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An Act to suppress the circulation of incendiary publications, and for other purposes. 1835 44 (1835)

handle is hein.slavery/ssactsva0494 and id is 1 raw text is: 44 IncendiaryPublicaton-9. CHAtI. 60.-An _ACT to suppress the circulation of incendiary publications, and- for other purposes. (Passed March 23,1836.) Preamble. Whereas attempts have been recently made by certain abolition or anti-shavery societies and evil diiposed persons, being and rest, ding iii some 'of the non-slaveliolding states to interfere with thu relations existing between master and slave in this state, and to ex- cite in our colourel population a spirit of insubordination, rebellion and'insurrection, by disiributing 'among them through th agency of the United States mail and other means, certain incendiary books, pamphlets, or other writings of an inflanmatory and mis- chievous character and tendency : For remedy, whereof, andto pro- vide against the dangers thence arising, Penalty on mom- 1. Be it enacted 'by tibe general assembly, TIhat any member'of abolitionseties an abolition or anti-slavery society, or agent of art abolitioi o anti- donying right of slavery society, who shall come into this state, and'shall heremain- property inslav. tain, by speaking or writing, that the owners of slaves have no pro- perty in 'the same, or advocate or advise the abolition of slavery, shall be deemed guilty-of a high misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be fined in a'sum of not less than fifty dollars nor Term or Imprison. more than two hundred dollars, and shall suffer a term of imprison- mont. ment of not less than six months nor more than three years, at the discretion of a jury. . I - I Penalty for wri- , . And be it ful'her enacted, Thait if any person shall hereafter eionting, no write, print, or cause to be written or printed, tiny book,'pamphlet, diary doctrines. or other writing, With intent of advising; enticing, or persuading persons of colour within this commonwealth to make insurrection, or to rebel, or denying the right of'masters to property in their slaves, and inculcating the duty of resistance to Such right, or shall, with intent to aid the purposes aforesaid of such book, pamphlet, or other writing, knowingly circulate, or cause to be circulated, any such Punishmonton book, pamphlet, or other writing, such person shall, if a slave or slaven, other coloured person, be punished by stripes, not excqeding tiirty- nine, and transported and sold. beyond the limits of the United States, under the orders of the, executive or this coinnionwealth; On white parsons. and if a free white person, shall be deemed guilty of felony, and on conviction thereof be punished by imprisonment in the peniten- tiary of this commonwealth for a term not less than twio years nor more than five.years. Pot.naltnrs to 3. Be it further enacted, That if any post-master or deputy post- give notice or eo- master within this commonwealth, shall give notice to any justice of caption or Incen- diary publications. the peace that any book, pamphlet, or other writing, hath been re- ceived at his office through the medium of the mail, of the charac- ter and description mentioned in the section of thig act immediately .uatice to caun preceding, it'shall be the duty of such justice of the peace to en- them tobe burned. quire into the circunst.tices of the case, and to have. such book, Punihment on pamphlet, or other writing, burned in his presence; and if it shall subucriber tereto. appear to him by 'satisfactory dvidence that the person to whom the same is directed, subscribed for the said book, pamphlet, or other writing, knowing its character and tendency, or ugreed to receive it with an intention of circulating it, thereby to aid the purposes'of the abolitionists or anti-slavery societies, tie said justice shall com- mit him or her to the jail of his county, to be dealt with according Penaltyon' nt- to law. Any post-master, or deputy post-master, knowingly viola- iwviioas of act. ting the provisions of this act, shall forfciit and pay a sum not less

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