An Act for removing Pecuniary Deposits on the Manumission of Slaves.

WHEREAS it is expedient to remove Pecuniary Deposits upon the Manumission of Slaves; Be it therefore Enacted, by his Excellency Sir James Lyon, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Grand Cross of Hanover, Governor 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, That the Sixth Clause of an Act or Statute of this Island, bearing date the 27th day of February 1739, intituled, “An Act for amending an Act of this Island, intituled, ‘An Act for the governing of Negroes, and for providing a proper Maintenance and Support for such Negroes, Indians or Mulattoes as hereafter shall be manumitted and set free,’ and also for pre­venting certain Inconveniences from them arising to the Inhabitants of this Island;” and one other Act, bearing date the 22d day of January 1783, intituled, “An Act to amend an Act of this Island, intituled, ‘An Act for the governing of Negroes, and for providing a proper Maintenance and Support for such Negroes, Indians or Mulattoes as hereafter shall be manumitted or set free,’ as also for preventing certain Inconveniences from them arising to the Inhabitants of this Island,” shall be and the same are hereby respectively repealed: Provided nevertheless, That notwithstanding the repeal of the said Sixth Clause of the said Act or Statute of the 27th day of February 1739, and of the said Act or Statute of the 22d day of January 1783, all Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures, Sum and Sums of Money, incurred or payable under the same or either of them, shall continue liable to be sued for, recovered and applied in such and the same manner as if this present Act or Statute had not been made or passed, and that all rights of what nature or kind soever, which, under and by virtue of the said recited Acts, or either of them, have actually accrued to and become invested in any Slave or Slaves, or other person or persons, at the time of the passing of this Act, shall be preserved to and continued vested in such Slave or Slaves, or other person or persons, as fully and effectually in all respects as though this present Act had not been made.

And be it further Enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That no Duty, Tax, Impost or Deposit of any nature or kind whatsoever shall be paid or payable within this Island, upon, for, or on account or in respect of the Manumission of any Slave or Slaves, except the usual and customary Fees paid upon proving and recording such Deed of Manumission: Provided always, and be it further Enacted, That nothing in this Act contained shall be held to affect, prejudice of forfeit the rights and claims of Creditors on Slaves so manumitted; but that all Liens against and affecting any Slave or Slaves so manumitted shall be as against such Slave or Slaves in as full force and effect as if such Manumission had not been executed.  

Read three times, and passed the Council unanimously the 17th day of May 1831.

(Signed) Wm. Husbands,

D. Clerk of the Council.

(signed) James Lyon 

Read three times, and passed the General Assembly this 7th day of June 1831.

(signed) John Mayers, 

Clerk of the Genl Assembly

Assented to by his Excellency the Governor, the 9th day of June 1831.

(signed) Wm Husbands, D. Secy,

(A true copy.)

Attested this 13th day of June 1831.

(signed) Wm Husbands, D. Secy.