Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-11-23

oo my siie oclsnte ~ gOL humphrey, OI0nSlQW.
In Introducing the first Col Humphrey said:
The bill proposes to remove the free ne
gro population from the limits of the State,
after two years notice. or, If they scjsl remain, to
reduce them to the same condition as slaves The
bill was prepared and introduced at the request of
many of his constituents, well as at the request
Of many citizens Of other portions of the Stats Who
had suffered long and severely from the evil in1u-
ences which the free negroes exercise over the slave
population. But change so radical and important
in our municipal law, as the one proposed by that
bill, deserved well, he thought the serious consid-
Grafton of the Legislature; and while the change
proposed met the views and wishes of those at
whose instance it was framed, he had doubt that
of its provisions might conflict with the con-
stitution In his own opinion some legislation upon
the subject was demanded of this Legislature. He
moved therefore, that the bill be printed and refer
red to the committee on the Judiciary
A BILL CONCERNING FREE PERSONS OF
COLOR.
SEC l. Be 1t enacted By the General tAssem6zy
Of the State Of North Carolina, and 1t ii hereby en-
acted by the authority Of the same That from and
after the passage of this act it shall got be lawful
State
Sec. 2. Be 1t FURTHER enacted, That if any free
person of color shall emigrate to this State it shall
be the duty of the Sheriff, or any one of the Con-
stables of the County to which such emigration
shall be made to arrest such free person of color
! after giving him ten days notice. and bring him
before the Chairman of the Court of Pleas and
Quarter Sessions, before whom such free person of
color may be brought, to receive the bond of such
free person of color in the sum of thousand dol
lars with the security of citizen, to be approved
by him. conditioned for the removal of such free
person of color out of the limits of the State.
Sec. 8. Be 1T further enacted That if any free
person of color should be brought before the Chair
man of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of
any county, and shall not be able to give the bond
prescribed in the second section of this act such
Chairman of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Ses-
sions shall commit such free person of color to the
public jail, with an order to the Sheriff to expose
him to public sale, to the highest bidder at the
Courthouse door, of his county, after giving four
weeks notice of the same, in the nearest public
Journal and at least four public places in his county,
and the said purchaser shall and may exercise all
| the rights of ownership said free person of
| color, for one year from such sale.
Sec. 4. BE at further enacted, That if any such
free person of color shall during the year of such
slavery, be able to give his bond contemplated in
the second section of this act to take effect at the
end of his slavery, he shall be permitted to do
but if he shall fail to render the bond until after
the expiration of his slavery it shall be the duty
of the purchaser to return him into the hands of
| the Sheriff.
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That it shall be
the duty of the Sheriff, upon the return of any such
free person of color upon giving six weeks notice
in some public journal and at least four public pla
in his county, to expose the free person of color
so returned at public SALE to the highest bidder
and such free person of color SO sod shall rema in
| slave for life; Prorided That if any person of
color sold should be the property of any ndivid
/ ual, he shall have his rig ht of recovery by due
| course of law.
SEC. &. Be 1t further enacted All monies arising
from the sale of such free persons of color shall be
tendents, to be appropriated by him to the use of
| Common Schools, in his county, in the same man
ner as county taxes for school purposes
Sec Z. BE it further enacted, That upon the for
feture of the bond of any free person of COLOR the
shall be placed in the hands of the county So
lictor for collection who shall prosecute the same
against the securities only and the amount of sale,
if such shall have been made, of the free person of
color, shall, in all cases. be subtracted from the
amount adudged against the securities, and the re-
mainder only shall be recovered of Them
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That two years
shall be allowed, from and after the passage of this
act to all free persons of color who in this
State to out of the same; and all those who
shall be found here after that time, without the per-
mission of the General Assembly, shall be arrested
and sold as provided in this act
Sec. 8. BE 1t further enacted That it shall not
be lawful for any master of a vessel, or owner
thereof nor for any other person or persons what
soever to bring import, induce, aid or assist in the
bringing, importing or inducing any free person OF
color within the limits of this State, directly in
directly; and any person offending shall be
deemed guilty of misdemeanor and on conviction
shall be fined in sum of not less than five hun
dred nor than five thousand dollars: Procided
That cooks and other hands employed on board OF
vessels shall not be considered as coming within the
provisions of this act.
SEC. TO- Be 1T further enacted, That the Govern
or of the State do issue his proclamation command
ing all free persons of color who now are in the
State to remove from the same before the LIST day
of January 1860 and the Secretary of State publish
of oil tho IOrrrD nj
this State
SEC. II. BE it further enacted, That all laws
contrary to the meaning and spirit of this act are
hereby repealed
A BILL TO PERMIT FREE PERSONS OF ARR.
CAN DESCENT TO SELECT THEIR OWN
MASTERS AND BECOME SLAVES.
Sec. l. Be at enacted by the General Assembty
Of the State Of North Carolina, and 1t is hereby
enacted By the authority Of the same, That it shall
now in the State, who may hereafter be within
its limits being the age of fourteen years, to
choose his or her master, and become slave, upon
the terms and conditions hereinafter named Pro
Ud sadslave shall not be subject to forced sales for
any debt incurred by, or judgment rendered against
the chosen master, prior to the period OF enslave
ment. "'A5f
SEC. 2. Be 1T further enacted, That whenever
any free person of African descent aforesaid de-
sires to choose master, such person may lille a
petition IN the Court OF Pleas and quarter SESSIONS
of the county in which he or she resides, setting
forth his or her desire to choose owner and stat
ing the name of such person he she desires tc
select as owner; which petition shall be signed
by the petitioner in the presence of at least two
subscribing witnesses. And thereupon the clerk O
the Court in which such petition shall have beer
filed, shall give notice thereof by posting such
notice at the Courthouse door for four weeks; ant
said clerk shall issue summons to the petitioner
and the person designated in the petition as the pro
posed master, citing them to appear before sale
ro,r+ tho form, tharaof neyt Succeeding the eX