An Act to repeal Part of an Act, entituled, An Act for the more effectual Punishment of Crimes committed by Slaves; and to oblige the several Parishes to pay for all Negroes executed in each respective Parish.

WHEREAS, by an Act passed in the Year Seventeen hundred and Seventeen, entituled, An Act for the more effectual punishment of Crimes committed by Slaves, among other Things it was enacted, That in all Cases where any Slave should be put upon his Trial by the Owner, Proprietor, or Person instrusted with such Slave, and should suffer Death, by the Sentence of such Persons as were impowered to pronounce the same, such Person should likewise enquire of his, her, or their Value, and certify the same, under the Hands of the Majority of them (one of which should be a Justice of the Peace) to the Commissioner for the Time being, for paying of Parties to be sent out for suppressing rebellious and runaway Slaves, which said Commissioner should, out of the Fund provided, or to be provided for that Purpose, pay to the Owner or Owners, whose Slaves or Slaves the same were before the Conviction, the full Value, he, she, or they were valued at, by the said Persons who tried and condemned him, her, or them, the said Slave or Slaves, which said Sum, the said Commissioner should pay to the said Owner or Owners, in full recompense for the Losses, he, she, or they had sustained; and in all Cases of Murder the Owner or owners of the Slave or Slaves killed, should receive the full Value of such Slave or Slaves, as well as the Owner or Owners of the Slave or Slaves executed for such Murder; provided always, That no one Slave should be appraised at above the Sum of Forty Pounds current Money of this Island; any Law, Custom, or Usage to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding, as by the said Act, amongst other Things, may more fully appear: And whereas it is found by Experience, that the same is become a great Expense to the publick; may it therefore please your most excellent Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the Governor, Council, and Assembly of this your Majesty's Island, and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the same, That all such Part, and so much of the said Act as is herein before recited be, and the same is hereby repealed; and that in all Cases, where any Slave or Slaves shall, from the making of this Act, be put on his, her, or their Trial, by the Owner or Proprietor of such Slave or Slaves, as the said Act directs, and shall be executed, and valued according to the Direction of the said Act; in every such Case the Sum or Sums, at which such Slave or Slaves shall be so valued, shall be paid by the respective Parish or Parishes wherein such Slave or Slaves shall be so tried, valued, and executed, and not otherwise, or in other Manner; the said recited Act, or any other Act, or Law to the contrary notwithstanding. 

 

II. PROVIDED nevertheless that no Person shall be allowed, or paid for the executing any Slave or Slaves who shall be tried for the breaking open any Hutts, or Negroe Houses, or stealing from thence any Goods, or other Things, of less Value than Five Pounds. 

 

III. AND be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Justices and Vestry in the respective Parishes of this Island be, and they are hereby impowered and required to raise, assess, and levy a sufficient Tax for the paying of all Slaves, which shall be hereafter tried and executed, pursuant to the said recited Law, in such Manner and Form, as the Parish Tax is usually raised, collected and paid, any Law, Custom, or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Secretary of this Island do cause this Act to be printed, and Copies thereof transmitted to the Custos or Chief Magistrate of each of the respective Parishes in this Island, in Thirty Days after the passing thereof, and that he shall be paid for the same; any Law, Custom, or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding.