Year: 1859




Two snactments Of the present Legislature are to
be put in force to-day. Both have reference to such
free negroes at present In the city and State - are
not entitled to residence therein by of their
birth in other States In foreign countries. The
knowledge Of these acts is well spread, and conse
quently there is high excitement amongst that
branch OF the free colored population who cannot
boast OF Louisiana birth. and trepidation amongst
many Of them who can.


Yesterday found the Mayors Office full Of Creole
free coored people, taking out papers to prevent
mistakes. The police were also wide awake, If not
excited, on the subject-one feature Of the new law
against free negroes of other States foreign
tries being that of reward to the police for the
rest Of such said free negroes may fail to leave the
State after official notification within certain pre-.
scribed time 'st..
For the information of the free negro population,
and the police and all others who may take any in.
terest in the matter repubsh the two statutes in
full the first against free negroes Of distant birth
remaining here and the second offering to such ne
groes with liberal and generous provisions the alter
native of becoming slaves il they do not feel like
leaying


persons coming into the State
from other States or foreign countries.


SECTION !. Be it enacted by the Senate and House
Of Representatives. Of the State Of Louisiana, in Gen
eral Assembly conuened, That any free person of
color, coming into the State on board any vessel,
steamer, other watercrat, trading plying out Of
the limits OF the State, shall upon the arrival Of said
vessel steamer or watercraf be forthwith lodged in
the parish jail and shall remain therein until the yes
sell steamer, or other watercraft on board Of which
said free person Of color arrived shall be ready to
leave port.


Sec. 2. Be il further enacted, ETC., That the jail
keeper receiving information that the free person
Of color detained in bis custody is wanted by the
captain or master of the ship steamer watercraft,
on board Of which be she came shall require from
said captain or master, written afiiday. and bonl
Of five hundred dollars, conditioned that the vessel he
commands will leave within not more than twenty
four hours and that during the time the said free
person of color shall not be allowed to go on shore
under penalty Of five hundred dollars; said penalty
recoverable against said captain by civil action, with
privilege on bis vessel in the name of the Charity
Hospital Of New Orleans, onehalf for the benefit Of
said Hospital and the other half for the benefit Of the
nformer, who shall not by reason of his interest,
be deemed incompetent as q witness against the
offender.


SEC. 8. Be it further enacted ETC., That the captain
or master OF the vessel steamer, or other water craft
on board of which any free person OF color has ar
rived, SHALL upon taking the said free person of color
out OF Jail, pay the Of forty cents day for each
and every day that said free person OF color shall have
been in custody, without any other charges what.
ever. +.MI


SEC. H. Be il further enacted ETC., That should the
captain master Of said vessel, steamer, water
craft fail or refuse to pay the amount of Jail fees of
the free person of color brought by him on ship.
board, or allow more than sixty days-to elapse with
out calling to withdraw said free person Of color from
jail or settling for the Jail fees, the said free person
Of color, for the first time that he she shall have
been thus lodged in Jail, shall after summary ex.
animation before the Recorder of the Second Dis.
trct of New Orleans, if the offense has been COM
mtted in the parish Of Orleans or before any Justice
OF the Peace if out OF the parish of Orleans be set
free and notified to remove from the State within



hereinafter provided.


sRc5 S. BE il further enacted, ETC., That if any free
person of color, after having been notified to leave
the State within five days, shall fall SO to do said free
person of color, arrested within the State, shall
forthwith be lodged in Jail, and upon due conviction
before any competent court, shall be sentenced to not
less than three months and not more than twelve
months Imprisonment at hard labor in the State Peni
tentiary. And any person or police officer arresting
such person shall receive reward of ten dollars, to
be paid by the city of New Orleans, if the arrest be
made in the parish of Orleans, or by the Parish
Treasurer il made out of it. Propided, That after
being discharged from the Penitentary said free per-
son Of color shall have ten days to leave the State.


SEC. 6. BE it further enacted, ETC., That any free
person Of color returning to remaining m the State
after having been once removed from it under the
provisions Of section fourth, previously convicted
under the provisions Of section fifth of this act shall
be forthwith arrested, and after due conviction, said
free person Of color shall be sentenced to imprson
ment at hard labor for FIVE years in the State Peni
tentiary.


SEC. T. Be il further enacted ETC.. That it shall be
the duty of the Harbor Masters of the port of New
Orleans to require from the captain master of any
seagoing vessel steamer other craft, plying
and trading within the limits Of the State, written
statement on oath OF the number, name and place oil
residence of any free person of color by him brought
into the State on board Of bis vessel and transmit The
same daily to the Chief Of Police Of New Orleans
that the said free person of color may be forthwith
arrested. And it shall further be the duty of the
captain master of any vessel river lake steamer
water-cfatt. trading w
limits of the State, Immediately upon his arrival in
port to send to the Office of the Chief of Police like
statement on oath. And the captain or master oil
any sea, lake or river vessel steamer or other water
craft plying and trading without the limits of the
State, refusing or negecting to comply with the fore
going provisions OF this section, shall be condemned
toa fine of two hundred and fifty dollars recoverable
with privilege on vessel or steamer by civil action, in
the name Of the Charity Hospital Of New Orleans
onehalf for the benefit Of said Hospital and hall
for the benefit of the normer, who shall not by
son of his interest, be deemed incompetent as wit
ness against the offender.


SEC. 8. Be it further enacted, etc., That all free
persons Of color coming into the State whether by
land water shall be subject to the penalties decreed
in sections fifth and sixth of this act after having
been duly notified to leave the State within five days


SEC 8. BE ii further enacted, etc.. That the Gov
shall cause copies of this act to be sent to the
Executive officers OF each and every State in ths
cpal ports Of foreign countries and that the presen
act shall take effect from and after the first day o
September, eighteen hundred and fifty.nine.


VIM. W. PUGH,


Speaker of the House of Representatives.


W. F. GRIFFIN.


President Of the Sense.


-' ROBERT @. wIcKLIFFE,


s Governor OF the Stale Of Louisiana.


ANDREW S. HEBRON, Secretary of State.


AN ACT permit persons African descent


their Masters and bec,m slaves for life.


SECTION l. BE it enacted by the Senate and H0tls
of Representatiues.o of the State of Louisiana, Gen
eral Assembly c0nuened, That it shall hereafter b
lawful for any free persons of African descent owe
the age of twenty-one years, now residing in tbi
State, to select his or her master, or owner and t
become slave for life, pursuant the provisions
this act.


SEC. 2. Be it further enacted etc., That wheneye
any such free person of African descent is desirous
becoming slave for life, and has selected maste
mistress who is willing to become his her owner
such free person shall file in the Office of the Clerk
the District Court of the parish wherein such fre
person resides petition setting forth such desire
together with the name and place of residence of th
person whom he she shall have selected as mas
ter or owner, which petition shall be signed by th
petitioner in the presence of at least two subscrbin
witnesses, residing in the said parish and the Cler
OF the District Court shall thereupAn immedatel
give publicity to such petition, by posting motto
thereof on the Courthouse door for at least thirt
days preceding the regular term of said District Cour
at which said petition shall be acted upon and b
shall also cite the person selected as master c
owner OF such free person in the manner prescribe
bylaw in ordinary case, to appear before said Dstrt
Court to answer said petition, and shall also summo
the said subscribing witnesses to said petition to al