An Act to extend the benefits enjoyed by white persons under certain Clauses of the Consolidated Slave Act of this Island to all free coloured and free black persons.

WHEREAS in and by the twenty-seventh and forty-second clauses of a certain Act or Statute of this island, intituled “An Act to repeal several Acts and clauses of Acts respecting slaves, and for consolidating and bringing into one Act the several laws relating thereto, and for the better order and government of slaves, and for giving them further protection and security, for altering the mode of trial of those charged with capital and other offences, and for other purposes,” bearing date the 18th day of October 1827, white persons are protected against the insults, assaults, and aggressions of slaves; but no protection is afforded in such cases to free coloured and free black persons. – Be it therefore enacted by the Honourable John Braithwaite Skeete, President of His Majesty’s Council, and Commander-in-Chief of this Island, Chancellor, Ordinary, and Vice-Admiral of the same, the Honourable the members of His Majesty’s Council, and the General Assembly of this Island, and by the authority of the same, [Clause 1] that from and after the passing of this Act, all free coloured and free black persons shall enjoy the like protection against the insults, assaults, and aggressions of slaves, as is secured to white persons in and by the said twenty-seventh and forty-second clauses of the aforesaid Act or Statute, in as full and ample a manner, to all ends, intents and purposes whatsoever, as if free coloured and free black persons were expressly named in the aforesaid clauses of the said Act or Statute. And the several justices of the peace of this island shall, and they are hereby severally authorized, directed, and required in cases of complaints made to them, by free coloured or free black persons, against any slave or slaves for insults, assaults, or aggressions, to proceed to hear and determine the same in such manner, and to impose such punishment for such offences, as such slave or slaves would be subject and liable to, if such offences had been committed against white persons, any thing in the aforesaid clauses of the Act or Statute aforesaid, seeming to the contrary notwithstanding.

[Clause 2] And whereas by the twenty-fourth clause of the Act or Statute aforesaid, white persons are alone authorized to inspect the cotton or aloes which may be planted by slaves to their own use; and as free coloured and free black persons ought to be allowed to inspect the cotton and aloes of their own slaves, and of any other slaves under their lawful charge, Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that free coloured and free black persons shall be, and they are hereby fully authorized and empowered to inspect the cotton and aloes of their own slaves, and of any other slaves under their lawful charge, in such manner and under such and the like provisions as are mentioned and contained in the said twenty-fourth clause of the Act or Statute aforesaid. And the several inspectors of this island are hereby directed and required, in such cases to administer the like oath to free coloured and free black persons as are required to be administered to white persons in and by the said last mentioned clause of the aforesaid Act or Statute, any thing in the said clause seeming to the contrary notwithstanding. 

Passed the 10th January 1828.