issued by the present law
ARr. a. The junta shall open register Of the
names Of all the slaves existing in the canton,
stating, if possible, the date and place of birth Of
each respectively, the parOchial district of their
residence, and the owner to whom they belong
OF this register an authorized copy shall be made
and seut 20 the provincial junta Of mAnumssion.
ART, s. The provincial junta in view Of the
copies Of AL the registers Of the canton, shall
form tabular statement Of which they shall
send a copy to the Executive power, through the
Secretary Of Foreiga Relations, in order that the
Tr asury may issue bonds for the debt created
BY the present law, in conformity with the regu-
latiOus which may be prescribed by the Execu-
tive power for such purpose.
AEr 6 The bonds to be issued in conformity
with this law shall be called manumission
bonds and shall not bear interest The annual
product Of the contributions established by all
previous as well as the present law for the manu-
mission Of slaves shall be annually appropriated
for the extinguishment Of said bonds, for which !
purpose the Executive power shall make up lots Of
900 TO 10000 reals, and sell same at public
suction to the best bidder who may offer the
highest price, in bonds Of the debt created by
.. sbiS.lqFrs
ARf+ 7'The Executive power snan raKe suon i
measures that the manumission treasurers shall
pay into the respective Offices Of the Treasury
s the funds which they may severaly secure,
and of these, together with those that may be re-
coverd by the officers of the Treasury and applied
by former IS well ne the present law, for the
manumission Of slaves, separate account shall
be kept.
Arr g. At the end of each fiscal year, gene
raj account shall be made up OF the receipts, and
the sum total thereof both in money and in liqui-
dated debts, shall be appropriated by the Execu-
tive power, and the extinguishment Of the bonds
for the debt created by the present law, in con-
formity with what is stated in article g.
Arr The funds destined for manumission
are hereby increased by the following imposts, to
be recovered from the LIST day of September next
/. Six per cent. instead of four, and fifteen per
cent instead Of twelve-and a-half mentioned in
section Of article Of the law of the 22i of June
1850
Two per cent instead of one mentioned in
sections 4, g. and TO- of said article
3. Four per cent. of the rents proceeding from
chaplancies and pous foundations for ecclesias-
ticsl festivals
4. Two per cent of all rents proceeding from
ecclesiastical benefces, the property of monaste-
ries, and all other property known under the
common denomination OF mOrtmain, with the
ception Of the rents Of charitable and bene6cent
establishments or for public education
8 Four per cent of civil and military pensions
amounting TO 500 yearly, and an addition of
one per cent. on all pensions exceeding that
amount
ART 10. The contributions established by this
as well all former lswssSor the purpose of ere.
atng funds to he applied to the manumissiou of |
slaves shall continue to be recovered until the |
total extiuguishment Of the bonds mentioned in
articles and 6.
ART IL. The msnumission funds are sacred
and no authority, public corporation or function
airy whatsoever, shall divert the same from their
objects, or appropriate sums in any other way
than is herein established but they shall be Joint
ly and severaly responsible and compelled TO re-
imburse any sum or sums they may use or ap-
propriate for other objects, both the corporation
or the functionary, VINO may give the order as
well as the functionary or employee who may ex-
ecute the same.
ART 10 Immediately after the publication of
this law in each head Of canton shall cease the
effect of the authority contained in the chapters
marked Nos /, 2, and 3, of article of the law of
the 22i June 1850; but the debts contracted
up to that day shall be paid in cash out Of the
manumssson funds From thenoeforWar the
funds to be collected shall serve to carry into
effect the provisions of the present law.
ART Is. No fugitive slave shall be valued be-
fore his arrest nor the certificate Of his value
issued mentioned in article 3. Neither shall
any slave over 60 years of age, who are few, nor
those manumitted bora after the publication Of
law 7, part 6, treaties of the RseOpidciOn Gran
dina, also are not liable to be sold
ART. a. All foreign slaves seeking refuge in
the territory Of New Grenada are hereby de-
clared Free and the local authorities shall be
bound to assist aud protect them by all the means
in their power
ART. 10 The Executive power Is authorized to |
enter into public treaty with the Government |
of the Republic of Peru, by means whereof to OBJ
been imported into the territory Of that nation
New Grenada to psy Il suitable indemnity to the |
actual owners OF such slaves in part payment Of the
sum which this Republic is entitled TO receive of
the old Colombian debt due by Peru
ART l6 The duties which may be owing to |
the manumission revenue by the death of any |
person, who may have left property in different |
provinces, shall be paid in that in which he died, |
and for the payment whereof the respective man |
shn ~ he In
ments.
ART. H. II the person dying shall leave prop |
erty In different cantons Of the same Province |
the liquidation and payment shall be made in the
canton in which he died, if the provincial junta
OF manumission do not designate for such pur-
pose another in which part OF the property is sit
mated.
ART. IS. The holders Of annuities the pled0e
whereof consists in slaves, or on mortgage Of
slaves, may redeem same with the bonds author
lied TO be issued by the present law, and which
shall be received in payment at their nominal
value.
ART. 49, This law shall take effect any other
law to the contrary Notwithstanding and the
Executive power shall prescribe all the necessary
rules and regulations for the due and practical
fulhlment thereof
Given at Bogota the 2lst May, 1881.
The President of the Senate
JUAN N. AzuERo.
The President Of the House Of Representatives
JOSE CAlCEpo RoJA&
The Secretary Of the Senate;
RAMON GONZALEZ,
The Representative Secretary
ANTONIO MARIA PRADILLA.
Bogota, the 2lst May, 1851 Let it be exc
cuted and published
The President Of the Republic:
D.. JOSH HLARIo LorEz.