Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-07
AN ACT
For Me gradual Emancipation of StaveS he
STATE Of Delaware, sOiM Just conpsnsatso--4
10 fbeir oqp7ers


SECTION l.. BE Il enacted By the Senate and
House of Representatives of The State of De1asoare
an General assembly met That from and after the
first day of January in the year Of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and seyentytwo there shall
be- in the State of Delaware neither slavery nor in
voluntary servtude except punishment for crime,
whereof the person shall have been legally convicted,
but that from and after the first day Of January IN
the year of Lord thousand eight hundred and
seventytwo, every person residing in the SAID State
shall be absolutely free, except only such persons as
may have been legally convicted of crime and duly
sentenced to servtude punishment therefor
SEC g And be IL fi,,ther enacted, That every
person. now held in slavery or involuntary servtude
otherwise than punishment for crime aforesaid,
that shall at the time when this Act goes into ope-
ration as hereinafter provided be above the age Of
thirty-6vc years shall arrive at that age within
ninety days thereafter, whether such person be held
as slave for life or for any shorter PERIOD shall, at
and upon the expiration of ninety days after the
time when this Act goes into operation, become and
be absolutely free and discharged from such slavery
or seryitude, and every such person shall theTea
ter arrive at the age Of thrtyfye years before the
said first day of January in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two shall upon
arrival nt that age become and be absolutely free, so
that there shall after the expiration of ninety days
from the time when this Act goes into operation az
hereinafter provided be no person above the age OF
thiryfve years. in this State who shall not be free,
except only being duly convicted of crime as aforesaid
SEC. g. Aad de il JUfther enacted, That every
person who shall be born after the period when this
Act goes into operation and whose mother shall nt
the time of such birth be slave, shall nevertheless
be deemed and taken to be born free but the master
or person who would hut for this Act, have been the
owner of such person shall have the right to the
vice of such person, if MALE until he shall arrive ut
the age of twenyone years. and if female until she
be of the age of eighteen years. hut such right TO the
al,n1In rohf nf in bp
person. but in the service only, after the manner OF
an indented servant
SEC. Aa,d be Il FURTHER enacted, That every
person now in being or to be born before the time
when this Act shall go into operation and being then
held in slavery or involuntary servitude exception
crime as aforesaid and who, il male would be under
the age of twentyone years, if female, under the
age of eighteen years the first day OF January, In
the year one thousand eight hundred and seyentytwO
shall be absolutely free the said first day of Janu-
ary in the year OF Lord thousand eight hum
dred and seventytwo and every person who shall be
declared free by deed of freedom executed before the
first day of January in the year one thousand eight
hundred and seventytwo and before arrival at these
ages respectively, hereinafter provided, shall be
absolutely free the execution of the deed of free
dom but in either case, the master or person, who
would but for this Act, have been the owner Of sucl
person, shall have the right to the service Of suci
nerson if a male until he shall arrive at the age o
NAA'
age Of eighteen years, but such right to the service
shall not mpar any right of property in the persol
but in the service only, after the manner of an in
dented servant
Sec. 5. And Je Il further enacted, That no slay'
or person held to involuntary servitude except 70
crime as aforesaid shall be exported from this State
and the faith of the State is pledged to the United
States to prevent, far possible, the carrying
any person out of the sad State into slavery Or in
voluntary servitude beyond the limits thereof.
SEC 6 And be ii further enacted, That the forego
ing sections and provisions enacted and declares
upop the express condition, and for the considerato
that the United States of America will ut the preseu
session Of Congress, engage by law to pay and there
after faithfully pay to the State Of Delaware, sue
payment to be by the bonds of the United States
bearing interest Mt the rate Of six per centum pt
annum, the sum of nine hundred thousand dollars,
ten equal annual payments, the first instalment
ninety thousand dollars to be payable on some d0
before the first day OF September, eighteen hnndre
and sixty-two, to be fixed in the act of Congress ~
cepting the terms hereof and providing for the sal
payment, and the residue in nine equal instalmen
annually thereafter and at and upon the passage
such law BY the CONGRESS of the United States al
the delivery to the Treasurer of this State of ii
bonds of the United States aforesaid in payme
Of the first instament of ninety thousand dola
as aforesaid then this act shall Immediately
into full effect and operation.