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An Act for the Voluntary Enslavement of Free Negroes, without compensation to the Commonwealth. 1861 52 (1861.1)

handle is hein.slavery/ssactsva0765 and id is 1 raw text is: VOLUNTARY ENSLAVEMENT. CHAP. 26.-An ACT for the Voluntary Enslavement of Free Negroes, with. out compensation to the Commonwealth. Passed March 28, 1861. H1ow free per. 1. Be it enacted by tlte general assembly, that it shall be lawful sons of color may enslav for free persons of color, or persons of color who have heretofore or themnsolves may hereafter be manumitted, to appear before the circuit court of any county or corporation in which such free persons of color or ma- numitted slaves may have resided for twelve months, and make ap- plication thereto to select a master or mistress, and become slaves. Proceedings In 2. Upon the application of such free persons of color or manu- court mitted slaves before tile circuit court of said county or corporation, and the person they wish to choose as master or mistress, the court shall proceed to examine each party sdparately, as well as such other persons as said court may see fit. At any examination, the attor- ney for the commonwealth shall be present and see that such exami- nation is properly conducted, and that no injustice is done to the ap- plicant. Court may de- 3. If upon examination the court shall be satisfied that there is no cro enslave- mont without fraud or collusion between the parties, and that there is lne good rca- compensation t the stat o son to tle contrary, the court shall have the power to grant the ap- plication, without any compensation to the commonwealth, provided the court shall be satisfied that the person so chosen is of good cha- racter: but the individual or individuals thus chosen master or mis- tress, or some one for them, shall cuter into bonds with approved Negroes not to security, in such penalty as the court may prescribe, with condition become charge- able that the said negroes shall miot become chargeable to any county or corporation in this commonwealth, and that the master or mistress thus chosen shall pay the debts and liabilities of such negro or ne- groes existing before the enslavement: provided, that if at any time thereafter such slave shall be convicted of any offence, for which by law he or sie shill be condemned to suffer death, or to be sold or transported, the comnonwealth shall not be liable to pay the owner of such slave any portion of his or her value. But no such order shall be made until the court shall be satisfied, by personal examina- tion of the said negro, that lie fully understands the nature and ob- ject of the proceedings, and that the act on his part is free and vo- luntary. How ns to chit. 4. Upon the enslavement of such mother having children, and if dren of on t slaved negroes there be no mother, then upon the enslavement of the father having children, the master or mistress thus chosen shall be required to have and to take the custody, control and services of such of the children of said father or mother as are free, until the females arrive at the age of eighteen, and the males at the age of twenty-one, and shall payfor his or her services at the expiration thereof, so much and for

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