Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-06-26
THE EDUCATION OF SLAVES.

conversation with one of our citizens he strangely
enough declared there was no law in any Of the
slave states prohibiting the education of slaves
The Senator must not only be ~lurgotful Of what
is law, but certainly he has not taken time to read
the newspapers, else he would have known that
for violating a law of this very sort Mrs Douglas
and her daughter we're imprisoned in Virginia, MS
dangerous plo'ters against the "fcnce ard dignity
o. the Old Djminio :" lilo might Iavo known that.
in Maryland they Imprisoned u free cJlJiei man., n
minister of the Gospel, the Rev. Samuel Greene.
not for learning his u l. cS two do not know rs he
knew thor n0mcs Tut for simply having in his
possession Il copy Of Unclc Toms Cabin. For
this hcnious offence against thc state uf Maryland,
he Is now an inmate OF the pcnitcntiary, u cvu,
panion of fclous, aud receiving u lclons treat
ment. 1t is not very probable that slaves would
find the law more lenicnt.
This declaration of the senator suggests tho pro.
prioty Of our occupying a column in stating facts
ON this subject. This we shall do by copying
cxtrects from Stlouds sketches of the laws relat-
ing to slavery in The several states of the United
States of America" n reliable authority.
We may premise that our authority states that
it is true, that the statute laws of seven of The
slave states, Kentucky Tennessee, Mississippi, Mis-.
souri,, Arkansas, Florida and Texas so far as he
has been able to discover, are silent on the sub
iect. Nevertheless education is not more free to
the slave in these, than in other slave states.--
This is inevitable us any one can see from the me-
cessity of the case and the relation Of master and
slave.
SOUTH CAROLINA
AS carly as 1910 passed a law providing that
lHWhprnns tho hnviDo NJ slnvas touObt IN vrita ar
suffering them TO be employed in writing, may be
attended with great Inconvenience" therefore who
ever shall thus teach or employ them 'shall for.
felt FOR every such offence, the sum Of one hun
dred pounds, current money"
She has since added a largo and more direct
prohibition, by act of December II, 1S34:-"If
any person will hereafter teach any slave to read
or trrite, or shall aid in assisting any slave to ,edd
on icIite, or cause CT procure any slave to be taught
to read or rrife, such person., II 4 free white per-
son, W on conviction thereof, shall for every such
offence against this act be fined not exceeding one
hundred dollars, and imprisoned not more than
six months ; or If a Tree person of color, shall be
whipped not exceeding fifty lashes, and fined not
exceeding fifty dollars and if u slave, shall be
whipped net exceeding fifty lashes and if any
free person of color or q slave shall keep any such
school or othe. place of instruction for teaching
any slave or free person OF color TO read or prite,
such person shall be liable to the same fine, i'm
prisOnment and corporal punishment as are
! by this act imposed and in. ficted ON free per.
sons of color and slaves for teaching slaves to
f read or arriIe." Statutes Of South Carolina, sos.
v,pc,x,,
D In Virginia according TO the Coae oil Io4o.
! Every asscnoiaGe oi negroes LOT inc purpose OF
instruction in 3c0ding or writing shall be an unlaw-
tl assembly. Any justice may issue bis warrant
10 any oHcer OF c'neF person. requiring MN 10 en-
g ter any place where such ~assemblage may be. and
f seize any negro therein and he or any other
justice may order such negro to be punished ~'h
. ..Ir uh,. uh u;,, e..
0 the purpose of instructing them to read or ,crite.
J he shall be confined to Jail not exceeding six
months, and fined not exceeding one hundred doll
lars" Code Of Virginia, 7l7-lS.
n
c ~
:, Three statutes have been made in Georgia on
}, this subject, all OF which appear to be still in force.
The first was in mo, and is very similar to the
e act of South Carolina OF l74o, differing in includ-
t ing in its prohibition instruction in ,eading as well
(, as acrtting, and fixing the penalty at twenty
>, pounds sterling. . C0bb'S Digest, 9Sl.
In lo%Ji was enacted, "lt any slave, negro or
free person OF color, or any white person, shall
C teach any other slave negro or free person OF color
II s so;I r.oo norson ,r ooiar . law la, no 'a -
ed by fine and whipping, or fine or whipping, at
the discretion of the court and if Il white person
g go offending, he, she or they shall be punished
tt with fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, and
:, imprisonment in the common Jail at the discretion
of the court" III. 1901.
y anv person shall teach anv slave. nero or freq
g pcrson of color to read or ,cy,iie either written on
> printed characters, or shall procure, suffer or per
. nit a slave, negro or person Of color 10 transac,
business for him in writing, such person so offend.
ing shall be guilty of misdcmeanor, AMI, on con-
vlctlon, snail Ue punished Jy me, or lmprlSOn'
n mcnt in the common iail. or both. Mt the dissertation
~ ia nonrtW IN soe
re xopru c,po,ry
Nohrh oARohiNA'
In North Carolina, "Any free person who shall
T. hereafter teach, or attempt to teach, any slave
s. within this state to read or mrite. the use of figures
excepted, or shall give or sell to such slave Of
slaves any books or pamphlets, shall be liable t.
Il: Indictment .Ep. and upop cOpyictinn chol1 at th.