An Act for the banishing of sundry runaway Slaves now in confinement, and also for the banishment of such runaways of certain descriptions as shall hereafter be taken or surrender themselves, and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, in consequence of the late operation against the runaway slaves, who were assembled in the woods of this Island, sundry of them have been taken and others have been compelled to surrender, and they are now confined in the common gaol, and some of them have become forfeited to this colony under several Acts of the legislature thereof; and whereas it is expedient to remove the said slaves from this colony, as well to preserve the tranquility thereof from being again disturbed by them, as by their example to prevent and deter other slaves from the commission of the like offences; be it therefore enacted by the governor, council and assembly of this Island,

1st. And be it and it is hereby enacted and ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the provost marshal of this Island shall with all convenient expedition proceed to sell by public auction to the highest bidder, after notifying such sale by advertisement in the usual manner, all runaway slaves in his custody, who are or have been or shall be declared and adjudged in a due course of law to be forfeited to the colony, on the condition following, that is to say, that the purchasers thereof shall remove the same from this colony, and the said slaves when sold shall remain in gaol at the expense of the purchasers thereof, till they shall find convenient opportunities for sending the same off from this Island; and if such slave or slaves shall not be sent off accordingly, within forty-eight hours after delivery for that purpose, or shall ever be brought back, or shall return to this colony, the same shall be forfeited to the colony, and shall again be sold in manner aforesaid for the benefit thereof.

2d. And be it and it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all slaves who have been runaways in camps in the woods of this Island, or who have been runaways and absent from the service of their master above six months, as well those now in confinement as those who have been runaways and have returned to their owners renters or employers within three months last past, but have not been examined or tried by three justices as directed by law, or shall hereafter be taken, or shall surrender (except those who are or shall be forfeited to the colony as aforesaid) shall, after examination by three or more magistrates, and payment of gaol fees, be delivered to their respective masters renters or employers, on the condition of their sending off and removing from this Island all and every such slaves within two months from the time when such slave or slaves shall have been so delivered up, on penalty of forfeiture for the benefit of the colony, of every such slave not so banished and sent off the Island, which slaves so not sent off shall thereupon be liable to be taken up by the warrant of any magistrate and delivered to the provost marshal, to be sold by him on the conditions enacted by the first clause of this Act, and the owner renter or employer of any slave or slaves so ordered to be banished, shall moreover forfeit to the colony the sum of twenty pounds currency, to be recovered and levied on his her or their goods and chattels by the provost marshal, under the warrant of any three justices of the peace of this Island; provided that so much of this Act as requires the sending off from this Island runaway slaves, shall not extend to slaves under the age of twelve years: And whereas Pharcelle, a negro man, formerly a notorious runaway chief in the woods, and for whose apprehension rewards were offered by several laws of this Island, did some years ago surrender upon terms of serving constantly against the runaways, whenever required so to do by the governor or commander in chief of this Island, on which condition he was to be deemed a free person: And whereas the said Pharcelle, in consequence thereof enjoyed his freedom, but on the late expedition against the runaway slaves, being called upon by his excellency the governor to serve as a guide to one of the parties of his Majesty’s black troops employed on that service, he so misbehaved whilst on service that his excellency, upon proof thereof by affidavit in writing, made by the officer commanding the party, thought proper to commit the said Pharcelle to the common gaol, and by message to both houses hath recommended that he should be sent off the Island as a dangerous person: And whereas it hath been proved to the satisfaction of the house, that the said Pharcelle hath also misbehaved, in receiving and harbouring runaway slaves since the enjoyment of his freedom: 

3d. Be it therefore and it is hereby enacted and ordained by the authority aforesaid, That his excellency the governor may, and he is hereby authorized and empowered to send off the said Pharcelle from this Island at the public expense, in such manner as his excellency may think proper; and if the said Pharcelle shall at any time afterwards return to this Island, he shall be taken up and deemed as a runaway slave, and be treated accordingly:

And be it and it is hereby enacted and ordained by the authority aforesaid, That this Act shall be printed at the expense of the public, to the extent of one hundred and fifty copies, for the use of the members of the council and assembly, and the justice of the peace of this island. 

[Chas] Winston, (Speaker.)

Passed the House of Assembly, this eighteenth day of December one thousand and eight hundred.

F. Collins, Clerk of the Assembly.

Passed the Council Chamber, this eighteenth day of December one thousand and eight hundred.

Jno [Chas] Constable, Clerk of the Council.

Assented to this nineteenth day of December in the year one thousand eight hundred.

Andrew (Great Seal) Cochrane Johnstone.

Duly published in the town of Roseau, this nineteenth day of December one thousand eight hundred

John Lucas, P.M.