Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-11-25
' IRGlNIA. 81

VIRGINIA, SGT.
NorboyMe EGrgn dc Botetourt, his Mnicsty s
Lieutc,tnnt md Governor Gcnsrat Of the said
Co!oay and dominion, and Vicc-Admiral Of
the same.
To John West, George Mason, Daniel McCar-
ty, John Carlyle, William Ramsay, Charles
Brosdwster, John West junior, Bryan Fair
fax, sampson Darrell, Henry, Gunncll. Robert
Adam, Willism Payne, William Adams
Washington and Edward Payne, of the coun-
ty of Fairfax, Gentlemen, Greeting:
Whereas in pursuance OF an act Of Assem- bly,,
made at General Assembly begun and holden
al the Capitol, in the city Of williamsburg, in
the fifth year of mis- present Majesty. reign, en-
titled An Act for amending the act entitled an
act directing the trial Of slaves committing CAPT
tai Crimes and for the more etfectual Furnishing
conspiracies and instructions of them and for
the better government of negroes mulattoes and
Indians, bond or free" the Governour, or Com
mander in Chief of this Colony for the time be-
ing, is desired and empowered to issue commits
sons Of Oyer and Terminer, directed TO the JUS
t ces Of each county, respectively, empowering
them, from time to time, to try, condemn and
execute, or otherwise punish or acqult, all slaves
comu tting capital crimes within their county :
Baron de Botetourt, By Virtue Of the Powers
and Authorities to me given by the said
act as Commander in Chief of this Dominion,
do assign and empower you, the said John
West, George Mason, Daniel Mc-Carty, John
Carlyle, William Ramsay, Charles Broad
water, John West, junior, Bryan Fairfax,
Sampson Darrell, Henry Gunnell, Robert Adam,
William Payne, William Adams Hector Ross,
Alexander Henderson, George Washington and
Edward Payne or any four or more of you
whereof any of you, the said John West, George
Mason Daniel McCarty, John Carlyle, William
Ramsay, Charles Broad water, John West jr.,
Bryan Fairfax or Sampson Darrell, shall be one
Justices, in such manner, and by such ways and
methods us in the SAID acts of the General As
sembly are directed prescribed and set down,
TO inquire Of and to hear and determine, all
treasons, petit treasons, or rnlsprislons thereof
felonies, murders or other offences, or capital
crimes whatsoever, committed or perpetrated
within the said county by any slave or slaves
whatsoever for the better performance whereof,
you, or any four or more of you, as aforesaid,
are hereby required and commanded to meet at
the Court House of the said county, when there
unto required by the Sheriff of the said county,
for the trial of any slave or slaves committing
any Of the offences above mentioned, and any
such slave or slaves being found guilty, in such
manner, and upon such evidence, as the said
acts Of the General Assembly do direct, to psss
judgment rs the law directs for the like crimes,
and on such judgment to award execution, or
otherwise to acquit, as Of right ought to be done,
or to carry into execution any judgment by you
given on such trial. Given under my hand, and
the seal of the Colony, at Williamsburg, the
thirteenth day of June, one thousand seven hum
drcd and seventy, in the tenth year of the reign
Of our Sovereign Lord George the Third.
BoTEToURT.