The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-21

the nearest justice of the peace, and the latter officer would decree, upon the proper proof being made, that the article found in the possession of the slave was forfeited to the siezer. Masters could, however, by application to justice ot the peace, get permission for a slave to carry a gun and ammunition for hunt ing purposes for year at a time. There were also statutes prohibiting any per- sons from trading with slaves in any man. ner, and prohibiting, upon penalty, mas ters from granting slaves permission 10 trade or to go at large. In no case were they permitted to keep dogs, and all violating the statute against the same were liable to be punished therefor with not exceeding twenty-five stripes for ey cry such offense. Nor were they per- mitted to own any horse, mare gelding or mule, and if any slave actually owned such property, the same was forfeited and sold under the direction of the court of the county where such property was owned one moiety went to the use of the territory and the other to any one who chose to sue for the same.
 The following outburst of noble senti- ment Is found as short preamble to an act with reference to the punish ment of slaves And whereas, 1t has been the humane policy of all civilized nations, where slavery has been per- mitted to protect this useful but de- graded class of men from cruelty and oppression: Therefore, Be 1t further en- acted, That no cruel or unusual punish ment shall be inflicted on any slave with in this territory ...." going on to state the penalty etc. This, however, is fol- lowed a section or two later by the fol- lowing statute: That when any slave shall be convicted of any offense within the benefit of clergy. Judgment of death t. .I,,-N las hEF upon such conviction, but he or she shall be branded on the face or breast by the jailer in open court, and suffer such corporal punishment as the court shall think fit to infict, except where she or he once had the benefit of this act, and in those cases, such slave or negro shall suffer death without bene- fit of cledgy." Just where the "beneflt of this act above referred to comes in is hardly apparent, at first sight, to say the least of it. The vffy naive in- consistency of these sections perhaps illustrates better than anything else the sincerity of the legislatures conscience in regard to the maintenance of slavery
 There were also statutes prohibiting masters from liberatlng slaves unless these. latter had done some mertorious act and, then. they could be liberated only by a long and tiresome court procedure, and were still liable to be levied upon for any debt of the libera- tor contracted prior to the liberation. There are numbers of acts to be found passed expressly for the purpose of granting leave to masters to liberate or manumit certain slaves.
 There Is found in all the acts authoriz- ing the locating and building of jails in the several counties, provisions directing that in connection with the jails there should be fitted up proper places for slaves and stock taken under execution and held for sale by the sheriff. Pro- vision was also made for the erection of whipping posts, stocks and plllories in connection with all the jafls, these being freely used in the punishment of white offenders as well as slaves