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![handle is hein.slavery/ssactsla0473 and id is 1 raw text is:
214
No. 275.] AN ACT
To permit free persons of African descent to select their Masters and become slaves for life.
Free persoo or SECTION 1. Be.it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
African descent the State of .Loutisico, in General Assembly convegied, That it shall here-
nuthorized to se- after be lawful for any free person of African descent, over the age of
lect Isl ater. afe be lwt Io
twenty-one years, 11W residing in this State, to select his or her master,
or owner, and to become a slave for life, pursuant to the provisions of this
act.
Sr.c. 2. Be it furtier enacted, c., That whenever any such free person
Formalities re- of African descent is desirous of hecoming' a slave for life, and has selected
qtred or frev rni,. elce
persons or Afri. a master or mistress who is williig to become his or her owner, such free
can dccent when shall ofteiiisi
Ihy desire to se- pso shall file in the offie of the Clerk of the District Court of the parish
I ecta inaster, etc. wherein such free person resides, a petition setting fortl such desire, to-
gether with the name and place of residence of the personi whomi le or she
shall have so selected as master or owner, which petition shall be signed
by the petitioner it, the presence of at least two subserilhing witnesses, re-
Dity or fie siding in the said pari sh and the Clerk of tho District Court shall there-
clerk of the DH' upon iitnedittolv give 1iiublicity t slielt pitition, by lostillly a notice
riccourt. ihereof up)on4 tle Court HI Iouse door lor it least ithi rtv d as pre ceding the
regtilar term of said Distriet Court, at whilt suh petition shall le acted
Citation to be ipou; aid lie slallso (ie the persi sro seleCted as taster or owinor of
Issued . e stch fre. person, in thle imnner prescriled bly law itt ordinary case, to
oppelat beforte saul I islriit (ourt to anllswer L:aid petition, and shall also
sUttanitoi tho sail otbsihinlg wtites se ti sail petition, t, u-pwar as wit-
nSO Se inl said iase.
St.e. 3. Ik it.1,1/ier /l, &C., That 1t11ot th pearantc of Sail il-
orct o 114 c tiet i op court, th' Distic Judtig shall carefily examline tach party
radictoril* wilh separately, as well Is ithe subseribiig witiesses, atid suitch othelr personts
th District Attor- as Ie inav think iproper to exaunine, touching the allegatiois and prayer
i1C. of said petitioiter, at which exminiation the District Attorney shall he
present to represent the ptitioner, and to protect hint or her against any
fraud or inposition; and if, tiponi stch exainiiation, the Judge is satisfied
that there is io fraud or collusion between the parties, and that the pro-
posed master or owner is of good repute, and that it is the real and volu -
tary intent and purpose of said free person to enslave hutn or herself for
life, to said proposed master or owner, lie shall have power, and it shall be
his duty to grant and decree in aecordance with tte prayer of the peti-
Dere to tbe
granted 1 il tioner, which decree shall lie outered upon the records of said court, and
Judge, to be re- recorded in the oflice of the Recorder of Mortgages ini said parish ; and
cored from and after the rendition of said decrec said free person ofi Aifrican
descent shall be a slave for life, and becoie the property of the perion so
chosen its master or mistress, and sulject to all the laws of this State
regulating slaves Provided, houoceer, That the said slave shall not be lia-
rroveo. ble to he sold for any debt contracted by the owner before the deiree
aforesaid.
Sa. 4. Be itfurther cucted, 4-c., That wheit any free person of African
Children nter descent, being the nother of children under ten years of age, shall have
oflei e,' .nslaved herself, nider the provisions of this act, such children shall also
slaved 1 alouve, become the slaves and property of the master or owner of the mother,
slave, and ex- and shall, in like manner as aforesaid, be exempt from mortgage, exe-
crart, from mnon-
gage, mc. cution, seizure or sale, for debts contracted anterior to the tirao of en-
slavement.
SEC, 5, Be it further enacted, c., That all fees and expenEes accruing](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.slavery/ssactsla0473&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)