A.D. 1777
CHAP. VI.
An Act to prevent domeſtic Inſurrections, and for other Purpoſes.
Preamble.I.WHEREAS the evil and pernicious Practice of freeing Slaves in this State, ought at this alarming and critical Time to be guarded againſt by every Friend and Wellwiſher to his Country.
Slaves not to be ſet free.II. BE it therefore Enacted, by the General Aſſembly of the State of North-Carolina, and by the Authority of the ſame, that no Negro or Mulatto Slave ſhall hereafter be ſet free, except for meritorious Services, to be adjudged of and allowed by the County Court, and Licence firſt had and obtained thereupon. And when any Slave is or ſhall be ſet free by his or her Maſter or Owner otherwiſe than is herein before directed, it ſhall and may be lawful for any Freeholder in this State to apprehend and take up ſuch Slave, and delivery him or her to the Sheriff of the County, who on receiving ſuch Slave, ſhall give ſuch Freeholder a Receipt for the ſame; and the Sheriff ſhall commit all ſuch Slaves to the Gaol of the County, there to remain until the next Court to be held for ſuch County; and the Court of the County ſhall order all ſuch confined Slaves to be ſold during the Term to the higheſt Bidder.
Sheriff to give Notice to the Owners of Slaves of the Time of Sale.III. PROVIDED always, That the Sheriff, upon committing any ſuch Slave or Slaves, ſhall at leaſt Five Days before ſuch Sale, give Notice in Writing to the laſt Owner or Owners, or the reputed Owner or Owners of ſuch Slave or Slaves, of the Time and Place of Sale, and of the Name and Names of ſuch Slaves, to the End that ſuch Owner or Owners may, if he or they think proper, make his or their Claim to the ſame; but if ſuch Owner or Owners ſhall neglect or refuſe to appear on the Day of Sale (due Proof of the Service of ſuch Notice being made to the Satisfaction of the Court) ſuch Owner or Owners ſo neglecting or refuſing, ſhall be for ever barred from making any Claim to ſuch Slaves.
Money appropriated.IV. AND be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforeſaid, That the neat Proceeds of the Money ariſing by ſuch Sale ſhall be diſpoſed of in the following Manner, that is to ſay, That one fifth Part thereof ſhall be paid to the Takers up of ſuch Negroes or Mulattoes, and that the remaining Part of ſuch Money be paid into the Hands of the Public Treaſurers, to defray the contingent Charges of Government, and to no other Intent, Uſe or Purpoſe, whatſoever.
No Slave to hire himſelf out.V. AND be it Enacted, by the Authority aforeſaid, That if any Slave or Slaves ſhall hereafter be allowed by his or her Maſter, Miſtreſs, or Overſeer, or other Perſon having the Care of ſuch Slave or Slaves, to hire out him or herſelf, ſuch Slave may be taken up by any Magiſtrate or Freeholder, and kept to hard Labour, for the Uſe of the Poor of the County, for any Time not exceeding Twenty Days; any Law, Uſage or Cuſtom to the contrary, notwithſtanding.
