The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-02-13
Published by request
From the rsiiciana (La.) Democrat.
SLAVES In LOUISIANA.

Published by request
From the rsIieiana (La) Democrat
SLAVES IN LOUISIANA.
In New Orleans lately man named Hunter mas oesn
santancaa 4, nay fine of a thousand dollars undergo an
Snisonmsnt az six months and forfeit certain slaves
whom he illegally sold in such manner as TO separate the
mother from the Children contrary 10 INC laws VI hou
We were not aware, before eyes fell upon the fore
going paragraph that any such law said to have Deeh
Violated by Hunter existed in any OF the southern States
-A-' $500 Bardstoun Gazette.
The honor due to the Legislators aud citizens Of this State
for their treatment the serve class OF our population
not limited to that deserved for the humane provision
above alluded to- The legislation Of Louisiana on the SUD
iect of slaves as compiled in the Black Code for the hui
many OF its visions and the fitness Of its enactments
NAV well serve as model other States; for in no State
in the Union slaves carefully aud strngeny pro
tected AT the same time that penalties provi
ed for crimes and committed by slaves the man
ner of their trial is prescribed as to secure the same i'm
paaty as to persons In capital cases for example,
il is provided that the tribunal for the trial Of slave shall
be of two justices of the peace and ten slave
owners of the vicinity and in not capital the same to
consist Of justice Of the and two
The Jurors are put under OATH the district attorney
ducts the prosecution and unanimous verdict requi-
site to convict or to acquit the prisoner
For killing u slave, whether by an owner or another
the penalty death and for manning or other cru
city the penalty fns from two to five hundred dollars
The beating or i'll treatment of slave when no one is
by the person having the Of
the slave is sufficient render him responsible for the
offence and to subject him to prosecution.
Except carriage drivers hospital walters, market car
rers servants guaranteed the enjoyment of
Sunday or If employed that day. they receive COM
pensaon Of fifty per day Masters are forbidden
under penalty TO give their slaves money instead OF the
ample monthly rations which thu law prescrbes Old,
sick or disabled receive the same rRt0ns and cloth
IL 49, ot,H
atty to provide them The passage Of the code rela
ting to sick slaves provides hat 1t shall be the duty Of
every owner procure his sick slaves all kind of tenn
porai or spiritual assistance which their situation may
ouirev Ia slaves to be allowed two hours
and half for meals, and in winter two hours except
where the has their meals prepared when the al
iotted time may be abridged by one half hour.
Whenever master overseer negects or refuses to
provide such food or clothing the law requires 1t law
full for any one to make complaint TO the nearest mags-
trate who may compel the to comply with the pro-
visions Of the law, under penalty Of fine for refusal
is moreover made the duty Of justices Of the to
inform themselves as to the in which slaves
treated in their districts, and to enforce the law.
Section SO of the Black Code provides that at public
sale negro disabled through age otherwise and hav
ing children shall be sold with such of his children
he may choose go with
Not only it forbidden separate the mother from her
child under years of age but the importation Of slave
ishabie by fine of from to two thousand dollars
The importation of slaves who have been accused Of
capital offences of having attempted to excite nsu
recton Is also strictly prohibited Persons convicted Of
kidnapping free negroes Of bringing such into the State
slaves for SALE may be punished by fine Of thou
sand dollars and the former by fourteen years i'm
prisonment. a.-..
The above a few of the provisions incorporated into
comprehensive and elaborate slave CODE
These laws scrupulousy carried into exc
cuton the rest of the laws Of the State The result
of these humane and wise laws, together with the
character Of saveowners, has been render the
condition Of the slaves Of Louisiana enyabe one in
comparison with that of the mining and manufacturing
less peasanty of their rural dsrctsbeing well fed
well clothed and well sheltered for less labor with
cury of support in sickness disability old age and of
protection under all circumstances. When we consider
their marked intellectual inferory the utter barbarism
from which slavery has raised them and to which without
slavery they always again descend-when we recollect
how many millions have been redeemed from condition
little above that of wild beasts and endowed by slavery
with much Of Christian civilization they are capable
Of their low passions subdued and restrained their labor
directed and organized by vastly superior intelligence
to produce for them of enjoyment which, without
such guidance their labor could procure-we have
to congratulate this and the citizens Of this and
other saveholdng States An institution admirably
fitted to pepetuate repubcanism and aught with
cacuable advantages both races should be cherished
and guarded against the danger with unit
ring vigilance