An Act to inflict further and other Punishments on the Transgressors of two several Acts, the one intituled, An Act for the better Order and Government of slaves, and the other intituled, An Act to prevent the enticing or inveiglng of Slaves from the Possessors; and for the preventing the transportation of Slaves from the Possessors' and for the preventing the Transportation of Slaves by Mortgagers and Tenants for Life or Years; and for regulating Abuses committed by Slaves.

WHEREAS the Practice of enticing, inveigling, concealing, and employing of Slaves is still carried on by wickedly disposed Persons, who are encouraged thereto by the Inequality of the Penalties imposes by the said several Acts to such heinous Offences, as also by the Difficulty of recovering such Penalties against them in a due Course of Law, for want of such certain Proof as by the Rules of Law is required; and the Assembly having considered the dangerous Consequence of such a Practice to the Community, not only in regard the Owners may be thereby defrauded and impoverished, but a greater Opportunity would be given to Negroes to become rebellious to reduce which Sort of Enemies the Island hath been and still continues to be at a great Expence: For a further Remedy whereof, We most humbly beseech Your Majesty that it may be enacted; be it therefore enacted by Your Majesty's Governor, Council, and Assembly of this Your Island of Jamaica, and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the same, That whosoever shall hereafter, upon any Pretence whatsoever, entice, inveigle, hide, conceal, or employ the Slave or Slaves of any other Person, such Person so enticing, inveigling, hiding, concealing, or employing such Slave or Slaves, upon Proof of such Offence to the Satisfaction of any two of the Judges of the Supream Court of Judicature of this Island, or of any three Justices of the Peace, who are hereby impowered to hear and determine such Offence, shall, over and above the Penalties inflicted by the said Act, suffer one Year's imprisonment, without Bail or Mainprize. 

 

II. AND be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That whatsoever Slave or Slaves shall hide or entertain any Slave, either of their Owner or Master, or of any other Person, such Slave or Slaves guilty of such hiding or entertaining, shall be further punished according to the Discretion of any two of the Judges of the Supream Court of Judicature aforesaid, or of any three Justices of the Peace, who are hereby impowered to hear and determine such last mentioned Offence. 

 

III. AND be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Penalty of One Hundred Pounds imposed by the said Act, intituled, An Act for the better Order and Government of Slaves, upon such Person as shall attempt or endeavour to steal or carry off this Island, hide, conceal, or employ any Slave, shall and may from henceforth be recovered before any two of the Judges of the Supream Court of Judicature aforesaid or before any three Justices of the Peace, who are hereby impowered to hear and determine such Cause upon such Proof as shall appear to them satisfactory. 

 

IV. AND be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any free Negro, free Mulatto, or free Indian, shall hereafter be guilty of employing, hiding, concealing, enticing, entertaining, or sending off from this Island any runaway or rebellious Negro, or other Slave, every such free Negro, Indian, or Mulatto, so guilty of any such Offence, shall forfeit his Freedom, and be transported off this Island, and sold by the Order of any two of the Judges of the Supream Court of Judicature of this Island, or of any three Justices of the Peace for the Time being, who are hereby impowered to hear and determine every such Offence, and to make such Orders, and to direct the due Execution thereof; and the Money arising by the Transportation and Sale of such free Negroes, Indians, and Mulattoes, to be to our Sovereign Lord the King, His Heirs and Successors, for and towards the Support of the Government of this Island, and the contingent Charges thereof; any Law, Custom, or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding.