"Trial by jury is utterly denied to the slave, even in criminal accusations which may affect his life, in South Carolina, Virginia, and Louisiana, instead of a jury, is substituted a tribunal composed of two justices of the peace and from three to five free-holders, (i. e. slave-holders.) In Virginia it is composed of five justices merely. What chance has an ignorant slave before a tribunal chosen by his accuser, suddenly convoked, and consisting of but five persons?"
If a slave is found out of the limits of the town in which he lives, or beyond the plantation on which he is usually employed, without a written permission from his master, or the company of some white person, any body may inflict twenty lashes upon him; and if the slave resist such punishment, he may be lawfully killed.
If a slave visit another plantation without leave in writing from his master, the owner of the plantation may give him ten lashes.
More than seven slaves walking or standing together in the road, without a white man, may receive twenty lashes each from any person.
Any slave, or Indian, who takes away, or lets loose a boat, from any place where it is fastened, receives thirtynine lashes for the first offence; and, according to some laws, one ear is cut off for the second offence.
For carrying gun, powder, shot, a club, or any weapon whatsoever, offensive or defensive, thirtynine lashes by order of a justice; and in some States, twenty lashes from the nearest constable, without a conviction by the justice.
For selling any article, without a specific ticket from his master, ten lashes by the captain of the patrollers,[1] or thirtynine by order of a magistrate. The same punishment for being at any assembly deemed unlawful.
For travelling by himself from his master's land to any other place, unless by the most accustomed road, forty lashes; the same for travelling in the night without a
- ↑ The patrols are very generally low and dissipated characters, and the cruelties which negroes suffer from them, while in a state of intoxication, are sometimes shocking. The law endows these men with very great power.
